For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Recent appointments, presentations, publications and honors in the College of Health Sciences include the following:

Publications

Jennifer Horney, director of UD’s public health program, edited a new book published by Johns Hopkins Press. The Conversation on Extreme Weather focuses on the impacts of climate change on the environment, health, housing and employment. The collection of essays from The Conversation, an independent news site featuring articles written by scholars and experts, explores how climate change contributes to record-breaking heatwaves, droughts and floods, aiming to enhance readers’ understanding of extreme weather and how they can prepare for the future. The collection features several UD research groups, including the Gerard J. Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub and the Disaster Research Center.

Tarang Parekh and Daniel Harris, assistant professors of epidemiology, recently published a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey. The analysis found that between 2021 and 2023, preventive cardiovascular screenings decreased across all disability types except sensory disabilities. The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, underscore the urgent need for disability-inclusive reforms as the nation looks beyond the pandemic.

Honors

Jennifer Saylor, associate dean of faculty and student affairs and associate professor in the School of Nursing, received the 2025 Excellence in Honors Mentoring Award. The prestigious award from the Honors College recognizes faculty who go above and beyond to guide, inspire and push their students to excel as scholars and have a positive, lasting impact on their students’ academic and professional lives. In nominations, Honors students praised Saylor as someone who “constantly challenged me to be my best and gave me space to share ideas…allowing me to learn and grow,” and someone who “recognizes the challenges of balancing rigorous academics with personal well-being.” Another student noted that Saylor “embodies everything an outstanding Honors mentor should be.” Saylor received the award at the Honors Medal Ceremony at the Field House on May 22.

Caitlin Gallo, a doctoral candidate in the Biomechanics and Movement Science program in the College of Health Sciences, received the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Biomechanics Interest Group Dissertation Award at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Atlanta in May. The award recognizes early research achievements based on scientific quality. Gallo’s research focuses on addressing broad public health concerns around participating in contact and collision sports. Specifically, Gallo is investigating repetitive head impacts and concussion effects on cognitive function, quality of life, and postural control in aging adults. Her research also examines lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, cardiovascular health, and social engagement, and how these factors may interact with head trauma history to influence outcomes later in life.

 “To have my work recognized by peers in the field, especially at a conference I’ve been attending for years, was very motivating,” said Gallo. “It reaffirmed how important this research is, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.”

Presentations

First-year biomechanics and movement science doctoral student Alix Rule represented UD’s Athletic Training Research Laboratory at the 2025 World Congress on Science and Soccer in Glasgow, Scotland, in June. Rule works with faculty mentor Thomas Kaminski, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, on his U.S. Soccer study, which aims to set new heading standards for youth soccer worldwide. She presented a poster on “Examination of neck strength and balance in a cohort of U12 boys soccer players over one competitive season.” 

"I had a great experience at WCSS, presenting my poster and meeting researchers who also care about advancing science in soccer," said Rule. "I learned so much and am looking forward to using that knowledge to continue developing as a researcher."