Public health research opens doors for public health student

Roger Abim-Karmon ’26 presents his research findings to staff at the Hollingsworth Funds on June 26 as part of his summer research work with Professor Shaniece Criss. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

By Damian Dominguez, Senior Writer

Furman University student Roger Abim-Karmon ’26 spoke steadily and confidently as he discussed his summer research with the staff of Hollingsworth Funds, the foundation established by the late Greenville industrialist John D. Hollingsworth Jr. to support Furman University and other local nonprofits, on June 26.

The public health major and his research advisor, Associate Professor of health sciences Shaniece Criss, were working to improve the health of Black and Hispanic people living in Greenville County by addressing local policies and practices. Criss also serves as director of the advocacy and social policy master’s program and is doing this work in collaboration with Furman’s Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH) and LiveWell Greenville.

Abim-Karmon is one of 240 Furman students working as summer research fellows. Summer research fellows receive discounted summer housing and stipends, from $3,500 to $4,500, said Erik Ching, the Walter Kenneth Mattison Professor of History, interim associate provost for Engaged Learning, and director of Undergraduate Research. Summer research participation has trended upward in the last 10 years, with a slight dip this year, from about 150 in 2016.

Criss and Abim-Karmon’s research was supported by LiveWell Greenville, thanks to a grant written in collaboration with Melissa Fair, IACH community action director.

Through multiple focus groups with community residents and stakeholders, Criss and Abim-Karmon identified key themes that could help the Hollingsworth Funds direct dollars toward new programs and initiatives. Multiple student researchers have helped with the project in recent years, along with other community partners, including Greenville’s REEM GVL and the Hispanic Alliance.

Summer research opens doors

As a rising senior wanting to work in public health advocacy, Abim-Karmon participated in summer research to broaden his horizons before graduating.

“I’m interested in going into epidemiology or global health, so research opportunities steeped in community wellbeing seemed like a great way to get into that,” he said.

After Criss and others completed the focus groups, Abim-Karmon dove into the data. His role was to study interviews with local elected officials, non-elected government employees, nonprofit leaders and other stakeholders and identify the major themes that emerged as they talked about community wellbeing.

“He’s able to systematically go through dense research,” Criss said. “He has a positive attitude and a personality that inspires others to get engaged, too.”

Abim-Karmon learned that even experts can learn from research. During one discussion at another community meeting, someone said they wished there was a program to provide free transportation to polling locations on election days. Turns out, that program already exists; there is a need to better convey information about local resources and services.

The work isn’t done. Abim-Karmon will co-author a research paper, and has applied for the chance to present his findings at the Society of Public Health Education conference in October, in Washington, D.C. But more importantly, this research broadened the scope of work he’s interested in. Community research hadn’t been on his radar, and now it’s a skill he’d like to bring home to Liberia, where he was born.

“I’m someone who loves to put his heart and soul into what he does,” Abim-Karmon said. “I’m just glad I had an excellent supervisor in Dr. Criss, who was here to give me guidance along the way.”