SPER’s Executive Committee is comprised of eight officers and includes a President, a President-Elect, an Immediate Past-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, four Members-at-Large, a Student Representative, and an International Representative. The 2023 Elections will include voting for the following positions:

President-Elect, Member-at-Large, Treasurer, International Representative, and Student Representative.

2022 Members of SPER are entitled to one vote per category. Learn more about the candidates below.

Voting will conclude on May 12, 2023.

President-Elect

Monique Hedderson (She/Her)

Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director, Women and Children’s Health Section Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Candidate Statement

I am delighted to have the opportunity to run for President of SPER. My career has benefited greatly from the SPER community, and I am grateful for the scientific ideas and collaborations fostered at SPER over the past 20 years. I have enjoyed serving on the program planning committee and I would welcome the opportunity to give back to the organization. Read more

My research portfolio investigates the influence of preconception and prenatal and exposures on maternal and child metabolic health as well as early childhood exposure on child metabolic health. Specifically, I have sought to understand how potentially modifiable factors before and during early pregnancy contribute to the risk of metabolic complications during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as in children. I have a long-standing interest in developing innovative targeted prevention strategies, especially interventions among high-risk pregnant individuals that can be implemented into clinical practice. My collaborations and work environment provide me with the unique experience of bridging the gap between academics and health systems with a focus on impacting clinical practice.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is mentoring junior faculty. I was very honored to receive the Division of Research Mentoring Award in 2017 in recognition of this work. I have been fortunate to have had strong mentors in my own career who advocated for my advancement and taught me the importance of positivity and encouragement, scientific rigor, persistence, providing honest constructive feedback and active listening. I have served as primary or co-mentor for several successful K awardees at my institution and other academic institutions and currently serve as a faculty member for Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s Division of Research’s Early-Stage Scientist Program where I mentor a group of more than 15 junior investigators. Through my position as a co-chair of the Obesity Working Group in the ECHO program, I also mentor junior scientists from academic institutions across the U.S. As a mentor, I continue to learn and be inspired by the career development of my mentees. I have been proud to see my trainees become active members of SPER, presenting oral presentations, posters and serving on SPER committees.

My vision for SPER includes a focus on students and early career scientists, particularly those from underrepresented groups. It would be a privilege for me to work with the Executive Committee to strategize the best ways to create a high-quality scientific meeting and a supportive environment for members across all career trajectories. I would strive to enhance the focus on research questions with high potential for translation into clinical practice and public health policy, by promoting epidemiologic research that identifies specific interventions to improve perinatal and pediatric health.

Edwina Yeung (She/Her)

Senior Investigator and Acting Branch Chief, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice, Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be asked to run for SPER president. I’ve been a member since my postdoc, over a decade ago. SPER has always been a scientific home for my growth and development as a perinatal epidemiologist and I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the organization that has meant so much to my own professional development. Read more

I have served in various SPER roles from chairing symposia to assisting on the program committee and I was especially honored to have received the SPER Rising Star award in 2015. I want to use this “moment” to share what is top of mind for me on this cloudy March day and to share hopefully in a way that gives you a sense of who you are voting for. And what has been on my mind? Values. I have been digging deep into what I value after asking a coworker to indulge me with carrying out one of the exercises from Brené Brown’s book, Dare to Lead (great read, not just for work but everyday relationships too). In her exercise, you must choose from a list of 30 or so values, the top 2 that are most important to you and then reflect on how to foster living more aligned to those values. And as with all leadership roles, values are exactly what being SPER president is about. What do we value as a society? And how can we act on those values better? Of course, SPER’s foremost value is clearly defined in our mission statement; we value the research (which on Brown’s list equates to “knowledge”). So as president, I would ensure that cutting edge research is presented, by diverse speakers, and generate useful discourse. But a second value is less clearly stated – could it be career, collaboration, communication, community, legacy, recognition, service, or vision? Of course, it’s all of these, but I see communication at the heart of all the other values I listed, which is why when communication is prioritized it will achieve the others. What would it mean for my presidency? I would organize the meeting around “real conversations”, which will range from how to better communicate our science to a broader audience to combat the anti-science sentiments, to empowering us to speak up, at whatever career level, for what we need to succeed and make the research happen. As president, I would prioritize both these values facilitating the communication of high-quality research knowledge programmatically and fostering greater dialog.

Member-at-Large

Stefanie N. Hinkle (She/Her)

Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Candidate Statement

I have been a member of SPER since I was a doctoral student and attended my first SPER meeting in 2010 in Seattle. I have greatly enjoyed the smaller, welcoming community of SPER. I have served as an abstract reviewer and on the program committee and am very excited to have the chance to serve as a Member-at-Large. I am currently Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania. Read more

Jessica Knight (She/Her)

Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
University of Georgia

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be nominated for the SPER Member-at-large. I’ve been a member of this society since I was a doctoral student at Emory University and continue to look to SPER for expertise and connection. Read more

Stefania Papatheodorou (She/Her)

Lecturer in Epidemiology
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Candidate Statement

I would be very honored to serve as a member-at- large for SPER. I am currently a Lecturer in Epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and a trained Obstetrician and Gynecologist. I have been working for over a decade in the field of perinatal epidemiology with a specific focus on the effects of climate change and environmental exposures, particularly air pollution, on pregnancy and childhood outcomes. Read more

Catherine J. Vladutiu (She/Her)

Office of Epidemiology and Research
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Health Resources and Services Administration

Candidate Statement

I have been a member of SPER for 14 years beginning when I was a PhD student in epidemiology and a T32 trainee in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology. My membership in this Society helped to shape my pre- and post-doctoral training and federal career as a perinatal epidemiologist. Read more

Treasurer

Candice Johnson (She/Her)

Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Duke University School of Medicine

Candidate Statement

Seventeen years ago, I attended my first SPER meeting as a Master’s student, and the Society has been my professional home ever since. Over the intervening years, I have served as Student Representative, member of the Program Committee, reviewer for the Student Prize, abstract reviewer, and poster judge. Read more

Collette N. Ncube (She/Her)

Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health

Candidate Statement

If elected, it would be my pleasure to serve as Treasurer of the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research. I have been a member of SPER since I was a postdoctoral fellow. As an active member of this society, I have served multiple times as Program Planning committee member, abstract reviewer, poster judge and student prize paper judge. Read more

International Representative Candidates

Neda Razaz (She/Her)

Assistant Professor, Docent
Clinical Epidemiology Division
Department of Medicine Solna | Karolinska Institutet
https://staff.ki.se/people/neda-razaz
Stockholm, Sweden

Candidate Statement

It would be a privilege to serve as the International Representative of the SPER Executive Committee and welcome the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the global reach of SPER in this role. The SPER annual meeting has been an important part of my professional career since 2011 when I started my PhD education in perinatal Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Read more

I am currently an Assistant Professor at the Clinical Epidemiology Division, at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. My research interests in perinatal/reproductive epidemiology aims to improve our understanding of early life risk factors and the chain of events leading to neurodevelopmental, often life-long disorders. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for primary prevention. I have a broad background in epidemiology, with specific training and expertise in perinatal and pediatric epidemiology using health administrative databases in Canada and Sweden. My current research focus on three areas: (i) understanding the role of maternal and paternal chronic illness during pregnancy, and medication use on neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring; (ii) investigating neonatal and factors and interventions that influences the risk of neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular outcomes in childhood and early adulthood; and (iii) examining the impact of severe maternal and neonatal morbidity on long term health outcomes in women and their offspring.

SPER is the only conference, worldwide, that successfully spans and provides the breadth of reproductive, perinatal and pediatric content and epidemiological rigor in study design and advanced methods. The conference always provided the opportunity for me to network with likeminded researchers across the globe. Currently I am part of the organization committee planning the first European conference in perinatal and pediatric epidemiology, to create an arena for collaboration, development, and fostering of perinatal and pediatric epidemiological research in Europe, a sister organization to SPER. As International Representative, I will use my own national networks and links to promote the Society and increase membership and involvement. My involvement with SPER also includes publication and review of manuscripts for the society’s journal, Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology and recent appointment to the journals’ Editorial Board as a Junior Editor.

I hope to have the opportunity to severe as the International Representative of the SPER Executive Committee.
Thank you for considering my nomination.

Gizachew Tessema (He/Him)

Senior Lecturer and NHMRC Fellow
School of Population Health, Curtin University, Australia

Candidate Statement

I would be honored to serve as SPER International representative for the upcoming years! I am an active member of SPER since 2020 and attending and presenting in the annual conference. Read more

Student Representative Candidates

Miranda Loutet (She/Her)

Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Candidate Statement

Thank you so much for this opportunity to be nominated for the SPER Student Representative position. I have greatly enjoyed being a member of SPER throughout my doctoral studies, attending many webinars, and learning from other members. Read more

I am very excited for this opportunity to be more involved in the Executive Committee, engaging with other SPER students/trainees, and facilitating methods-based and trainee-focussed events.
I am a 4th year PhD candidate in Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and the Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. I previously obtained my BSc at McGill University and MSc at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. My doctoral research aims to generate new evidence regarding the quantification and classification of early-infant feeding patterns to improve methods of ascertainment in large-scale surveys and to study public health relevant factors for promoting exclusive breastfeeding in a global context. Before starting my PhD, I worked on the design and implementation of a large prospective cohort study, the Synbiotics for the Early Prevention of Severe Infections in Infants (SEPSiS) Study, which aimed to investigate risk factors of severe infection, including the composition of the intestinal microbiome, in young infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and now my doctoral research is embedded within this study.
This is a very exciting opportunity to become more involved in SPER and facilitate ways to support and engage students/trainees within SPER through various networking and educational events. I have experience organizing and facilitating similar events as the Professional Development Coordinator for the Trainee Interest Group Governing Committee of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML). In this role I organize regular webinars that are either content- or methods-focussed and organized multiple networking and professional development events at the ISRHML Conference in Panama City in October 2022. I am also very excited for the opportunity to plan the Advanced Methods Workshop, which I will draw on skills I have obtained as the PhD student representative of the Epidemiology Curriculum Committee at the University of Toronto where I have the opportunity to discuss the design of advanced curriculum for both master- and doctoral-level courses.
Thank you again for this opportunity to engage with more SPER members, especially with fellow students/trainees to facilitate the growth of this inspiring network of pediatric and perinatal epidemiologists.

Sharonda M. Lovett (She/Her)

Epidemiology PhD Student
Boston University School of Public Health

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be nominated as Student Representative (2023-2024) of the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER). Read more

Since becoming involved in SPER, I have been privileged to present my research at the annual meeting, review abstracts, serve on the Student and Post-Doc Working Group, and (currently) serve on the Program Planning Committee. Being engaged in SPER, a community of epidemiologists invested in moving the science forward, has greatly shaped my personal and professional development. If elected, I look forward to planning the Advanced Methods Workshop and contributing to SPER’s ongoing success of facilitating a diverse program of educational seminars/symposia (in-person and online) and opportunities for networking or collaboration. I also hope to increase diversity of student membership across institutions/organizations that may not have a large SPER presence at the annual meeting by expanding access to SPER and exploring more opportunities for outreach.
To introduce myself: I am a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). Prior to BUSPH, I received my MPH in Epidemiology & Maternal and Child Health from the University of South Florida and worked at a biomedical research agency where I examined the impact of gynecologic surgery on breast cancer risk while considering the use of hormone therapy to inform clinical practice. My current research program focuses on the influence of stress across the life course and sustainable ways to advance health equity. For example, the study of environmental and early life determinants (e.g., adverse childhood experiences, family/community violence, discrimination, neighborhood change) on reproductive health such as subfertility, menstruation, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. I have also been fortunate enough to contribute to community-engaged research, promoting the importance of reproductive life plans and father-inclusive programs.
I would be humbled to serve on the SPER Executive Committee, advocating the mentoring and educational needs of students and trainees at all career stages. I believe epidemiologists-in-training should be empowered to share their ideas for improvement, and I welcome the opportunity to listen with intent and commitment to implement positive change.

Bethany Rand (She/Her)

Public Health Sciences PhD candidate
University of Tennessee Knoxville – College of Education Health and Human Science

Candidate Statement

I am delighted to be considered for the Student Representative (2023-2024) position at the Society of Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER). Read more

It would be a privilege to represent students and trainees involved in SPER, and to have the opportunity to work with a group of seasoned and accomplished epidemiologists. I believe I possess the commitment, drive, and skills necessary to successfully serve on the SPER Executive Committee.
I am a perinatal researcher and Public Health Sciences PhD candidate within the College of Education, Health and Human Science at the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK). My research focuses on the role that lifestyle behaviors in pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood play on chronic disease risk. I am concurrently earning a Master’s in Statistics through the Intercollegiate Graduate Statistics and Data Science Program in the Haslam College of Business at UTK. Prior to UTK, I completed a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Chronic Disease at the University of North Florida, Brooks College of Health. I am a current member of the SPER Student/Postdoc Committee and have been a participating member of SPER since 2021.
I am an individual with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, which I think are critical to this position, as I would be regularly planning SPER-related events and engaging with students/trainees of various career stages. Furthermore, my prior experience working as an officer for the UTK Public Health Student Association (PHSA) leaves me well-poised for this position. Relevant duties as PHSA officer included (, but not limited to) planning educational, service, and social events in-person and virtually, taking minutes and sending out regular email updates via my department’s listserv, and coordinating with faculty members, planning, and moderating MPH comprehensive exam reviews. Now that I have served term as PHSA officer, I have the time and fervor to serve on a board that spans multiple institutions. As Student Representative, I promise to carry out the responsibilities of planning student/trainee events, supporting SPER Executive Board initiatives, and importantly, delivering the Advanced Methods Workshop for the SPER Annual Meeting in 2024 with pride and excellence.
I also serve as the student representative abstract reviewer for my college’s annual Graduate Research Colloquium, as well as an abstract reviewer for the 2022 and 2023 SPER annual meetings. As an abstract reviewer, I have had the honor of upholding scientific rigor and research equity. I am passionate about curating a culture of diversity and scientific inquiry where public health research can grow and thrive amongst budding researchers from diverse backgrounds. As Student Representative, I promise to promote an atmosphere of diversity and research integrity.
It would be a true joy to serve on the SPER Executive Committee as the Student Representative (2023-2024). Thank you for considering me as candidate.

2023 Elections Copy

President-Elect, Member-at-Large, Treasurer, International Representative, and Student Representative.

2022 Members of SPER are entitled to one vote per category. Learn more about the candidates below.

Voting will conclude on May 12, 2023.

President-Elect

Monique Hedderson (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Edwina Yeung (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Member-at-Large

Stefanie N. Hinkle (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Jessica Knight (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Stefania Papatheodorou (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Catherine J. Vladutiu (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Treasurer

Candice Johnson (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Collette N. Ncube (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

International Representative Candidates

Neda Razaz (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Gizachew Tessema (He/Him)

Candidate Statement

Student Representative Candidates

Miranda Loutet (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Sharonda M. Lovett (She/Her)

Candidate Statement

Bethany Rand (She/Her)

Candidate Statement