Samantha Werts-Pelter, MPH, graduated this Spring 2024 with her PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. Focused on programs and research that serve community needs, Dr. Werts-Pelter worked with the Arizona Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and also served as a study coordinator for the University of Arizona Cancer Health Equity Research Center while earning her degree. Actively involved with student projects and committees, Samantha also won the graduate Student Life Award.
As I was entering the graduate program, it was important to me to work on projects that have a direct application for the community. The research programs I worked on are the result of strong community-academic partnerships.
Samantha Werts-Pelter
PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Samantha Werts-Pelter, MPH, graduated this Spring 2024 with her PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. She began her journey with our college as an MPH student in Fall 2018, and continued as a doctoral student starting in Fall 2020. Focused on programs and research that serve community needs, Dr. Werts-Pelter worked as a graduate research associate with the Arizona Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (AzCPCRN) while earning her degree, and also served as a study coordinator for the University of Arizona Cancer Health Equity Research Center (UA CHERC).
Through the AzCPCRN, Samantha completed additional training in dissemination and implementation science. She worked closely with community organizations on projects to improve cancer screening rates and understand attitudes and beliefs about cancer preventative lifestyle behaviors among Mexican-origin cancer survivors. As a study coordinator for the UA CHERC, she led the implementation of a culturally-tailored lifestyle behavior and symptom management intervention for Latina cancer survivors.
For her dissertation project, Considerations for Adapting Evidence-Based Health Behavior Interventions for Older Rural Cancer Survivors, she explored the feasibility and acceptability of utilizing digital health tools to implement healthy lifestyle behavior interventions with older and rural cancer survivors.
Samantha was also an active participant in the college’s annual Public Health Poster Forum for research and later served as co-Chair to help plan and coordinate the Forum for two years. The Poster Forum is a student-led event with the Co-Chairs supporting other student volunteers in all aspects of planning a professional conference. Both years that Samantha helped to lead the Forum were very successful. She also served on the college’s Student Affairs Committee, and in the college’s LUCHA club (Learning, Understanding and Cultivating Health Advocacy). She has been an engaged and valuable member of our student body and deserves all the recognition that the graduate Student Life Award brings.
For this profile, we asked Samantha about what she learned during her PhD degree program at the Zuckerman College of Public Health, and what inspires her about public health work.
Q: What inspired you about the projects and/or programs you worked on? What did you learn?
A: As I was entering the graduate program, it was important to me to work on projects that have a direct application for the community. The research programs I worked on are the result of strong community-academic partnerships. I have been fortunate to learn from and alongside cancer survivors, community health workers, and community advocates during my time in the program. These relationships have been crucial for understanding how public health programming can and should be implemented. These are lessons I will take with me as I continue in academic research.
Q: Did you have a teacher or mentor who especially inspired you? How and why?
A: I have been lucky to work with Dr. Cyndi Thomson as my mentor over the past six years. Not only is Dr. Thomson an expert in nutrition, cancer prevention and control, and cancer survivorship, she is also a wonderful person and friend. As a graduate student, she motivated me to seek opportunities to expand and apply my learning, trusted me to lead projects and classes, and offered guidance and support while navigating the world of academia. I have learned many valuable skills under Dr. Thomson’s mentorship, and most importantly she has taught me how to be a kind and compassionate mentor for the next generation.
Q: How will your education and experience as a public health student influence your path forward?
A: I have enjoyed my time as a public health student and I plan to continue in academic research and mentor future public health students. The knowledge and skills I learned while at the Zuckerman College of Public Health have prepared me well to establish my own lab, and I’m excited about continuing to work with community partners to carry this work forward.
