A glimpse into the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University

Director's Message

Happy Holidays from the Main Quad!

As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the very strong start to the academic year that we've had, and I am excited for what lies ahead. As ever, I am so thankful for our community and the passion, innovation, and kindness exemplified by our students, alumni, faculty, and friends.

I hope that you enjoy this next rendition of our newsletter and I encourage you to share it with friends and to share your thoughts with us! Each of us on the HumBio team sends wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

Lianne Kurina

Bing Director of the Program in Human Biology

Faculty News

Yvonne Maldonado Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Congratulations to Dr. Yvonne (Bonnie) Maldonado who was elected to the National Academy of Medicine this fall for her contributions in the epidemiology and control of pediatric infectious diseases, including polio and measles elimination from the Americas, prevention of maternal-infant HIV transmission, and the national COVID-19 pandemic response.

Maldonado is a professor of pediatrics and of epidemiology and population health, senior associate dean of faculty development and diversity, the Taube Professor in Global Health and Infectious Diseases, and interim chair of the Department of Medicine. In HumBio, She teaches HumBio 124C, Global Child Health with Professor Clea Sarnquist.

Maya Rossin-Slater Awarded AEA's Elaine Bennett Research Prize

Congratulations to Dr. Maya Rossin-Slater who was awarded the Elaine Bennett Research Prize from the American Economic Association. The award recognizes Rossin-Slater for her groundbreaking research examining "how public policies and other events influence the outcomes of families with children" and her work on "factors that can improve the outcomes of disadvantaged populations and to reduce socioeconomic inequalities and health disparities."

Rossin-Slater is an associate professor of health policy at Stanford Medicine and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. In HumBio, she teaches HumBio 123E, Health Economics & Policy.

Class Spotlight

From Stigma to Solutions: How One HumBio Class Educates & Empowers Students to Combat the Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic has left an indelible mark on the lives of millions. From rural towns to urban centers, the staggering number of lives lost and people affected by opiates are stark reminders of the urgent need for knowledge, understanding, and action. Seeing this need, the Human Biology leadership team recognized the importance of educating students on the opioid epidemic and put out a call to the community in search of faculty who would be interested in teaching an upper-division course on the subject. Read more.

Alumni Spotlight

Empowering Women's Health: A Journey of Advocacy and Impact

When Dr. Kameelah Phillips ‘99 was growing up, she often found herself accompanying her grandparents to various medical appointments and she quickly learned about the complexities and inequalities of the healthcare system. Living in a multi-generational household, she also discovered the intrinsic connections between her family’s health and happiness and her own well-being: “When my grandparents felt well, we had glorious dinners and it was a good time in the house. But when my grandparents didn’t feel well or were dealing with medical complications, I was eating cereal or peanut butter and bread.” Phillips traces her professional path back to her early understanding of the ways that the impacts of health inequities can ripple through an extended family. Read more .

Learn from the Experts

Human Biology’s committed faculty come from across the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Medical School. Our faculty have long been at the forefront of groundbreaking research, innovation, and creativity. Expand your knowledge, build on your HumBio degree, and learn from these leading scholars from the comfort of your own home in these recorded presentations, panels, and seminars. You never know what you might discover!

Michelle Monje: Neuron-glial Interactions in Health and Disease from Cognition to Cancer

A practicing neurologist and neuro-oncologist, Monje studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms of postnatal neurodevelopment. She is particularly interested in the roles of neural precursor cell function and dysfunction in the origins of pediatric brain tumors and the consequences of cancer treatment. Dive into Monje’s research with this presentation on how neuron-glial activity drives glioma growth.

Michelle Monje is a professor of neurology, and, by courtesy, of neurosurgery, pediatrics, of pathology, and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. In Human Biology, she advises and mentors students pursuing honors research projects.

Ruth O'Hara: Cognition, Emotion, and Risk Factors across the Lifespan

A cognitive neuroscientist and sleep and autism researcher, the core of O'Hara's research is on cognitive information processing, specifically how deficits in this system affect symptoms in psychiatric disorders, and interact with key brain networks in these disorders. Explore O'Hara's work on cognition and cognitive disorders in this keynote presentation from Stanford's annual Precision Mental Health and Wellness Symposium.

Ruth O’Hara is the Lowell W. and Josephine Q. Berry Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Senior Associate Dean for Research at Stanford Medicine. In HumBio, O’Hara teaches HumBio 164, Autism Spectrum Disorder with Professors Joachim Hallmayer and Sophia Colamarino.

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