Hey y'all! My name is Leo Shih and I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown, studying Global Health. This summer, I’ll be investigating the relationship between climate change and shigellosis disease in Texas, within the broader context of “Blue Marble Health”, a phenomenon where neglected tropical diseases become endemic in wealthy nations due to the challenges of rising societal inequalities, human migration, climate change, and inadequate health systems. Studies investigating the impacts of climate change in a blue marble environment are critical. Unfortunately, US studies investigating the impacts of diarrheal diseases in this context remain rare, and shigellosis, in particular, is rather neglected. Texas is an ideal place to investigate these impacts, with a high migrant population, substantial geographic variance susceptible to climate change, and a ranking in the bottom tier of US states for populations in poverty. Plus, it’s home, and I’d like to live in a place with as few diarrheal diseases as possible!

I will be attempting to identify the relationship between worsened climatic conditions, as reflected in climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , and shigellosis disease rates, as identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services, over a ten year time span. Using the R programming language, I will be able to conduct statistical tests and identify which specific variables in the NOAA data best predict shigellosis disease rates. The resultant relationships can then be visualized using the ARCGIS online geographic information system interface, creating a tool that policymakers and local health officials can use to improve their planning.

One of my main goals this summer is to hone my data analysis and project management skills. I also hope to further discern how I can make the greatest contribution in my future career, and how I can apply these skills to a variety of fields. I am also excited to learn with, and from, my fellow Laidlaw Scholars, whether that be through discussions of our various research methodologies, or practicing our ethical leadership skills. Most importantly, I hope that my research will be able to positively impact the health of my home state and provide useful insights for public health officials.

I’m excited to embark on this Laidlaw Scholars adventure with y’all. Please message me if you’d like to discuss our projects, pets (I have a cat named Meimei and I will definitely send you pictures), ethical leadership, or anything else!