Peer Support Team
Introduction to the Peer Support Team Heading link
The Peer Support Team members are advanced Master or Doctoral students in the School of Public Health (SPH) or who are dedicated to helping their peers succeed academically in quantitative methods and writing related courses at SPH. Schedule an appointment with a member of the Peer Support Team today!
The Peer Support Team is composed of 4 members: a Writing Specialist, Undergraduate Writing Specialist, and two Quantitative Methods Specialists. The team offers:
- In-person or virtual individual, group sessions, and workshops to help students with writing and quantitative methods
- Assistance with class assignments in a relaxed and supportive environment
Services are free of charge and available to all undergraduate, masters, and doctoral-level Public Health students, regardless of skill level or comfort with the material. From understanding basic content to more advanced support, visiting the Peer Support Team is a great way to increase your comfort and success in your academic work. All Specialists work with one another and in consultation with course instructors, TAs, and ODI staff to ensure that students at SPH have the support they need to succeed in their coursework.
What can you see the Writing & Quantitative Methods Specialist for? Heading link
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Written Assignments
- Brainstorming paper topics
- Thesis development
- Paper organization
- Proofreading and citations
- Policy briefs
- Literature reviews
- Papers
- Abstract writing
- Community engagement journals
- Using databases
Professional Documents
- Scholarship applications
- Resumes
- Cover letters
- Personal statements
- …And more!
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Quantitative Methods PST Specialist
- Help with courses like:
- IPHS 402, EPID 404, BSTT 401/402, and more!
- Review quantitative concepts and methods
- Review homework assignments
- Conduct exam review sessions
- Provide SAS assistance with concepts or errors
- Etc.
- Help with courses like:
What can you see the Undergraduate PST Specialist for? Heading link
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Public Health Courses
PUBH 100, 105, 110, 120, 360, 397, 410, 411, etc.
Written assignments
- Policy briefs
- Literature reviews
- Papers
- Abstract writing
- Community engagement journals
- Brainstorming paper topics
- Paper organization
- Proofreading and citations
- Using databases
Skills
- Research organization
- Citations
- Annotations
- Reading scholarly articles
- Note taking
Group Work
- Group assignments
- Presentations
- Poster making
- Infographics
- …And more!
Peer Support Team Rules Heading link
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About the rules
- Be on time
- Try logging into Zoom ahead of time to address technical issues
- If you schedule a meeting and find yourself running late, please contact the person you scheduled a meeting with to let them know that you are running late
- If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment will be automatically canceled and your time slot will be given to another student
- Students are limited to three scheduled Peer Support sessions per week. Feel free to reach out via email if you foresee needing further support
- Complete sign-in sheet for each session (find links below)
- Be prepared
- To makes best use of time, please come prepared with assignment prompts and drafted work before your session
- For Quantitative sessions, we recommend coming prepared with specific questions and sharing with the specialist what you have already tried
Please Note:
- The Peer Support Team strives to create an accessible and respectful environment; those who disrupt that environment will be asked to leave
- If you miss more than 3 scheduled sessions without advanced notice, your access to the Peer Support Team could be temporarily suspended. Please make sure to always contact the Peer Support Team when you foresee missing an appointment
Sign-in Links
- Please sign-in prior to your scheduled appointment.
- Please complete the post session survey after your session with a PST member.
- *Sign-in and post surveys must be completed for every visit.
- Be on time
Quantitative Methods Specialist Heading link
Hope Orsi, MPH Candidate
Epidemiology
Hope Orsi (she/her) is a second-year MPH student in Epidemiology. She has a BS in Public Health with minors in Biology and Psychology from UIC. Her interests are mainly in One Health, and this past summer she interned at Lincoln Park Zoo where she worked on a project about the effects of rodent exposure on Chicago residents. She had also worked in foodborne illness, as a UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracer, and on the UIC Outbreak Response Team. She is passionate about discovering ways that data can be used to highlight health inequities and respond to emerging disease events. She is looking forward to working with new students on quantitative methods!
Quantitative Methods Specialist Heading link
Cameron Zielke, PhD Candidate
Epidemiology
Cameron Zielke(he/him/his) is a second year PhD student in Epidemiology with a concentration in Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. He has a MS in Epidemiology from University of North Texas Health Science Center. His main area of interest for research is the effects of air pollution on health outcomes, specifically asthma. He is currently working on projects involving Coronavirus and pregnancy, the interaction of pain and sleep on depressive symptoms, and consecutive absences effects on school performance. Cameron is excited to be a Quantitative Methods Specialist for the Peer Support Team and looks forward to meeting new students and helping further their understanding of Quantitative methods.
Writing Specialist Heading link
Madeleine Davison, MPH Candidate
Epidemiology
Madeleine (she/her) is a second-year MPH student in epidemiology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and sociology from Syracuse University. This summer, Madeleine interned at the Chicago Department of Public Health, working on data analysis and visualization for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance program. Outside of work, she loves running, reading, and roller skating. She is looking forward to meeting and working with fellow students this year!
Undergraduate Writing Specialist Heading link
Megan Sanico, MPH Candidate
Community Health Sciences
Megan Sanico (she/her/hers) is a first-year MPH student in Community Health Sciences. She holds a BA in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Culminating her previous experiences in addressing health disparities in immigrant communities, Megan is pursuing an MPH in Community Health Sciences to gain expertise in implementing equitable interventions in vulnerable communities. Her previous work includes tackling food insecurity, shaping health policy, and promoting behavioral health. Having graduated from the undergraduate program, Megan is thrilled to support current students as the Undergraduate Writing Specialist!