L. Raymond Guo, a Health Sciences doctoral student in the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS), was recognized as the Best Doctoral Student Paper Award winner by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Preventing Chronic Disease journal.
The journal launched the annual student paper contest in 2011, inviting students from around the world to submit research papers. In an ongoing commitment to mentoring future public health professionals, the journal team along with scholarly volunteers has guided students in developing their scholarly writing skills, with the goal of helping them become established contributors to the public health literature.
“Receiving this award affirms the importance of my research and reinforces my passion for making a tangible impact in public health,” said Guo, who currently works as a health science specialist for the V.A. St. Louis Health Care System. “It acknowledges the dedication and investment of our team, led by my mentor, Dr. M. Courtney Hughes. Our collective efforts to understand public health disparities and leverage data science models to address these issues have been an inspiring and collaborative journey.”
M. Courtney Hughes, NIU professor of Public Health and Guo’s faculty mentor in the Ph.D. program, said Guo successfully collaborated on this project with internal and external faculty, a fellow doctoral student, and mentored a Master of Public Health (MPH) student in the process.
“Ray embodies the qualities of a dedicated public health researcher—curiosity, persistence, and a passion for improving health equity,” Hughes said. “He is an exceptional Ph.D. student and always goes the extra mile. I’m so happy the CDC journal is recognizing his work for its high quality and impact.”
The winning paper, Geospatial Hot Spots and Cold Spots in US Cancer Disparities and Associated Risk Factors, 2004–2008 and 2014–2018, identifies factors with the strongest influence on creating hot spots and cold spots, including unemployment, preventable hospital stays, mammography screening and high school education. Guo and his fellow authors highlighted the need for targeted interventions and policies that address limited access to health care and its associated risk factors.
“I hope this research helps others recognize the profound impact of social determinants of health and regional disparities on cancer mortality,” Guo said. “By identifying cancer mortality hot spots and their associated risk factors, this study provides actionable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers.”
The doctoral student said the goal is to empower practitioners and policymakers with evidence to develop targeted, localized interventions.
“This will not only address access to care, but also the broader socioeconomic and behavioral factors driving these disparities,” Guo said. “Ultimately, I hope this work contributes to reducing cancer-related deaths and producing equitable health outcomes in the future.”
Before entering NIU’s Ph.D. in Health Sciences program, Guo earned his bachelor’s degree in biology science from Shanghai Normal University, master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from East China University of Science and Technology, and another master’s degree in statistics from Washington University in St. Louis. He plans to graduate with his Ph.D. in Health Sciences in May 2025.
“The Ph.D. program has been a wonderful experience that has equipped me with the interdisciplinary knowledge, research skills, and professional integrity needed to address critical challenges in health sciences,” Guo said. “The program’s mission to foster innovation and professional excellence is reflected in every aspect, from its rigorous training to its emphasis on collaboration and communication.”
Guo said he is especially grateful to his mentors.
“They are not only deeply knowledgeable in their fields but also provide specialized guidance that has been instrumental to my growth as a researcher,” Guo said. “Working with them has been both inspiring and transformative, reinforcing my passion for conducting impactful health research. Their encouragement and expertise have been pivotal in shaping my academic journey.”
Read the winning paper about geospatial disparities in cancer death rates over time in the U.S.
Learn more about the Ph.D. in Health Sciences program at NIU.
