Student Research Spotlight: LuBeth Perez (Health Care Sciences)
Lubeth Perez is pursuing a PhD in Health Science and has completed all her coursework. She is currently completing her research dissertation.
Briefly talk me through your research journey from your first day at NSU to today.
My NSU journey began with my Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. This degree enabled me to work in an academic setting as a program manager overseeing community interventions focused on diabetes and COVID-19. Working in this environment exposed me to research and piqued my interest in it. Although I enjoy what I do, I am pursuing my Ph.D. to lead research more aligned with my interest in lung health. I had a great experience in the MPH program and with the professors, which solidified my decision that NSU was the best place for me to pursue my Ph.D. The experience I gained has helped me tremendously during my Ph.D. studies.
For my dissertation, I am researching tobacco use among Texas youth. Tobacco use among school-aged students is a significant public health concern, and legislation called Tobacco 21 (T21) was enacted in Texas in September 2019, followed by T21 at the federal level in December 2019. T21 raised the minimum legal sales age (MLSA) of tobacco from 18 to 21. I am working to determine if there is a relationship between T21 legislation and past 30-day tobacco use among Texas students aged 15 to 17. Although these students are below the MLSA for tobacco, usage rates in this age group remain high due to social exchange. I am excited about my research because it will assess a major policy and determine its impact.
What made you interested in the type of research you are currently working on?
My undergraduate degree is in Respiratory Therapy, where I worked with many patients who suffered the detrimental effects of tobacco use. Therefore, lung health is very important to me. During my first semester in the Ph.D. program, I was enrolled in a policy course that required us to write about a different policy each week. This course was during a time when T21 policies were being enacted across many cities, in Texas, and then nationally. Seeing how policy work can impact lung health on a larger scale was impressive and motivated me to conduct my own research on policy.
What made you decide to work with your current research mentor?
I am an online student. During the first semester of my Ph.D. program, I attended a conference and met Dr. Elliot Sklar. He was very supportive of my endeavors. The next semester, I had the pleasure of learning from him, as he was my professor. As part of the course, I attended an onsite learning institute on the Fort Lauderdale campus. The weeklong course was a great way to connect with my classmates as well. Dr. Sklar was a fantastic mentor during that semester. I also worked with Dr. Sklar during the intensive research practicum, and I found him extremely helpful, motivating and passionate about his desire to teach and conduct research. I entered my dissertation knowing that I wanted to work with Dr. Sklar as my dissertation chair, and I was elated that he was available and agreed to work with me. I am also fortunate to work with Dr. C. Lynn Chevalier on my dissertation. She is very supportive and available when I have specific questions about my research methods. Lastly, Dr. Page Dobbs is the content expert on my dissertation committee. I met her through the American Public Health Association (APHA) section on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. She has extensive experience researching tobacco.
How does this work relate to your future career goals and what do you plan to do next?
My current research aligns perfectly with my future career goals as I want to continue pursuing research in lung health.
How has NSU helped you pursue and/or achieve personal and professional goals you have set for yourself? Any specific NSU resources that you would like to mention?
A professional goal has been to obtain a Ph.D. degree, so that I can focus on research that interests me. NSU made it possible for me to advance my career while continuing to work, thanks to the online format. NSU has wonderful resources available, including the writing center. I always tell others to utilize the expert consultants because they do more than just proofread papers. They help with brainstorming, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, and help provide guidance on APA writing format. Additionally, the interlibrary loan (ILL) is a tremendous resource. Anytime that I am having difficulty finding a journal article or newspaper clip, I reach out to the ILL, and they help me find what I need. They can also help locate hard-to-find books. For my research, I was interested in reading a certain book but was unable to find it. I contacted the ILL, and they mailed a copy to my home.
What advice do you have for other students interested in getting involved in research?
My advice to students interested in getting involved in research is to become members of professional associations in their fields. Getting involved is a great way to network and learn about new opportunities. I am an active member of the APHA and gradually worked my way into leadership roles. This volunteerism with APHA led me to meet Dr. Dobbs, an accomplished researcher in tobacco, who is now on my dissertation committee. I have met many other respected researchers and mentors during my journey.