The Substances and Sexual Health (SASH) Lab at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) gave nearly two dozen teenage teens an opportunity to learn about public health, data science, and substance use this summer.
Twenty-three New Jersey teens participated in the six-week Yale Summer Youth Research Program in July and August, aimed at inspiring future leaders in these fields.
The program, held at the Essex County College Newark Campus, was funded by a recently awarded NIDA grant to Dr. Ijeoma Opara, PhD, MSW, MPH, associate professor of public health (social and behavioral sciences) and SASH Lab director. The grant is focused on using participatory methods in machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict substance use disorders in two New Jersey cities. One of the major aims of the grant was to teach youth in New Jersey about research so that they can be fully immersed in the lab and aid in co-designing the study and co-creating algorithms.
The six-week curriculum combined public health methods, data science, advocacy, and the use of social media as a tool for prevention and awareness. The program’s mission was to inspire the next generation of substance use-prevention scientists from New Jersey. Students were selected based on their interest in public health, data science, and their desire to prevent substance use in their communities.
We wanted to give students an enriching experience, blending rigorous academic content with engaging activities.
Beatriz Duran-Becerra, MPH '22
“I wanted to see students with a genuine passion for learning and a dedication to their community,” said Opara, who was born and raised in New Jersey. “Most of the students we selected had this spark, even if they didn’t fully understand public health yet.”
The participating teens came from several cities, including Paterson, East Orange, West Orange, Newark, Montclair, Teaneck, and Somerset. The Essex County College Newark campus was chosen because of its transportation accessibility.
“We were honored to be the home for this impactful initiative and to support Dr. Opara and her team in their efforts to build future leaders in public health,” said Essex County College President Dr. Augustine Boakye.
SASH Lab Project Director Beatriz Duran-Becerra, MPH ’22 (Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), U.S. Health Justice), organized the curriculum and worked closely with the youth daily. “We wanted to give students an enriching experience, blending rigorous academic content with engaging activities,” she said.
Several members of the lab team taught the teens.
Dr. Sitara Weerakoon, PhD, the lab’s associate director of research, led the introduction to public health and quantitative methods. Third-year SBS PhD student Bryce Takenaka co-taught geospatial analysis. Nimisha Srikanth, MPH ’25 (SBS, U.S. Health Justice), taught the youth introduction to qualitative methods, after taking a qualitative methods course at YSPH last semester. “I was excited to introduce the youth to qualitative analysis and witness how quickly they developed their own themes and ideas,” Srikanth said.
The program showcased the diverse interests and expertise of the lab members, and the teens quickly connected with them. Opara cited Mirriam Mananah, MPH ’25 (SBS), who has a BA in neuroscience, as a favorite among students.
“I was surprised, as Mirriam has such a quiet personality,” she said, “but I realized quickly that for some of the teens, they were so happy to meet many of my lab members – including Mirriam, a woman of color, in neuroscience and public health – who taught them how drugs affect the brain. They saw themselves in her and many of my lab members.”
Community members from New Jersey also played crucial roles in the program. For example, Monique Joseph, the mother of Bobbi Wilson, joined the lab in July as a parent liaison. Opara said she brough a sense of trust to the program. Joseph said she “eagerly embraced” the role.
“Initially, I believed my focus would solely be on supporting the students and their parents, but what unfolded was so much more,” Joseph said. “This summer turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
The program also featured guest speakers such as Angelo Pinto, co-founder of Until Freedom and a former activist in residence at YSPH from 2022-2024; and Dr. Jamila T. Davis, PhD, founder of the VIP Empowerment Program, who introduced their “Be the Changemakers” program, teaching teens how to become advocates and use their voices for social change.
With encouragement from the SASH lab instructors and the Be the Changemakers program, the students created a name for a teen substance-use prevention coalition called HEY (Healthy Euphoria for Youth). Now that the summer program has ended, more than half of the students signed up to continue working with SASH Lab staff throughout the year to further develop the coalition and become more immersed in the lab as teen prevention scientists.
Dr. Robyn Stevens, PhD, associate professor of communication and associate dean of research at University of Southern California, led sessions on using social media for drug prevention campaigns. The sessions also included a social media contest where the teens created a PSA on saying no to vape pens in schools.
The students also visited YSPH to take part in quantitative and data science workshops held and organized on campus. Dr. Uche Aneni, MD, assistant professor of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, delivered a lecture on machine learning, showcasing one of her projects involving video games and substance use prevention among youth. Dr. Juan Rios, associate professor of social work at Seton Hall University, explained how artificial intelligence can be used not only to predict substance use, but also to prevent it in communities, and presented a variety of activities to the teens.
“AI is everywhere,” he said. “It’s up to the next generation to use it for good.”
Opara thought the lectures on quantitative analysis and machine learning were some of the program’s most exciting events. “I was so surprised to see how active the students were in those particular workshops. I was worried the concepts would be too difficult for teens to grasps, but it ended up being one of their most favorite workshops! It gives me so much hope that these teens will be able to contribute significantly to our NIDA funded project which seeks to co-create algorithms around predicting substance use disorders.”
The program concluded Aug. 16 with a graduation celebration dinner for the youth and their families in Paterson. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh told the audience, “I’ve seen Dr. Opara’s journey from her days as a PhD student, and I’m incredibly proud of what she has achieved with the SASH Lab at Yale. This program is a testament to her commitment to public health and the future of our youth.”
Other local dignitaries present included Joel Ramirez, director of Paterson Health & Human Services, who said, “I’m in awe of the work being done at The SASH Lab and the collaboration with many Paterson community organizations.” Also attending were former state Assemblywoman Elease Evans; Montclair Councilwoman Aminah Toler; Catherine Connors, teacher and student affairs coordinator at West Orange Public Schools; Major Jennings, principal of Buzz Aldrin Middle School in Montclair; and Cathy Kondreck, president of the Montclair Education Association. Whom all attended to support the youth in the program that represented their cities.
Families of the students were pleased with the program’s impact. One parent said, “This program opened doors for my child I never thought possible.”
One East Orange participant, Gabrielle St. Clair, received a Changemaker Award at the program’s celebration dinner. Her mother called it an incredible opportunity for her daughter.
“I was excited for her to learn about public health issues that affect teens and communities of color,” she said. “I had hoped that The SASH Lab would be an amazing opportunity for her to uncover these public health issues and understand the reasons behind them. However, it turned out to be so much more.
“Every day,” Gabrielle’s mother added, “she came home with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing teens. I watched her mature and gain confidence throughout the program. It was clear that she had become more confident and knowledgeable since starting the research program. Her father and I are incredibly proud of her and the growth we've witnessed as a result of her participation in The SASH Lab.”
The mother of another participant, Delina Belay, from Montclair, cited the program’s curriculum and diversity of experiences in helping her daughter learn.
“I witnessed her exponential growth and enthusiasm for public health blossom because of the leadership and commitment of Dr. Opara and her team,” Delina’s mother said. “This program is a gift beyond measure.”