Larissa Dixon, a third-year medical student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), has been awarded the prestigious U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center Fellowship. This recognition will allow her to engage in critical research addressing antibiotic resistance while working at Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación (IMPACTA) in Peru.
Dixon’s journey toward this achievement began after a transformative three-week clinical experience at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas in Lima, Peru, last year. Motivated by her time there, she sought guidance from medical professionals on how to integrate global health into her career. This led her to learn about the Fogarty program and ultimately pursue this remarkable fellowship.
Research Focus on Antibiotic Resistance
During her fellowship, Dixon will investigate the distribution and use of a preventative antibiotic known as doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) in Peruvian clinics. This project specifically aims to assess how effectively patients utilize DoxyPEP to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
To achieve her research goals, Dixon plans to conduct surveys targeting both healthcare providers and patients. Her objective is to identify the necessary steps for the safe and effective implementation of DoxyPEP in Peru, while also contrasting these findings with antibiotic usage in the United States.
“As places start to adopt guidelines, I’m hoping my research can better inform how and when these measures should be used,” Dixon stated. Her research aims to provide insights into the ongoing global challenge of antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria adapt to resist medical treatments.
In Peru, patients often receive antibiotics without a prescription, a practice that presents unique challenges compared to the regulated approach in the U.S. By analyzing these differences, Dixon hopes her study will contribute valuable data to inform effective strategies for combating drug resistance.
A Pathway to Global Health Leadership
Dixon’s accomplishment is particularly noteworthy given that UCF is not currently part of an NIH-supported global health consortium. To qualify for the Fogarty Fellowship, candidates must secure sponsorship from consortium faculty researchers, which required Dixon to actively seek mentors and advocates both domestically and internationally.
She has enlisted the support of Jenell Stewart from the University of Minnesota and Elena Cyrus, associate professor of population health sciences at UCF, who leads the global health study abroad program that inspired Dixon’s research. Additionally, she is receiving mentorship from Peruvian researchers Javier Lama and Alexander Lankowski.
Cyrus praised Dixon’s determination in navigating the complex path to securing the fellowship, highlighting its significance for both Dixon and UCF’s global health initiatives. “Fogarty is an incredibly prestigious fellowship that Larissa secured in a relatively short period of time,” Cyrus noted.
With the visibility gained through her fellowship, Cyrus envisions that UCF’s global health presence will strengthen enough to facilitate future inclusion in an NIH global health consortium. This distinction would enhance UCF’s medical research capabilities and provide students with direct mentorship opportunities.
Dixon intends to leverage her experiences from the Fogarty Fellowship to build a career that balances clinical work with global health research. She aims to focus on infectious diseases, particularly HIV and STIs, with an emphasis on prevention, treatment, and combating antimicrobial resistance.
“Just having that Fogarty fellowship under my belt opens up so many global connections for me,” Dixon said, expressing her commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field.
The Fogarty International Center plays a crucial role in supporting global health research initiatives, connecting U.S. and international researchers, and training the next generation of scientists to tackle pressing global health challenges.
