Genevieve R. Rizzo, MPH

Genevieve Rizzo is a doctoral candidate in the Community Health Sciences department, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She received her B.S. in Public Health from Saint Louis University (2016) and her M.P.H. in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health (2018). Her master’s thesis used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine sexually transmitted infection risk among detained African American girls in Atlanta.

Her previous work in maternal and child health spans across various populations and life stages. She has worked as a patient interpreter for bilingual Family Medicine and OB-GYN clinics, conducted clinical research trials with HIV-positive children and adolescents, recruited participants for an NIH-funded study exploring the impact of stress on rates of unplanned pregnancies, and assisted with a national qualitative study examining parental attitudes around corporal punishment of children with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is currently working as a research assistant on Dr. Handler’s evaluation of the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.

Genevieve’s research interests are within family planning, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), maternal health disparities, and reproductive health policy.

Genevieve’s dissertation research uses a complex multilevel longitudinal dataset (LONGSCAN) to explore the relationship between early childhood trauma and various sexual health outcomes in adolescence. She aims to examine how various levels of trauma influence reproductive health outcomes, and if and how resilience factors may play a protective role in reproductive health throughout the lifecourse.

Fun Fact- Genevieve was a competitive Irish dancer for ten years!

1. Klevens, J., Mercer Kollar, L., Rizzo, G., O’Shea, G., Nguyen, J., & Roby, S. (2019). Commonalities and differences in social norms related to corporal punishment among Black, Latino, and White parents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 36(1), 19-28. doi:10.1007/s10560-018-0591-z
2. Rizzo, G.R., DiClemente, R.J., & Renfro, T.L. (2018). Exploring associations between Theory of Gender & Power constructs and STI risk among detained African American girls [Master’s thesis, Emory University]. Emory University Theses and Dissertations. https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/vq27zn51q?locale=en

1. Rizzo, G.R., Floyd, B.R., Curtis, P., Akinfe, T., Henderson, V., Torres, P., & Handler, A. (October, 2021). Best practices for evidence-based intervention implementation to improve breast cancer screening rates at a federally qualified health center. Oral session presentation given at the American Public Health Association 2021 Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
2. Rizzo, G.R., Abdelrahim, R., Carnahan, L.R., Zimmerman, K., Holicky, A., Mujic, E., Doi, S.J., & Handler, A. (October, 2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a breast and cervical cancer safety net program for uninsured women. Oral session presentation given at the American Public Health Association 2021 Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
3. Rizzo, G.R., Floyd, B.R., Curtis, P., Akinfe, T., Henderson, V., Torres, P., & Handler, A. (2021, July). Improving Breast Cancer Screening Rates using EBI Implementation at a Chicago FQHC. Poster presented at the Regions V/VII Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Training Programs Conference, Chicago, IL.
4. Rizzo, G.R., Floyd, B.R., Curtis, P., Akinfe, T., Henderson, V., Torres, P., & Handler, A. (2021, April). Improving Breast Cancer Screening Rates using EBI Implementation at a Chicago FQHC. Poster presented at the 16th Annual University of Illinois SPH Research and Scholarship Week, Chicago, IL. Awards Won: CCTS Translational Science Competition – Best Poster; Community Engaged Research – Best Poster; Maternal and Child Health Competition – Best Poster; Doctoral Level Scholarly Public Health Practice – Honorable Mention]
5. Abdelrahim, R., Rizzo, G.R., Bergo, C., Williamson, D., Dionicio Bernabe, M., Navin, S., & Ortinau, N. (2020, November). Barriers and Facilitators to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings among Illinois Women. Poster presented at the American Public Health Association 2020 Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
6. Rizzo, G.R. (2019, July). Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk among Detained African American Girls in Atlanta. Poster presented at the National Sexual Health Conference, Chicago, IL.