Dr. Ifeolu David, a distinguished physician and scholar at the University of Michigan, offers profound insights into the intersecting realms of vaccine decision-making, health disparities, and promotion in his presentation, “Insights from Sierra Leone.” Having garnered extensive experience from his frontline role during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Dr. David delves into the historical and systemic factors that shaped the region’s healthcare foundations and its responses to subsequent health crises like COVID-19. His work adeptly combines clinical expertise, public health knowledge, and community engagement to address critical health disparities. Through his research, he highlights how past experiences with infectious diseases influence current vaccine behaviors, especially among health workers who played pivotal roles during both the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
Drawing on a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, Dr. David uncovers how factors such as brand trust, availability of reliable health information, and educational influences significantly affect vaccine uptake in Sierra Leone. Importantly, he sheds light on the disparities in vaccine distribution, stressing the inequities faced by low-resource settings, even years after global vaccine deployment. The experiences from Sierra Leone emphasize the global responsibility to ensure equitable healthcare access, which is paramount not just for regional welfare but also for global health security. To explore Dr. David’s comprehensive analysis and findings, watch the full presentation on the Michigan Society of Fellows YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8wmxRSFSPM.
Congratulations to Sungwon Park, current junior fellow and assistant professor with the School of Nursing, for earning the title of 2024-26 Ewha Global Fellow.
Ewha Womans University awards the fellowship to distinguished scholars from around the world for collaboration in research and education with its faculty members in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1886, Ewha has grown into one of the world’s largest women’s educational institutes.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
The 55th-anniversary celebration of the Michigan Society of Fellows will take place on November 6-7, 2025, in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. This momentous occasion will bring together the esteemed members of our community for a two-day symposium filled with enriching academic presentations and discussions by our alumni junior fellows, as well as joyous reunions by all current and former society members.
In anticipation of this event, David Gerdes, current chair of the Michigan Society of Fellows, interviewed three of our esteemed panelists to highlight their own experiences with the Society.
ANA VIENA Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel HillSCOTT WATSON Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Syracuse UniversityCÉCILE FROMONT Professor in the Department of History of Art and Department of Architecture at Harvard University
QUESTION: The Society brings together scholars at a pivotal early career stage. What aspects of the fellowship experience were most valuable in helping you develop into the scholar that you are now?
Vinea: For me, the most valuable aspect, or better gift, of the fellowship was the time it offered. Time to think, to experiment, to have doubts, to not rush, to escape for a little while the pressure of a merciless academic market. The fellowship did not turn me into a highly productive scholar, but I hope it made me a more thoughtful one.
Watson: The strongest aspect of the fellowship was the diversity. Getting to share my experiences in physics with others that were mostly in the humanities and getting to know their perspectives on the pursuit of knowledge. My favorite experience was when I gave my talk and was asked, “How does an electron feel?”. What a wonderful question!
Fromont: The Society gave me the gift of time and perspective. Being a fellow allowed me to turn many of the theoretical stones and follow many of the research threads that I had identified in my doctoral research but had not had the opportunity to fully explore. It also encouraged me to be ambitious and daring in the framing of my first book and in later projects. Above all, I benefited at that pivotal moment from the deep intellectual generosity of the University of Michigan community. I am in debt to the many scholars who made time to meet and discuss my research in a set of conversations that were both transformative at the moment and enduring in their impact on who I would become as a scholar.
QUESTION: Looking back, what was the most unexpected or surprising benefit of your fellowship period? This could be intellectual, professional, or personal.
Vinea: The cultivation of an openness to different ways of asking scholarly questions, which defines the fellowship, made me a better anthropologist, I like to think.
Watson: Honestly, at that period in my life I was a bit snobby towards the humanities in general (science was superior). But after my time of interacting with everyone I made great friends (some of which last to this day) and learned I was missing out on a lot that I needed to learn. It was a very special experience.
Fromont: Experiencing Michigan was a completely unexpected gift. I was born and raised in the French Caribbean, and the Great Lakes region was as distant and exotic a place as I could imagine. During my time at the Michigan Society of Fellows, I was awed by the beauty of this part of the world and amazed at the vibrant -and fraught- mix of heritage it hosted. It was humbling as a historian to witness history in the making as Detroit confronted the aftermaths of the financial crisis and the Midwest welcomed the Obama presidency. I will also always carry with me the memory of the most amazing librarians in academia, turquoise water, and white sand beaches, musical concerts, the cracks of ice breaking in the spring on Lake St Clair, Easter eggs hidden in the snow, the best Reuben sandwich I will ever eat, and inexplicably large coffees drinks.
QUESTION: Could you share a specific memory or moment from the Society’s gatherings (whether formal or informal) that exemplifies what makes this intellectual community unique?
Vinea: Honestly, there is no specific moment that comes to mind, but the most memorable moments were the lunch talks. I always thought that was where the magic of transforming minds in dialogue with others happened.
Watson: There is one experience I must share for the sake of honesty (as this was the most memorable), but I don’t know if it will be useful to quote. When I first joined the Society one of the fellows held a dinner party. There were around twelve of us, I was the only man. I kept my mouth shut for most of the night and learned what women go through in academia – and other issues as well. It shaped how I have gone on as a professor and person and attempted to address issues of inclusion, equality, and diversity.
As a separate memory, I could not go without mentioning the mentorship of Don Lopez (Buddhist studies — director of the society during my time). He really shaped my thinking and also what would become my future career. Moreover, he taught me what it means to have strong character and to give to others without wanting anything in return.
Fromont: A main focus of my dissertation had been the analysis of central African cosmology as a religious and political concept. Scott Watson, a physicist, and cosmologist, was in the same fellow class. Ironically, it was our common interest in cosmology that allowed us to size up and consider together the barriers that disciplines, methods, and training build around scholars. On many occasions, we genuinely attempted and largely failed to find commensurability in our deep interest in cosmology as an object of research. These conversations were intellectually thrilling. They also brought me much insight into the culture, aims, and practices of parts of academia very distant from my own, and made me curious about and attentive to the mission, promise, and challenges of universities.
We can’t thank Vinea, Watson, and Fromont enough for taking the time to speak with us and we look forward to hearing more from each of them at our 55th Symposium this November.
We are thrilled to introduce groundbreaking research from Dr. Sungwon Park, a current Michigan Society of Fellows (MSF) postdoctoral fellow, recently published in BMC Public Health. In her insightful article titled “Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of the Working Population Measured by Accelerometry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Dr. Park, along with her colleagues, explores how different occupational roles impact sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) using precise accelerometry data.
This comprehensive study analyzes existing literature to reveal significant differences across various job types. Office workers, characterized by prolonged periods seated at desks, exhibit the highest levels of sedentary behavior. Conversely, nurses, whose work involves considerable physical activity, demonstrate the greatest levels of PA. These findings emphasize the inherent health risks and benefits tied to the physical demands of different occupations.
Dr. Park’s research highlights the critical need for targeted workplace interventions. By understanding the specific SB and PA profiles associated with different job types, employers and policymakers can develop more effective strategies to promote healthier lifestyles among employees. Potential interventions could include implementing standing desks and encouraging regular breaks for office workers, or providing sufficient rest periods for physically demanding professions like nursing.
Moreover, the study underscores the importance of using accelerometers in occupational health research. Unlike traditional self-reported data, accelerometry offers objective and detailed insights, reducing biases and enhancing the accuracy of health behavior studies.
For those interested in the intersection of occupational health, public health, and behavioral science, Dr. Park’s article is a crucial read. It advances our understanding of how job types influence health behaviors and sets the stage for future research and practical applications in workplace health promotion.
