A third-year medical student from the University of Central Florida (UCF), Larissa Dixon, has earned a prestigious fellowship from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center. This fellowship will enable her to further her studies on antibiotic resistance while working at Peru’s Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación (IMPACTA). Dixon’s selection marks her as the first UCF student to receive this highly competitive, year-long fellowship.
Dixon’s interest in global health was sparked during a three-week clinical experience at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas in Lima, Peru, last year. She expressed a desire to return and conduct research, prompting her to seek guidance from healthcare professionals about career paths in global health. This led her to apply for the Fogarty program, a vital step in her journey to combat antibiotic resistance.
Research Focus on Antibiotic Use
Dixon’s research will focus on the distribution of preventative antibiotics in Peruvian clinics, particularly examining the use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). She plans to survey healthcare providers and patients to assess the implementation of DoxyPEP, aiming to better inform global health initiatives against antibiotic resistance.
“This research is crucial as it seeks to balance the benefits of DoxyPEP, which has been effective in reducing STI rates in specific populations, with the potential risks of increasing antimicrobial resistance,” Dixon stated. She highlighted that unlike in the United States, many patients in Peru receive antibiotics without a prescription, despite existing regulations. This disparity underscores the need for comprehensive studies that can inform healthcare strategies in both countries.
Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat. Dixon emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in monitoring antibiotic use and adopting evidence-based guidelines to prevent a regression to an era where minor infections could prove dangerous.
Building a Global Health Network
Elena Cyrus, an associate professor of population health sciences at UCF, leads the global health study abroad program that facilitated Dixon’s fellowship application. She noted that Dixon’s research addresses critical global health issues, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the increasing prevalence of STIs.
“Larissa’s project is relevant not only to Peru but also to populations in the U.S. as we face similar challenges with antibiotic overuse,” Cyrus explained. She believes that Dixon’s work could provide insights that might lead to better management of antibiotic prescriptions and usage domestically.
Dixon’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given that UCF is not yet part of an NIH-supported consortium of universities that sponsor Fogarty fellowship candidates. To qualify, researchers must secure sponsorship from faculty members within these consortia. Dixon actively sought out mentors and sponsors from various institutions and successfully navigated this complex process, demonstrating her determination and commitment to her research goals.
She is being mentored by Jenell Stewart at the University of Minnesota and by Javier Lama and Alexander Lankowski at IMPACTA in Peru. Cyrus praised Dixon’s perseverance, stating, “I’m so very excited for Larissa. She’s a prime example of how the College of Medicine global health program has exceeded expectations.”
Dixon recently returned from an NIH orientation in Washington, D.C., and is eager to embark on her year-long fellowship. With her research, she aims to elevate UCF’s global health profile and contribute to vital discussions on antibiotic use and resistance.
Cyrus hopes that Dixon’s success will pave the way for UCF to join the NIH global health consortium, providing future students with direct access to mentorship and resources that enhance research opportunities.
Dixon has articulated her long-term career aspirations, indicating a desire to blend clinical practice with global health research. She aims to specialize in infectious diseases, particularly focusing on HIV and STIs, while mentoring future medical professionals in the U.S.
“The Fogarty fellowship opens up numerous global connections for me,” Dixon remarked. “It’s about making a significant impact on both individual patients and broader public health outcomes.”
As she prepares to begin her fellowship, Dixon’s work promises to contribute meaningfully to the fight against antibiotic resistance, a growing concern for healthcare systems worldwide.
