Meet the 2025 Incoming PhD Students in Population Health Sciences
The Department of Population Health Sciences is excited to welcome an accomplished group of incoming PhD students. Their backgrounds span clinical practice, global health, biostatistics, and social sciences, and their research interests reflect a shared commitment to advancing health equity, improving care delivery, and applying innovative methods to complex health challenges.
Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen graduated from NC State University with a degree in sociology and earned a master’s in population health Sciences from Duke University. “My research focuses on children's health and how environmental and social factors influence health care access and outcomes,” she said. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog.
Qingwen Chen
Qingwen Chen earned his medicine bachelor's degree in China and a master’s degree in biostatistics from University of Pittsburgh. “My research focus will be around cancer and aging. Specifically, I'd like to study the interactions between cancer development and aging phenotypes among diverse populations,” he said. Outside of class, Chen likes exercising at the gym and playing board games.
Logan Couce
Logan Couce is a residency-trained physical therapist board-certified in orthopedics with clinical experience treating a wide variety of patient populations, both in person and through telehealth. “My interest is in better understanding and improving care delivery for musculoskeletal conditions throughout the lifespan, including through the development of clinical phenotypes, improved clinical support tools for patients and clinicians, and the use of digital health approaches to improve access to care,” he said. During his studies, he aims to work closely with Duke Health’s specialists in arthroplasty. Outside of work, Couce enjoys spending time in the mountains running, hiking, and climbing.
Jie Gao
Jie Gao received a master’s in population health sciences at Duke University in 2025 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nankai University in 2023. His research focuses on the development and application of causal inference and machine learning methods in health economics and health policy. “Substantively, I aim to improve the health of older populations, particularly those with chronic diseases and long-term care needs,” he said. Gao enjoys swimming, playing traditional Chinese instruments (Guzheng), and practicing archery.
Laura Kmitch
Laura Kmitch earned her master’s degree in population health sciences at Duke and undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland. Her research interests relate to implementation science, measurement, and program evaluation. “My work experience is varied and included a government agency, a startup, an insurer, a non-profit, and a consulting firm,” she said. “I'm excited to rejoin DPHS!”
Adora Nsonwu
Adora Nsonwu holds a master’s of public health in global health from UNC Chapel Hill and dual bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and English from NC State University. She is a mixed-methods, social-behavioral scientist whose research centers on evaluation and implementation, with a focus on food safety, health equity, and global health. “I believe in translating evidence into equitable, systems-level solutions,” she said. Outside of class, she enjoys running, sewing, listening to podcasts, cooking, and adventuring to new places with her family.
Sahar Shibeika
Sahar Shibeika is a pharmacist with a master’s degree in pharmaceutical technology from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan and a master’s degree in population health sciences from Duke University. “I am passionate about providing patient-centered care, improving quality of life, and addressing health disparities to enhance patient outcomes,” she said. Shibeika’s research interests include aging, dementia, cardiovascular diseases, caregiving, and implementation science. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities with her family and friends.