Two outstanding ISyE PhD students were honored for their research at the 2025 Southeast Regional Clinical and Translational Science Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. 

The conference brings together researchers from across the southeast to present the best new health-related studies and build collaborative relationships. This year's conference celebrated the latest advancements in preclinical, clinical, implementation, and population-based research. 

Among the award winners at this year’s conference were ISyE PhD students Meghan Meredith and Jingyu Li, who each showcased their recent research.

Meghan Meredith earned the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award for her research titled "Identifying Regions that Are Vulnerable to Obstetric Unit Closures in Georgia Using Mathematical Optimization." Meghan’s study addressed the growing issue of rural hospital closures, particularly obstetric units, which make it harder for pregnant people in rural areas to access timely maternity care. 

By using mathematical optimization models, Meghan identified which hospital closures would have the largest impacts on travel distances for rural populations and proposed ways the government could allocate subsidies to keep them open. Her research is crucial for ensuring better access to high-quality obstetric care, especially for those living in rural Georgia. 

Meanwhile, Jingyu won 1st Place Poster in Public Health for her project titled "Examining Perinatal Regionalization in Practice: A Network Analysis of Maternal Transport in Georgia." Her work focused on how maternal transport is coordinated in Georgia, particularly for women in rural areas who need to be transferred to hospitals that can provide appropriate care. 

Jingyu analyzed birth records from 2017 to 2022 to map out transport routes between obstetric facilities and discovered that transport rates were highest in certain rural areas, indicating limited access to proper care in those regions. 

Her research also found that the state’s designated perinatal regions didn’t always align with how maternal transport actually occurs in practice. Jingyu suggested that redesigning these regions could improve access to the care pregnant people need.

Both students were praised for their recent research, which tackles real-world problems in maternal healthcare in the state of Georgia. Meghan and Jingyu’s research not only demonstrates their academic excellence but also their commitment to improving healthcare systems in Georgia. 

Their awards at the Southeast Regional Clinical and Translational Science Conference highlight how researchers in ISyE are innovating to improve healthcare systems.

Meghan and Jingyu are both advised by Dr. Lauren Steimle, who is the Harold R. and Mary Anne Nash Early Career Professor in ISyE.