MAKELLA COUDRAY

Public Health- Epidemiology Doctoral Student

Makella Coudray, MPH, CPH

RESEARCH FOCI: Sexual & Reproductive Health, Infectious Diseases, Surveillance, Disease Prevention & Control, Neglected Tropical Diseases

Makella Coudray entered the FIU School of Public Health Epidemiology Doctoral program in fall of 2017. Her major professor is Dr. Purnima Madhivanan. She earned her BSc. in Biology (cum laude) and Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) from St. Georges University, Grenada. Makella is currently a graduate assistant in the Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel School of Public Health. She collaborates with Dr. Stephens on research examining the psychosocial aspects of health inequities.

Makella’s research examines the correlates of persistent and recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) among women as well as the vaginal microbial profile of women with asymptomatic BV. She is also interested in examining the relationships between BV and Human Papillomavirus as well as Herpes Simplex Virus 2 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. As a Trinidad and Tobago National, Makella is uniquely aware of the public health concerns that plague the region. As such, she is also interested in investigating emerging infectious diseases and vector borne diseases that plague the region.

View Makella's Research Video

Teaching & Mentorship

Co- Mentor, Department of Psychology Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Sexual Health Literacy and Education Among Emerging Adults in Mysore, India
Yandra Mariano (Psychology Major & Chemistry Minor- 2019)

Co- Mentor, Honors College ARCH Project
The Association between Bacterial Vaginosis and Pregnancy among Women from Rural Mysore, India
Meera Prasad (Psychology Major- 2019)

Teaching Assistant, PHC 6062: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
FIU School of Public Health Epidemiology

Teaching Assistant, PHC 6009: AIDS Epidemiology and Control
FIU School of Public Health Epidemiology

Honors & Awards

Travel Scholarship (2018)
FIU Robert Stemple School of Public Health

Research Grant (2018)
FIU Graduate & Professional Student Committee

Gold Level (2016)
President’s Award of Trinidad and Tobago Medal

George B. Daniel Award for Exceptional Contributions to Student Life (2016)
President’s Award of Trinidad and Tobago Medal

Gold Level (2015)
St. George’s University of Grenada

Silver Level (2015)
President’s Award of Trinidad and Tobago Medal

Bronze Level (2009)
President’s Award of Trinidad and Tobago Medal

Professional & Research Service

Member, American Public Health Association
Washington, DC

Member, Stempel Public Health Association
Florida International University

Treasurer, Black Graduate Women's Student Association
Florida International University

Member, Culture, Gender & Psychology Research Group
Florida International University Department of Psychology

Research Presentations

Coudray M, Ruiz-Perez D, Colbert B, Mathee K, Narasimhan G, Madhivanan P. Vaginal Microbial Profile and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Young African American women with asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis. Miami Winter Symposium, Miami, Florida.

Coudray M, Madhivanan P. Intravaginal practices of young African American women and increased risk for Bacterial Vaginosis in the United States. American Public Health Association Annual Conference 2018, San-Diego, California.

Cadet G, Coudray M, Stephens D, Adsul P, Siddaiah A, Madhivanan P. Gender, Geography and Guidance: Factors influencing Indian Mothers Responses to ADHD. McNair Scholars Research Conference, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Colbert B, Madhivanan P, Coudray M, Perez D, Narasimhan G, Mathee K. To Treat or Not to Treat: Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis and the Correlation to Human Papillomavirus in the United States. 20th Annual Biomedical & Comparative Immunology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Ruiz-Perez D, Colbert B, Coudray M, Mathee K, Madhivanan P, Narasimhan G. Vaginal microbial profile of women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in US. 20th Annual Biomedical & Comparative Immunology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Kiplagat S, Coudray M, Krupp K, Srinivas V, Jayakrishna P, Ravi K, Madhivanan P. HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs among rural pregnant women in Rural Mysore, India. Poster to be presented at the Stempel College Research Day, Miami, FL. February 15, 2018.

Kiplagat S, Coudray M, Krupp K, Srinivas V, Jayakrishna P, Ravi K, Madhivanan P. HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs among rural pregnant women in Rural Mysore, India. Poster to be presented at the 9th International Workshop of HIV& Women, Seattle, WA. March 2-3, 2019.

Kiplagat S, Coudray M, Krupp K, Srinivas V, Jayakrishna P, Ravi K, Madhivanan P. How did Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) perform in rural Mysore District, India? Poster to be presented at the Unite for Sight Global Health conference, New Haven, CT. April 13-14, 2019.

Makella's Research Projects

To view research projects that Makella has taken a leadership role in developing and/ or implementing, please visit our Current Research and Completed Research study pages.

Current Research

LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF VAGINAL MICROBIOTA AND PERSISTENT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS DETECTION

Analysis of dry vaginal swabs collected longitudinally from women asymptomatic for bacterial vaginosis (BV) for detection of oncogenic HPV and persistence of oncogenic HPV infections.

Single-Use, Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostic Device for the Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Utilizing Vaginal Swabs

SEXUAL HEALTH LITERACY AMONG EMERGING ADULTS IN THREE CONTIENENTS

A mixed methods analysis of sexual health knowledge, practices and beliefs.