MPH student becomes first-author published just months from graduation
For many graduate students, publishing research is a milestone. For one UNT Health
College of Public Health student, it has become a defining achievement. The second-year
MPH student has secured first-author publication for a study investigating spatial patterns of breast cancer risk associated with industrial and environmental
pollutants months before graduation.
Darashagam Nahal’s path to publication reflects both academic preparation and a willingness to explore new disciplines. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, she earned dual degrees in biology and public health, along with a certificate in telehealth and health informatics, where she developed a passion for expanding access to care through technology. After the COVID-19 pandemic deepened her interest in population-level health challenges, she shifted her focus fully to public health and enrolled in the MPH program at UNT Health, concentrating in epidemiology. As part of the first cohort of the college’s geographic information systems certificate program, Nahal gained specialized training in spatial analysis — a skillset that would later prove essential to her breast cancer research.
Nahal’s early research began during her undergraduate years, where she studied resource insecurity and social determinants of health. As she prepared to complete her MPH, she gravitated toward environmental health research, drawn to understanding how data and policy can work together to address systemic health risks and improve outcomes at the community level.
Upon transitioning to UNT Health, Nahal connected with Kari Northeim, PhD, in the college and discovered an opportunity to expand her research portfolio. What began as a conversation quickly evolved into a collaborative, interdisciplinary project that integrated the unique expertise of students and alumni from CPH and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine to further examine spatial patterns of disease. Together, the team broadened the study’s scope to consider multiple countries, strengthening the depth of their analysis. The final receipt of publication can be described as a “full circle moment” for Nahal.
As an important first step to address specific issues, awareness is essential. Most breast cancer diagnoses are attributed to family history, with little to no consideration for environmental pollutants. This gap in understanding can delay prevention efforts and limit conversations about broader environmental risk factors. Without acknowledging environmental exposures, communities disproportionately burdened by industrial activity may remain overlooked in breast cancer prevention efforts.
Abigail Hoffpauir, a third-year TCOM student and Research Fellow at Houston Methodist Institute for Reconstructive Surgery, says this study was personal to her.
“We were managing a cancer diagnosis within my own family during our work on this project, but throughout my life, I’ve had several close family friends who were battling breast cancer,” Hoffpauir said. “I was motivated to ask the deeper questions because this disease hits so close to home.”
Hoffpauir originally approached Dr. Northeim with a proposal for a different study focus, inspired by her hometown of Port Neches and its proximity to industrial facilities. The idea that stemmed from her proposal morphed into the publication.
“This project reflects the collective expertise of many dedicated individuals. I am so grateful to collaborate with fellow students and faculty at UNT Health to produce this work together,” Hoffpauir said.
“I’ve met some of the best people through this program. My colleagues in TCOM brought a unique skillset to the project,” Nahal said.
Nahal’s UNT Health experience so far was described as transformational. She’s had
the opportunity to work as a peer research mentor at the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science
Library where she’s connected with new students applying the resources she’s gained
during her tenure. She also attended the 2025 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., supported by a NNLM Region 3 Professional Development
Award, where she presented her research on water insecurity as the only master’s-level
student presenter on behalf of UNT Health.
“I deeply value North Texas and am committed to driving meaningful change in this region through my research, but my broader goal is to make an impact on a global scale,” Nahal said.