August Global Lecture Series

A One Health Approach to Understanding Intestinal Parasite and Schistosomiasis Transmission in Malawi

• Speaker: Morgan Sekou, Ph.D., MPH
• Date: Aug. 11, 2026
• Time: 10 - 11 a.m. CT

Dr. Sekou will present findings from a study on the epidemiology of intestinal parasites in Malawi (PIs: Dr. Sarah Gunter and Dr. Amy Sanyahumbi), which inspired her current research characterizing schistosomiasis transmission dynamics. This work incorporates environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to identify exposure pathways and characterize transmission risk in rural Malawian villages. Drawing on insights from both studies, she will discuss how a One Health approach that considers the built environment can improve our understanding of disease transmission and inform locally tailored environmental control strategies.

Biography:

Dr. Morgan Sekou is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Division of Global Health at Baylor College of Medicine. She resides in Malawi, where she also serves as a Fogarty Fellow based at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. Her expertise lies in the epidemiology of vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases, with an emphasis on understanding transmission dynamics to inform disease prevention and control.

Dr. Sekou earned her Ph.D. in Epidemiology, with minors in Biostatistics and Geospatial Analysis. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology at Fort Hays State University. Her professional experience includes work with several organizations, including Johns Hopkins Health System, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Through her work, Dr. Sekou seeks to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that reduce the burden of infectious diseases in underserved communities.