Joint Doctoral Program scholar receives two awards for his tobacco-related research
Giovanni Appolon, a joint doctoral program scholar in the public health epidemiology track at San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego, recently received two awards for his tobacco-related research.
The American College of Epidemiology awarded Appolon Best Oral Presentation for his presentation titled “Impact of Local Flavored Tobacco Bans on Youth Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Use in California” during its annual conference.
He also presented his research at the fall 2025 Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program symposium, where he received the award for Outstanding Policy Research.
“It is an incredible honor to have my work recognized at this level.” Appolon said. “These awards validate the importance of equity-focused research in tobacco control.”
In his research, Appolon investigates the effectiveness of tobacco control policies and how these policies affect intersecting identities of race, gender, and sexual orientation among middle and high school students in California.
The goal of his research is to ensure that these policies are not only effective at reducing youth tobacco use, but also that they are being implemented equitably. Sometimes tobacco control policies can appear effective overall, but still fail to make a difference among the youth most at risk, he said.
“The importance of these findings is that they show whether policies are closing or widening disparities, which is critical for guiding future public health action,” he said.
Equity and justice are at the core of Appolon’s work. Appolon — who is Haitian, the child of immigrants, and identifies as LGBTQIA+ — has himself seen how public policies can overlook certain communities, often the most vulnerable ones.
“My lived experiences have made me very aware of these blind spots, and that motivates me to focus on making sure tobacco control policies don’t just work on paper, but work fairly for everyone,” he said.
Appolon’s research was also recognized last year by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, which awarded him a predoctoral grant for his dissertation. The grant, he said, validated his project as “scientifically valuable” while allowing him to “pursue ambitious research questions.”
A year later, his research is still considered valuable in the eyes of major scientific organizations. By awarding Appolon’s work, they too recognize the importance of equity in public health policies.
“They also motivate me to continue this work, knowing that it contributes to moving us closer to a future where everyone, regardless of their background, can benefit equally from public health policies,” he said.
