Interdisciplinary Team Leverages Student Passion to Research Hypertension in Nashville

Students join with faculty, community partners to publish findings and amplify public health awareness

Hypertension is a condition in which chronically high blood pressure damages artery walls over time. Often called a “silent killer,” hypertension can overwork a person's heart, putting them at risk for heart attacks and strokes. The team chose hypertension as the focus for their research because of its persistence as a leading contributor to mortality for Nashvillians, its widespread presence in the city, and the lack of consistent resources with which to treat the disease.  

The paper, titled ‘Place Matters: Investigating the Social and Emotional Drivers of Hypertension in Nashville’ comes as a major milestone for these researchers. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Sycamore Institute, Senior Ride Nashville and the Nashville Food Project, the group is helping expand education about hypertension, treatment options and methods of prevention are being spread throughout affected communities in town.  

Faculty members Michael Oliver, Jarod Parrish, Marquinta Harvey and Catherine Bass have been involved with the project since its inception in 2020, and while they’re incredibly proud of the work they’ve produced together, it’s the passion and determination of their students that set this research experience apart. 

“I absolutely love working with college students on community research,” said Data & AI Collaborative director Catherine Bass. “These are the years where they’re finding what drives them and what will make their synapses fire. Our students know how to get things done — they’ve been a truly inspiring addition to our team.”  

Combining Strengths for Greater Outreach

In order for their research team to produce an actionable, community-minded report, Harvey, Parrish, Bass and Oliver knew they would need to use their individual strengths to approach hypertension from all possible angles. The mix of perspectives from faculty, students and community partners equipped the team to understand and address the factors contributing to hypertension in Nashville 

“This team became incredibly powerful as soon as we began to understand everyone’s individual perspective on the problem,” said Oliver. “When attempting to solve a community health problem, you don’t typically think about including voices in data science, psychology, neuroscience or pharmacy in the conversation, but because of our combined interest in community health and resources from our community partners, we were able to explore different ways of looking at the same question. Collaboration on this level is central to what we do at Belmont, and that made all the difference in our research.” 

Alumni Deya Rassul (‘24) and Tatum Brown (‘23) joined the project during their time as undergraduate students in biology and public health. Harvey invited Brown to the project to explore public health research areas and Oliver invited Rassul to the project after their work together at Belmont’s Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (SURS) made Oliver notice her passion for hypertension research, specifically within Nashville’s Kurdish population.  

“Participating in this research has provided me with a huge sense of confidence moving forward in my future career path,” shared Rassul. “I view research very differently now, because I know that behind each data point is a person with a story and I’m grateful that at Belmont, I could take part in improving the outcomes of those stories. It’s a responsibility I’ll always cherish.” 

 By joining an interdisciplinary team early in their undergraduate careers, Brown and Rassul gained familiarity with new areas of public health research and have since allowed that experience to shape their current careers. Brown is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public health at Yale University and Rassul is a medical student at Lincoln Memorial Medical School — positions that build on their foundations in research, service and patient-centered impact. 

“This project made me even more excited to begin my medical training, where I could start giving hands-on care to patients,” said Rassul. “My passion for future research projects has also doubled. In whatever specialty I end up choosing, I hope to take part in more research and potentially even lead projects that change people's lives for the better.”  

Continuing Community Work 

While publication of the paper marked a major milestone, the team’s work in Nashville is continuing to evolve through partnerships with clinics and local organizations. 

The group's current hypertension research is now housed within the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, where second-year medical student Dipesh Patel has helped strengthen the initiative's relationships with community health clinics, including Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. Those partnerships are helping connect Nashville residents with hypertension education, preventative care resources and treatment support. 

“My research experience has been incredibly rewarding, as it allowed me to see firsthand how thoughtful, patient-centered care can make a meaningful difference,” said Patel. “As I progress through medical school, I plan to carry this perspective with me by prioritizing clear communication, advocating for preventative care, and remaining committed to community engagement. Ultimately, this experience has shaped my goal of becoming a physician who not only treats disease, but also actively works to improve health outcomes at the community level.” 

As plans to scale treatment efforts and amplify their findings take shape, Harvey, Parrish, Bass and Oliver are already seeing real-world outcomes resulting from their work and are even more motivated than before to grow with the movement they’ve created.  

“Our team lives and breathes community care,” said Harvey. “This work is our deepest passion, and every ounce of experience we’ve had as individuals and a group is aiding our research in one way or another. With all that our students have given to this project and everything we have on the horizon in terms of growth, I know the best is yet to come and I can’t wait to see the positive impact our work has on the greater Nashville community.”