Kathryn Fiorella

Department of Public & Ecosystem Health
Assistant Professor
Department of Public & Ecosystem Health
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca, NY 14853
Email: kf326@cornell.edu
Office Location: S2-004 Schurman Hall
Research Interest
Planetary Health/One Health, Fisheries, Livelihoods, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Environmental change
Education
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2015
Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management
Masters of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2013
Epidemiology, Certificate in Public Health Nutrition
A.B., Princeton University, cum laude, 2006
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Certificate in Environmental Studies
Biography/Professional Experience
Assistant Professor, Master of Public Health, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, 2018-present
Lecturer, Program in Public Health, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, 2017-2018
Postdoctoral Fellow, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University, 2015-2017
Adjunct Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth Institute, Columbia University, 2015-2017
Immersion Fellow, Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), 2015-2016
Professional Appointments
UN World Food Programme, Program Associate, Kampala, Uganda, 2008
The Food Project, Community Outreach Fellow, Lynn, Massachusetts, 2006-2008
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (undergrad/MS/MPH mentees)
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Niles, MT…Coffin-Schmitt, J…Fiorella, KJ, et al. 2021. A Multi-Site Analysis of the Prevalence of Food Security in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Developments in Nutrition. In press.
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Golden, CG, Koehn, JZ, Shepon, A, Passarelli, S, Free, CM, Viana, D, Matthey, H, Eurich, JG, Gephart, JA, Fluet-Chouinard, E, Nyboer, EA, Lynch, AJ, Kjellevold, M, Bromage, S, Charlebois, P, Barange, M, Vannuccini, S, Cau, L, Kleisner, KM, Rimm, EB, Danaei, G, DeSisto, C, Kelehan, H, Fiorella, KJ, Little, DC, Allison, EH, Fanzo, J, Thilsted SH. 2021. Aquatic Foods for Nourishing Nations. Nature. 598: 315-320.
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Hickey, MD, Ouma, GB, Mattah, B, Pederson, B, DesLauriers, NR, Mohamed, P, Obanda, J, Odhiambo, A, Olambo, L, Njoroge, B, Otieno, L, Zoughbie, DE, Ding, EL, Fiorella, KJ, Bukusi, EA, Cohen, CR, Geng, EH, Salmen, CR. 2021. The Kanyakala Study: Randomized controlled trial of a microclinic social network intervention for promoting engagement and retention in HIV care in rural western Kenya. PlosONE. 16(9): e0255945.
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Heilpern, SA, DeFries, R, Fiorella, KJ, Flecker, AS, Sethi, S, Uriarte, M, Naeem, S. 2021. Declining diversity of wild-caught species puts dietary nutrient supplies at risk. Science Advances. 7(22): eabf9967.
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Fiorella, KJ, Bageant, ER, Schwartz, N, Thilsted, SH, Barrett, CB. 2021. Response to Temperature Change in Cambodia’s Inland Fisheries. Science Advances. 7(18): eabc7425.
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Heilpern, SA, Fiorella, KJ, Cañas, C, Flecker, AS, Moya, L, Naeem, S, Suresh, SA, Uriarte, M, DeFries, R. 2021. Substitution of inland fisheries with aquaculture and chicken undermines human nutrition. Nature Food. 2: 192-197.
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Fiorella, KJ, Bageant ER, Mojica, L, Obuya, J, Olela, P, Ochieng, J, Otuo, P, Onyango, HO, Aura, C, Okronipa, H. 2021. Small-scale fishing households facing COVID-19: the case of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Fisheries Research. 237: 105856.
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Fiorella, KJ, Okronipa, H, Baker, K, Heilpern, S. 2021. Contemporary Aquaculture: Effects on nutrient availability. Current Opinions in Biotechnology. 70: 83-90.
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Byrd, K, Thilsted, SH, Fiorella, KJ. 2020. Fish Nutrient Composition: A review of global data from poorly assessed inland and marine species. Public Health Nutrition. 1-11.
- Chung, EO, Omollo, DO, Mattah, B, Hickey, MD, Salmen, CR, Milner, EM, Brashares, JS, Young, SL, Fernald, LCH, Fiorella, KJ. 2019. Characteristics of Pica Behaviors Among Women in Western Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16(14): 2510.
- Fiorella, KJ, Bageant, E, Kim, M, Vichet, S, Try, V, Baran, E, Kura, Y, Brooks, A, Barrett, C, Thilsted, S. 2019. Improving Fish Biomass and Biodiversity within a Dynamic Social-Ecological System: Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia. Ecology and Society. 24(3): 18.
- Fiorella, KJ, Desai, P, Miller, JD, Okeyo, N, Young, SL. 2019. A Review of Transactional Sex for Natural Resources: Under-researched, overstated or unique to fishing economies? Global Public Health. 1-12.
- Fiorella, KJ, Gavenus, ER, Milner, EM, Moore, M, Wilson-Anumudu, F, Adhiambo, F, Mattah, B, Bukusi, E, Fernald, LCH. 2019. Evaluation of a social-network intervention on child feeding knowledge and practices. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 15(3): e12782.
- DeLorme, A, Gavenus, E, Salmen, C, Benard, GO, Mattah, B, Bukusi, E, Fiorella, KJ. 2018. Nourishing Networks: A social-ecological analysis of a network intervention for improving household nutrition in Western Kenya. Social Science & Medicine. 197: 95-103.
- Chang, A, Fiorella, KJ, Hickey, MD, Salmen, CR, Bukusi, EA, Cohen, CR, Auerswald, CL. 2018. Marginalization and community perception of HIV care, treatment, and support on Mfangano Island, Kenya. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, & Action. 12(2): 121-133.
- Milner, EM, Fiorella, KJ, Mattah, B, Bukusi, EB, Fernald, LCH. 2018. Timing, intensity, and duration of food insecurity are associated with child development in Kenya. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 14(2).
- Fiorella, KJ, Milner, EM, Salmen, CS, Hickey, MD, Omollo, DO, Mattah, B, Adhiambo, A, Bukusi, EB, Fernald, LCH, Brashares, JS. 2017. Human Health Alters the Sustainability of Fishing Practices in East Africa. PNAS. 114(16): 4171-4176. Covered by: Voice of America (radio), NSF, Cornell Chronicle, Berkeley News
- Fiorella, KJ, Milner, EM, DO, Bukusi, E, Fernald, LCH. 2017. Quantity and species of fish consumed shape breast milk essential fatty acid concentrations among women living around Lake Victoria, Kenya. Public Health Nutrition. 21(4): 777-784.
- Seto, K & Fiorella, KJ. 2017. From Sea to Plate: Remembering Fish in a Sustainable Food System. Frontiers in Marine Science. 4(74).
- Gaynor, KM, Fiorella, KJ, Kurz, DJ, Gregory, GH, Seto, KL, Withey, LS, Brashares, JS. 2016. War and wildlife: linking armed conflict to conservation. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 14(10): 533-542. (cover story)
- Fiorella, KJ, Chen, R, Milner, EM, Fernald, LCH. 2016. Agricultural Interventions for Improved Nutrition: A Review of Environmental and Livelihood Dimensions. Global Food Security. 8: 39-47.
- Hickey, MD, Omollo, DO, Salmen, CR, Mattah, B, Blat, C, Ouma, GB, Fiorella, KJ, et al. 2016. Movement between facilities for HIV care among a mobile population in Kenya: transfer, loss to follow-up and re-engagement. AIDS Care. 28(11):1386-1393.
- Fiorella, KJ, Camlin, CS, Salmen, CR, Omondi, R, Hickey, MD, Omollo, DO, Milner, EM, Bukusi, EA, Fernald, LCH, Brashares, JS. 2015. Transactional Fish-for-Sex Relationships Amid Declining Fish Access in Kenya. World Development. 74: 323-332.
- Salmen, CR, Hickey, MD, Fiorella, KJ, Omollo, D, et al. 2015. "Wan Kanyakla" (We are together): Community Transformation in Kenya Following a Social Network Intervention for HIV Care and Treatment. Social Science & Medicine. 147: 332-340.
- Hickey, MD, Salmen, CR, Omollo, DO, Mattah, B, Fiorella, KJ, et al. 2014. Pulling the network together: Quasiexperimental Trial of a Patient-Defined Support Network Intervention for Promoting Engagement in HIV Care and Medication Adherence on Mfangano Island, Kenya. JAIDS. 69(4): 127-134.
- Nagata, JM, Fiorella, KJ, Salmen, CR, Hickey, MD, Mattah, B, Magerenge, R, et al. 2014. Around the table: Food insecurity, socio-economic status, and instrumental social support among women living in a rural Kenyan island community. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 54(4): 358-369.
- Fiorella, KJ, Hickey, MD, Salmen, CR, Nagata, JM, Mattah, B, Magerenge, R, Cohen, CR, Bukusi, EA, Brashares, JS, Fernald, LCH. 2014. Fishing for Food? Analyzing links between fishing livelihoods and food security around Lake Victoria, Kenya. Food Security. 6(6): 851-860.
- Brashares, JS, Abrahms, B, Fiorella, KJ, Golden, CD, Marsh, RA, McCauley, DJ, Nunez, T, Seto, K, Withey, L. 2014. Wildlife Decline and Social Conflict. 2014. Science. 345(6195): 376-378. Covered by: BBC News, The New Yorker, NPR, The Daily Mail, Scientific American
- Fiorella, KJ. 2013. Interpersonal relationships in research: balancing reciprocity and emergencies. Journal of Research Practice. 10(2): N1.
- Nagata, JM, Fiorella, KJ, Young, SL, Otieno, OD, Ijaa, K, Bukusi, EA, Cohen, C.R. 2013. Socio-demographic and health associations with body mass index at the time of enrollment to HIV care in Nyanza Province, Kenya. AIDS Care. 25(12): 1491-1498.
- Fiorella, KJ. 2013. Considering the Complexity in HIV/AIDS and the Environment. American Journal of Public Health. 103(9).
- Bellan, SE, Fiorella, KJ, Melesse, DY, Getz, WM, Williams, BG, Dushoff, J. 2013. Extra-Couple HIV Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: a mathematical modeling study of survey data. Lancet. 381(9877): 1561-1569. Covered by: The Economist, All-Africa, News Medical
- Cohn AS, Eitzel, MV, Fiorella, KJ, et al. (authors contributed equally). 2012. Review of ‘Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies: A Primer’ by Gunilla Oberg. Quarterly Review of Biology. 87(3): 247-248.
- Fiorella, KJ, Cameron, A, Sechrest, W, Winfree, R, Kremen, C. Methodological considerations in reserve system selection: a case study of Malagasy Lemurs. 2010. Biological Conservation. 143: 963-973.
- Fiorella, KJ, Gurney, C, Leong, M, Stillinger, T. 2010. Nature's Matrix: Linking Agriculture, Conservation and Food Sovereignty. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 34(8): 923-925.
Refereed Book Chapters
- Kim, M, Bageant, E, Thilsted, S, Fiorella, KJ. Community Management of Fish Refuges in Cambodian Rice Field Fisheries. Ed C.C. Krueger, W.W. Taylor, and S.-J. Youn. From catastrophe to recovery: stories of fishery management success. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.
Correspondence and Outreach
- Fiorella KJ, Rapacciuolo, G, Trisos, C. 2016. Biodiversity Conservation Priorities: Learning from Public Health. Nature (Correspondence). 538 (317).
- Miller, J, Fiorella, KJ, Wekesa, P, Boateng, G, Collins, S, Young, S. 2017. An inquiry into a recent paper on pica in western Kenya. Nutrition and Food Science (NFS) Journal.
- Withey, L, Seto, K, McCauley, DJ, Fiorella, KJ, Marsh, RA, Abrahms, B, Nunez, TA, Golden, CD, Brashares, JS. Fauna in decline--response. 2014. Science (Letters). 346(6211): 819-820.
Presentations
- SESYNC Community Research Seminar, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), 2020
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Public Health Scholars Workshop, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), 2020
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WorldFish (Penang, Malaysia), ‘Fish for Thought’ Seminar, 2019
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Planetary Health: Environmental Change is Impacting Human Health and the Environment. TCAM Faculty Pitch. Cornell University. (2019)
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Declining Fish Catch and Human Health Around Lake Victoria, Kenya. Mosquito Net Fishing Symposium. Syracuse University. (2019)
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Social-ecological Drivers of Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia. North American Congress for Conservation Biology. U. Toronto, Canada. (2018)
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Improving Fish Biomass and Biodiversity within a Dynamic Social-Ecological System: Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia. SESYNC. Annapolis, Maryland. (2018)
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Fish Catch and Fisher Adaptations in Cambodia’s Rice Field Fisheries: Implications for Climate Change. Planetary Health Annual Meeting. University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. (2018)
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Improving Fish Biomass and Biodiversity within a Dynamic Social-Ecological System: Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia. International Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Nutrition Conference, Phnom Penh, Cambodia [presented by Yumiko Kura]. (2018)
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Improving Fish Biomass and Biodiversity within a Dynamic Social-Ecological System: Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia. Tropical Biology and Conservation Symposium. Cornell University. (2017)
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Quantity and species of fish consumed shape breast milk essential fatty acids. Global Workshop: Nutrition-sensitive fish agri-food systems. Siem Reap, Cambodia. (2017)
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Linking Human and Environmental Health: The Effects of Fisher Illness on Fishery Sustainability. Atkinson Sustainability Project Pitch Competition. Cornell University. (2017)
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Evaluation of a Social Network Intervention to Improve Nutrition. International Congress of Nutrition. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Integrating fishery, livestock and cropping systems. Farm to Plate Conference. Cornell University. [Session Presenter and Organizer] (2017)
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Biodiversity Benefits in Cambodian Rice Field Fisheries. Maternal & Child Nutrition. Cornell University (2016)
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Human Illness and Environmental Sustainability around Lake Victoria, Kenya. International Marine Conservation Congress. St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. (2016)
Cornell Campus Seminars
- International Program-College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IP-CALS) (2019)
- Department of Nutritional Sciences (2019)
- Department of Natural Resources (2019)
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (2017)
- Department of Natural Resources (2016)
- Program in International Nutrition (2015)
Awards and Honors
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2015-2017, Cornell Atkinson Center Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cornell University
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2014, NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement, Geography & Spatial Science
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2014, Philomathia Fellow, University of California, Berkeley
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2011, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS), Dholuo2011, Meaningful Modeling of Epidemiological Data Fellow
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2009-2012, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Research Funding
- 2020, Assessing Self Procured and Locally Sourced Food Adaptations in Response to COVID19 in Upstate New York
- 2020-2021, Cornell Atkinson Center, COVID19 Rapid Response Fund, "Assessing the Impacts of COVID19 on Food Security and Food Consumption Among Kenyan Households"
- 2019-2021, Cornell Atkinson Center, Atkinson Venture Fund, "Spoiling Fish as Food: Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Victoria"
- 2019-2020, Engaged Cornell Academic Venture Fund Supplemental Award, "Spoiling Fish as Food: Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Victoria"
- 2019-2020, Einaudi Center Seed Grant, "Human Behavioral Responses to Harmful Algal Blooms around Africa’s Lake Victoria"
- 2019-2020, National Geographic Explorer Grant, "The Value of Biodiversity in Cambodian Flood Plain Fisheries"
- 2018-2019, Catalyzing New Research Partnerships, CRDF Global, "Cornell-WorldFish Research Partnership: Biodiversity Conservation in Small Scale Fisheries"
- 2018-2019, Engaged Cornell, "Curriculum Development Grant: Food Systems for Health"
- 2018-2019, Conservation, Food & Health Foundation, "Analyzing Benefits of Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia"
Professional/Academic Affiliations
- Cornell Atkinson Center
- Center for Health Equity
- Cornell Center for Social Sciences
- Graduate Fields: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Natural Resources, Global Development