#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Paul Elish

Paul Elish is a second-year MPH student interested in chronic disease and spatial epi. He told us more about the research projects is involved in both stateside and internationally, along with his favorite parts about studying at Rollins and his hobbies during the pandemic months!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I did my undergrad degree at Yale with a double major in Latin American Studies and biology.

What are your primary research interests?

I’m interested in chronic disease epidemiology, spatial epi, and implementation science. I really enjoy exploring the intersection between public health and sociology.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

I’ve been finding new ways to stay connected with friends. Some favs: doing New Yorker crosswords on partner mode and doing a workout challenge that a friend and I turned into a virtual board game. Also, shoutout to my amazing, unstoppable Rollins Biketober team 😀

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I’m excited about my thesis with my faculty mentor, Julie Gazmararian, that’s exploring associations between physical activity and academic achievement among elementary schoolers in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Gwinnett is extremely interesting because of its incredible diversity and importance as a political swing county. I’ve also had the opportunity to conduct interesting analyses for the spatial epi and bias analysis courses I’m currently taking, including a spatial analysis on COVID dynamics in Peru.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

The Epi Department has done a great job creating an integrated epi/biostats sequence; it has been rewarding to watch our epi courses build off of each other. Also, I’ve loved getting to know amazing people across all of Rollins’ departments.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

One of the great things about Emory is how it has so many different rigorous academic offerings, so I recommend that first-year MPH students consider exploring Emory’s other schools. I honed my French in an undergrad French class during my first semester, and it was a great way to strengthen a skill while connecting with a completely different part of Emory.

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

I’m about halfway through “The Old Drift,” a novel set in Zambia from the early 20th century to the present. It’s especially interesting to read because I spent a year working at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia before coming to Rollins. It’s long, but the author does a great job weaving together characters from Zambia’s many ethnic groups.

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

(1) I developed a love of backpacking over the summer and really enjoyed exploring trails in Georgia and North Carolina.

(2) History has always been one of my favorite subjects, so a great way to distract me is to talk to me about something like the French Revolution, old Japanese novels, or the history of Atlanta.

(3) Last night I got chased by a wild turkey while biking near my house in Atlanta. A great, mildly-scary-but-mostly-funny reminder that Atlanta really is a city in the forest!

Thanks to Paul for taking the time to give us a peek at his background and interests! Tune back in next week for another #WeAreEmoryEPI student spotlight!

#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Claire Rowan

Claire is a first-year Master’s student with an interest in emergency preparedness. We talked to her about her background, reasons for getting her MPH, and advice for future students!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I did my undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and majored in public health.

What are your primary research interests?

My main interest is in emergency preparedness but I’m also taking classes in infectious diseases 

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

The work-from-home environment has been tricky for me, especially moving to a new city/state. The main thing for me is making sure I only do school work at my desk, and can move to a different room in the evenings so that I have a distinct end to the day. I also adopted a cat from the Atlanta Humane Society this semester, and she’s significantly improving the work from home experience.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I’m working for the Atlanta Opera as the Assistant Risk Management Coordinator – we’re having in-person rehearsals and performances and I’m helping make sure all protocols are safe and being followed. It’s been a really fun experience that I didn’t expect to have during my time at Emory.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

I’ve really enjoyed my classes in the fall semester. I’ve had really great professors who have been focused on not only teaching the material that I need to know, but helping their students to learn more about public health opportunities. My EH581 class, public health consequences of disasters has been a really helpful experience so far!

 What made you apply to Rollins, and what was the deciding factor?

I decided to apply to Rollins because of all of the connections, experienced faculty in my research interest and opportunities that would be available to me here. In addition, the REAL program and possible opportunities through that was finally what made the decision for me!

What tips or advice do you have for prospective students when applying and deciding on which school to attend?

My advice for prospective MPH students would be to speak to as many people as you can before applying. I’ve done as many informational interviews with public health professionals to figure out what areas of public health I might be most interested in. When I figured out that emergency preparedness was my end goal, Emory’s faculty was a major factor in my decision. 

What advice do you have for people who may be interested in getting their MPH?

My advice after a semester of pandemic classes would be to expect a lot of work, but make sure to take care of your mental health at the same time.

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

I’ve been reading The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett and listen to EM Weekly (I have a difficult time putting work down at the end of the day)

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. I knit so that I stay busy even when I’m sitting still.

2. I have never had a sense of smell.

3. I’m from Austin, TX and miss breakfast tacos since I’ve moved to Atlanta.

Thanks to Claire for taking the time to introduce herself! We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Catherine Bennett

Catherine Bennett is a MD/MPH student involved in mental health and chronic disease research at Rollins and Emory’s School of Medicine. She was kind enough to tell us more about her current projects and other interests! 

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I graduated from Davidson College in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology and minored in French. I am currently in the dual MD/MPH program here at Emory and will graduate next May.

What are your primary research interests?

I am primarily interested in the intersection of chronic disease, serious mental illness, and the social determinants of health.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

I have found that setting both a weekly and daily schedule helps me see the big picture of what I need to accomplish as well as all of the details I need to focus on for the week. I also try to get outside and take a walk as often as I can to clear my head and to step away from my computer screen.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I am currently working on my APE project with Dr. David Goldsmith, a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine. We are examining medical comorbidities among patients with psychotic disorders who are taking different antipsychotic medications. For my thesis, I worked with Dr. Michael Goodman in the epidemiology department and Dr. Benjamin Druss in the health policy and management department to examine the association between electronic cigarette use and psychological distress.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

The people! I love being surrounded by faculty members and colleagues who are kind, compassionate, humble, and brilliant, who want to use their public health knowledge for the greater good.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

Go to lectures, lunchtime meetings, chairs’ chats, and grand rounds. The faculty at Emory have so much to offer, and you never know what might pique your research and future career interests.

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

My next book is going to be A Lab of One’s Own, a memoir about women in science. Early in the pandemic, I reread Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain.

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. I love to cook and bake; working through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking is my current pastime.

2. I lived in Luxembourg for a year in between college and my graduate studies and worked at the Luxembourg Institute of Health on a Fulbright Grant.

3. I love musical theater!

Thanks to Catherine for chatting with us this week! See you all next week for another edition of #WeAreEmoryEPI!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Izzy Kates

Izzy Kates is a second-year student in the Global Epidemiology program interested in infectious disease epidemiology. This week we caught up with him to learn more about his background, how he’s spent time during the pandemic, and more!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I majored in Behavioral and Community Health at University of Maryland, College Park, and minored in International Development and Conflict Management.

What are your primary research interests?

I am interested in infectious disease epidemiology, One Health, and immuno-epidemiology.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

It’s been difficult, not going to lie. But it helps to have my dog and a constant supply of chocolate!

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I work with a team out of UC-Berkeley screening pre-prints related to COVID-19 for rapid review by subject matter and methodological experts. It’s been a great way to learn about new research and get involved! 

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

Definitely my favorite part of earning my MPH at Emory is the student community, which is so strong and supportive.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

My first piece of advice is to make relationships with faculty. Email them and ask about their projects.

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to? 

I’m currently reading 1491 by Charles Mann, which is all about the Americas before Columbus. I’m also reading Truman Capote’s true-crime classic In Cold Blood. My favorite podcasts right now are all sports-related, but I also love epi podcasts, like Casual Inference and Free Associations!

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. I was highly allergic to milk until I was ~20, so the first bite of pizza I had was in my 20s

2. I grew up Orthodox Jewish (no phones on Saturdays!)

3. My father started a new career in his 60s and now teaches English to high school and college students in Ukraine.

Thanks to Izzy for taking the time to share about himself! We’ll be back next week with another #WeAreEmoryEpi Spotlight.

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Lauren Chase

Lauren Chase is a second-year Epi MPH student interested in public health preparedness. She has been directly involved in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic by contact tracing for the Georgia Department of Public Health!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I graduated in 2019 with my B.S. in Public and Community Health from Ithaca College.

What are your primary research interests?

I am primarily interested in emergency preparedness and disaster response.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

I have definitely made sure to give myself free time and time away from my computer throughout the day whether I am taking a walk or getting a snack. I think going for walks and getting out of my apartment is great way for me to reset and spend time outside.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I am currently a contract tracer and case investigator for the Georgia Department of Public Health and I am a research assistant at the Birth Defects Branch of the CDC. Both are amazing opportunities that I have learned so much from.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory? 

My favorite part of getting my MPH here is the connections that Emory has and the quality of the professors. It is amazing to get taught by experts in their fields who have real-life experiences that they share with us.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

My advice for first year students is to remember grad school is hard and doing it in a pandemic is harder. Don’t underestimate yourself. You got this!

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

I am currently reading “Where the Crawdad Sings” by Delia Owens but I just finished the book “Tear Me Apart” by J.T. Ellison and thought it was great.

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I have decorated my whole apartment and am very excited to show off my Halloween costume this year (even if just virtually).

2. One quarantine skill that I have mastered is finding discounts to Hello Fresh.

3. A few months ago I spontaneously bought an Xbox and I have no regrets.

Thanks to Lauren for catching up with us and stay tuned for more #WeAreEmoryEPI next week!

#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Alexander Webber

Alexander Webber is a second-year MPH student in Epidemiology who researches planning and response to parasitic diseases. We got a chance to ask him more about his academic and personal interests!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

What are your primary research interests?

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

Thanks to Alex for taking the time to introduce himself to us. We’ll be back with another #WeAreEmoryEpi feature next week!

#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Megan Mileusnic

Megan Mileusnic is a first-year Global Epidemiology MPH student and was kind enough to talk to us about her research interests, experiences at Emory, and hobbies!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history

I graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. in 2017, where I studied Communication, Spanish, and International Business

What are your primary research interests?

I’m interested in the social determinants of health, reproductive health, and environmental health.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Establishing boundaries in regards to my work/study/relax time has helped me start grad school in a healthy way. Capitalizing on time when I feel productive to get things done – and letting myself relax when I feel like I’m at my limit – helps me stay positive and on track.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I’m so excited to join the hands-on AISH hotspotting program, which connects students with interdisciplinary teams at Grady Memorial Hospital to identify high healthcare utilizers and work with patients to address factors contributing to their frequent hospitalization.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

I love being surrounded by peers and experts who are passionate about public health and have their own unique interests and focus areas.

What advice do you have for people who may be interested in getting their MPH?

Just go for it, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to?

I just started “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” by Florence Given, and I recently finished “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande – highly recommend!!

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. I used to work in human rights and sustainability consulting for leading consumer brands (and could talk about this forever)

2. I studied abroad in Madrid for a year during undergrad and am looking forward to living abroad again someday

3. I love gardening, hiking, and doing almost anything in nature

Thanks to Megan for her time and thanks for reading this week’s #WeAreEmoryEpi spotlight!

#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Daniel Milan

Daniel Milan is a second-year MPH candidate in Epidemiology with research focused on outbreak response and Latinx populations. He was kind enough to talk with us more about his academic and personal interests!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history.

I graduated with a B.S. in Public Health in 2019 from Georgia State University. There, my academic career in public health began with research in tobacco cessation.

What are your primary research interests? 

My primary research interests are now in Outbreak Response and Latinx Populations.

How have you been navigating the work (& learn) from home experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Continuously connecting with my friends and organizations I am involved with via Zoom has kept me motivated during this online semester. Additionally, when I struggle to focus at my desk, I will take my laptop and go outside to work.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

Though I just began, I have started working on thesis related work. I am utilizing COVID-19 data obtained through my APE with Emory’s Outbreak Response Team.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory?

My favorite part about earning my MPH at Emory is meeting other students who come from different academic backgrounds and are in different parts of their careers that have provided valuable perspective into classroom learning.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students?

My advice for 1st year MPH Students would be to create a study group, friend group, or meet anyone with similar interests as you. Make connections. They will help you succeed in and outside of the classroom.

What books are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you currently listening to? 

I am currently reading Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendal. Though I have not finished, I highly recommend based on what I have read so far.

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you? 

I love baseball, fishing, and eating Korean BBQ!

Thanks to Dan for taking the time to chat with us! Check back with the Confounder next week for another student spotlight!

Emory EPI Responds: Outbreak Response Team (Part 2)

The Emory Outbreak Response Team has been hard at work since our August feature, continuing to raise awareness about prevention strategies and bringing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Georgia. Since then the team, led by Vice Chair Dr. Jodie Guest,  has grown their community partnerships to include the city of Milledgeville and the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta.¹

The rate of COVID-19 among the Latinx population in Georgia has been more than three times the state average,² so their efforts this summer have provided critical access to testing services. The Outbreak Response Team tested over 500 people at the Mexican Consulate in early August, along with other Emory researchers who conducted additional testing events in Cumming and Warner Robins to address these COVID-19 disparities among Latinx communities. Over the past few months this team of students and faculty has engaged in crucial response activities and expanded their reach, all while maintaining their core focus on supporting communities affected by long term health inequalities and disproportionately burdened by COVID-19.

We recently spoke with two more members of the Outbreak Response Team about what they have learned and reflections on their experience this summer working on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Molly McAlvaney

Molly McAlvaney is also a second year in the EPI MPH program. During her undergraduate degree, she studied public health at the University of Tampa. Afterward, she worked at the American Lung Association for a year before coming to Rollins.

“Our team started working in Hall County, where we also helped deliver lunches and public health messaging about staying safe during the pandemic to school children. Since then our testing events have expanded to other counties and we will continue to offer COVID-19 tests to underprivileged communities throughout Georgia. We’ve also worked on different testing methods to determine which testing methods are the most accurate, as well as testing for antibodies.”

“The most challenging part of this experience has definitely been my struggle to effectively communicate with the primarily Hispanic/Latino population we have been working with. I do not speak Spanish, so I am very grateful for our bilingual team members and the community leaders we work with. It has also been challenging to work outside of epidemiology and having to focus on the health education and communication aspects. It has been a bit of an adjustment, but I have learned a lot about all that goes into providing public health messaging to various communities. It is a very eye-opening and rewarding experience.”

Kyle Lester

Kyle is a second year EPI MPH student, before starting at Rollins he worked as a paramedic for Grady Memorial Hospital. While working as a paramedic, he went back to school and earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.

“One of the major challenges we have dealt with this summer is the extensive amount of preparation that must be done for each event, which can take weeks leading up to the actual testing event. The planning and coordination between multiple different agencies and municipalities, IRB approvals, and logistics with paperwork, staffing, and supplies has proven to be a multitude of moving hurdles. Yet, when these issues are resolved, and the testing events are successful, the weeks of work behind the scenes are worth it.”

“Coming from a medical background, I have been involved in sample collection at our testing events.  I have also been working heavily on inputting and cleaning data so that it can be stored and analyzed. My biggest takeaway from these events is that I have found my place in the community engagement aspect of public health work. I enjoy the theory that we learn in our courses, but I have always felt that I wanted to take that a step further and see the faces representing the numbers on those slides and SAS outputs. While working as a paramedic, I gained an affinity for interacting with people at the individual level, and I enjoy representing Emory and public health to our participants.”

Thank you for following the Emory EPI Responds series this summer, it has been a pleasure and an inspiration to witness how so many of our students rose to the challenge and contributed to COVID-19 response, applying the skills they have learned in their MPH so far, and developing countless new ones as needs arose. The Confounder Team is looking forwarding to continue highlighting the great work our students do in the coming year to address the pressing public health needs of today!

Sources 

¹https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/08/emory_mexican_consulate_atl_covid_disparities/index.html

²https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/covid-19-strikes-deep-in-georgias-latinx-communities/ 

Image Sources: Twitter, Emory University 

Emory EPI Responds: Students at the Fulton County Board of Health (Part 2)

Following up on our July feature, the Confounder Team is excited to highlight the great work of more students who spent their summer assisting with COVID-19 response at the Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH). As you may recall from our first article on the FCBOH, a number of Emory EPI students have been hard at work conducting surveillance activities and contributing to Fulton County EPI reports on changes in COVID-19 trends. While public health as a field has certainly taken on a renewed sense of national importance in the wake of the United States’ struggles to control COVID-19, the multitude of actions that compose local public health work, from collaborations between multidisciplinary response teams to person-person interactions in case investigations, are more vital than ever.

I recently spoke with two Emory EPI students who reflected on how challenging frontline public health work can be, especially in the current context, yet how these difficulties have also reinvigorated their passion for this field and commitment to bolstering local response efforts.

Sarah Hamid

Sarah is a fourth year PhD student who studied  Human Biology at Brown University and History, and earned her MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Global Health at Yale University. Before coming to Rollins, she worked as a regional epidemiologist at the CDC’s Global Disease Detection Center in Egypt, then worked in the Philippines with the Emerging Disease Surveillance and Response unit at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

“I have mainly been working on case investigations and epidemiologic analysis. Doing case investigations gives you an appreciation for how surveillance data are generated and the limitations of various data points, which is important to understand when analyzing the data. In terms of analysis, I have been working with a couple of other PhD students to investigate the impact that missing data on race and ethnicity of COVID-19 cases has on our understanding of the disease burden in specific groups.”

“The pandemic hit suddenly so there was little time for training and preparation before diving into case investigations. Relaying quarantine instructions to case patients can be particularly hard when they make clear that they cannot afford not to go to work. Initially, cases had needs and questions that I, as an epidemiologist, felt unprepared to address, such as how to access unemployment benefits. The FCBOH helped us work through these issues as they came up and found local resources that we could pass on to people in need. It has been very rewarding to support the response in my community.”

Sarah also spent time this summer supporting the COVID-19 response with WHO Africa’s Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Unit.  She has primarily been working on COVID-19 epidemiologic profiles and risk assessments to guide countries in the relaxation of lockdowns and reopening of economies through evidence-based decisions.

Daniel Thomas

Daniel is a second year MPH student in the department. Before starting at Rollins, he studied Microbiology at Auburn University where he also worked in an entomology lab that studied integrated pest management techniques in the rural southern US.

“I have had the good fortune to work alongside excellent MPH and PhD-level students and professors at Rollins who have all volunteered their time to Fulton County’s response. As a part of this team, I function largely as a case investigator, reaching out to individuals who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 in order to collect more information about their disease experience as well as elicit their close contacts for further investigation.”

“I wake up each day to an email from our team lead, and Fulton liaison, containing call assignments. After logging into the state’s notifiable diseases surveillance system, I start making calls. The enormous range of responses from the community to the pandemic have been fascinating to witness. By speaking with all of these individuals, I have been fortunate to get a glimpse into understanding the struggles people are going through. Many of the calls I have made have been incredibly draining and taken an emotional toll. However, the strength with which individuals face these challenges has been equally moving.”

Daniel’s experiences this summer has opened his eyes to the many shortcomings that exist within the government and preparedness space and also increased his admiration for local, public health professionals who work tirelessly, often without recognition for their efforts.

Thank you for following along with the Emory EPI Responds series, and next week stay tuned for the final installment in our summer features. We will be revisiting the Emory Outbreak Response Team and hearing from a few more of their members about what they have learned from their experiences conducting field work in Hall County.