2nd Year MPH: Yesenia Ramirez

For this week’s special edition of #IamEmoryEpi, we met up with recent Women of Excellence Award recipient Yesenia Ramirez!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I graduated from Wellesley College in 2015 and double majored in Chemistry and Italian Studies. After graduation, I worked as a research assistant for the child and family health department of the city of Chicago, then became a clinical research coordinator for the asthma and immunology department for a local hospital. 

What are your primary research interests?

My research interests include social epidemiology and issues affecting maternal and child populations (so most things), which led me to pursue the maternal and child health (MCH) certificate here at Rollins. I am currently researching how immigration policy has affected birth outcomes among minority populations in Georgia and have been privileged to work on various projects ranging from births defects, maternal mortality, and children and youth with special healthcare needs in my time here.

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

I am currently the principal investigator on a research project funded by a Health Innovation Student (HIP) seed grant with an interdisciplinary team of students across Emory, Georgia State University (GSU), and Georgia Tech, working with Embrace-Friends of Refugees to improve their pregnancy curriculum. Our team has filmed culturally-tailored videos on the late and postpartum stages of pregnancy focusing on topics like labor induction, infant care, and postpartum depression. Recently, our team was invited to the 2020 Association for Maternal and Child Health Programming (AMCHP) conference to present our work. Additionally, I work as an intern with the birth defects branch at the CDC and help manage data for the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Tell us about the Women of Excellence Award

The Woman of Excellence Awards are presented by the Center for Women at Emory and are awarded based on nominations submitted by the Emory community. There are eight distinct categories and I was nominated by fellow peers to receive the Student Leadership Award. They will be having a ceremony March 5^th at 6:30pm and anyone can RSVP.

What are you receiving the award for?

I am receiving the Student Leadership Award for my work with Embrace– Friends of Refugee as well as other leadership endeavors, including being the co-president of Health Organizations for Latin America (HOLA) and involvement with local grassroots organizations providing assistance and advocacy for immigrant populations here in Atlanta.

What are you most excited about for receiving this prestigious award?

I am mostly excited to be able to spread the word and bring attention to the great work being done by Embrace- Friends of Refugees. They have amazing programs and could always benefit from Emory-Rollins Student volunteers.

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

1. I am an art appreciator and love learning about new artists.
2. I speak three languages.
3. I am on a quest to learn how to make vegetarian/vegan Mexican dishes.

#CapstoneChronicles

For the first installment of #CapstoneChronicles, I spoke with four of the five members of the Epidemiology Department’s inaugural capstone cohort about their experiences so far, early on in the project process. I will be checking in with them periodically over the next few weeks, profiling individuals and the class as a whole, so stay tuned to hear more about their perspectives as the project unfolds!  

Student Profiles

AJ Montero is a 2nd year EPI MPH student who studied Microbiology at the University of Florida before coming to Rollins. 

Phoenix Tran is a second year EPI MPH student who also studied Microbiology during her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia. 

Why did you decide to pursue a capstone over a thesis?

Phoenix: I did a thesis at the end of undergrad, so this time I wanted to have a more hands-on experience working with an organization and help them to solve problems.

AJ: I was applying for medical school this past summer and got delayed on the thesis process, and given the time constraints I decided it would not be realistic to continue down that road. Along with my other priorities, I thought I would be able to contribute more meaningfully to a collaborative process and that the capstone would be more fulfilling and beneficial for my long-term goals.

Can you briefly describe the organization you’re partnering with and how you get to use your epi skills and experience to benefit the organization through this project.

AJ: We are working with Resilient Georgia, which is a new organization seeking to integrate behavioral care for children in Georgia and create a safety net for people who typically fall through the cracks in social services. They want to use data on childhood trauma to see which adverse childhood experiences are associated with adverse outcomes later in life to inform future public health initiatives.

Phoenix: We will be doing a lot of data cleaning using SAS and R, and we are planning to do some spatial analysis as well. Specifically, we will be working with data regarding children who are currently in, or have been in, the foster care system. Once we become more familiar with the available data and relevant literature, we will identify other factors of interest to conduct a stratified analysis. What is most exciting about this project is that we get to decide the methods we are going to use for the analyses ourselves. We are still in the planning phases so we have not yet decided which skills, exactly, we will be using.

Reflections from the class

AJ Montero, Phoenix Tran, Frances Neunuebel, Lester Primero

What do you like most about the structure of the capstone process?

• The project has been really collaborative. Having multiple people from different backgrounds working together to resolve issues has been really enjoyable.
• Another really positive element is that, by virtue of working on a team, we keep each other accountable. We can keep each other on track, and help each other if someone is struggling with something.
• There is a real emphasis on thoughtful planning – we have an overall vision for what we want the project to accomplish and then we get to explore different avenues for getting there. We started with a very broad topic initially, and each week we iteratively narrow our focus. 

What does a typical day in your class look like? Or a typical week, in terms of the workload?

• We have class once a week from 1 to 4pm, and then our group meets outside of class for a few hours a week to work on current action items and to prepare for the upcoming week’s meeting.
• The first few classes were mainly brainstorming sessions. And now we have shifted more to talking about different methods we may want to use in our analysis later. Last week, for example, we were working on drafting some initial project aims and objectives.
• In general, the class itself is very exploratory and discussion-driven. We spend a lot of time reading papers on related topics, looking at background research, and thinking about how we may want to shape the project based on methodologies from previous studies. 

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting the capstone that would have been helpful for you?

• None of us fully understood the scope of this project when we first started, and how many stakeholders would be interested in hearing the results. We met with representatives from Resilient Georgia and they told us that our project report is going to be presented to a lot of big organizations, including educations and training groups, the Department of Juvenile Justice, CHOA, the Department of Education, and a former CDC Director. It may sound a little intimidating at first, but we are all very excited about the potential for our project to impact a wide range of organizations working on an important public health issue. 
• I don’t believe we entirely realized how much agency and purpose we would have in this project before it began, and that has been a very interesting and positive part of this process.

What are you looking forward to doing throughout the rest of the process?

• We are excited to see how we can use our past experiences and experiences at Emory and apply them directly to a real-world problem.
• In a lot of our Epi classes, we have worked with very curated datasets, so this is one of our first experiences working with publicly available data and managing all of its challenges.

In the next edition of #CapstoneChronicles, we will be discussing how the cohort’s relationship with their partner organization has evolved, updates on their preliminary data analysis, and their strategies for working through challenges that arise. Stay tuned!

1st Year MPH: Michael Kozuch

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Michael Kozuch!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I received my bachelors of science in neurobiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I also spent considerable time in a medical entomology lab studying tick- and mosquito-borne disease.

What are your primary research interests?

I really want to focus in the realm of dementia research. Specifically, I would like to work with individuals to improve modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.

What are you looking forward to this Spring Semester?

I’m really enjoying the increased expectations placed on students to pursue their own interests through their class choices. I’m really looking forward to meeting so many new professors through my substantive courses in CVD Epi, Molecular Epi, and Human Genome Epi.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on?

I am writing a health promotion grant on campus to facilitate bicycle commuting as a health-oriented mode of transportation. This grant will supplement ongoing work to educate and advocate for greater bicycle safety on campus and throughout Atlanta.

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

I enjoy knowing that every person I meet here will challenge me to be my best self.

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

Cultivate your driving motivation for public health early on, but be willing to step outside your comfort zone to learn about new and exciting developments in public health.

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

I consume 1-2 hours of podcasts daily (on 1.5-2x speed!) covering everything from economics, to politics, to scientific research. I can heartily recommend starting your day with Judy Woodruff on the podcast version of PBS Newshour. I also enjoy hearing my past co-workers on the Dementia Matters podcast from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

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

1. I have a wonderful little 48 lb husky named Phillip who likes to run and bike with me.
2. My significant other and I both committed to study at Rollins together and moved here from Wisconsin.
3. My favorite eustress is a long, quiet bike ride through some form of remote wilderness.

What’s in a Capstone?

As part of an ongoing #IamEmoryEPI segment this semester, Confounder teammate Emma Butturini will be following the inaugural cohort of student’s in this year’s Epidemiology MPH Capstone Project, led by Dr. Cecile Janssens.

Over the last several years, department leadership have been developing an optional alternative to the thesis requirement for MPH students – focused on creating a structured, collaborative environment for investigating real-world challenges for organizations that lack epidemiology resources and skillsets.

So far, students in the Capstone program are off to an exciting start – engaging with stakeholders, creating detailed project plans, and facing challenges unique to applied public health contexts. 

Check in with #IamEmoryEPI every other week through April for updates on the Capstone team’s progress and their experience along the way!

2nd Year MPH: Gerard Portela

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Gerard Portela!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I studied psychology at Rice University in Houston, TX and graduated in 2016.

What are your primary research interests?

I am primarily interested in infectious disease epidemiology. Specifically, I am interested in infectious disease dynamics and spatial dependence of infectious diseases.

What are you looking forward to this Spring Semester?

I’m looking forward to finishing my thesis, graduation in May, and figuring out plans for next year. I’m also really looking forward to visiting Houston for the rodeo!

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

My main focus has been my thesis on the surveillance of Staph aureus in Atlanta communities. I am looking at individual and neighborhood factors associated with these infections. I am also working on a project measuring mental health outcomes related to menstruation practices in women in rural India.

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

I’ve really enjoyed being able to get involved in a variety of projects ranging from surveillance to WASH to infectious disease.

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

Take the time and put in the work to find a thesis you are really interested in and want to work on. It helps a lot!

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

I am currently reading ‘The Outsider’ by Stephen King. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Rumble with Michael Moore for all things politics.

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

1. I keep a spread sheet of every restaurant, coffee shop, and bar I have been to and want to go to in Atlanta with what to try at each.
2. I’ve seen every movie nominated for best picture in the last 5 years.
3. I lived in NH for 12 years, but have never been to Canada.

1st Year MPH: Allie Tuttle

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Allie Tuttle!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I went to Northwestern University where I majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Business Institutions.

What are your primary research interests?

I’m interested in cancer epidemiology, specifically the genetic and molecular side of the disease, which is why I’m pursuing the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology certificate!

What were you up this this past summer?

This past summer I wrapped up my job at a biotech start-up called Tempus where I worked on the clinical data team. I did a lot of different things while I was there, but one of the coolest projects I was involved with was creating reports for “live” cancer patients currently receiving treatment for their disease. We worked with other teams to compile & analyze individual patient’s specific genetic mutations, prior treatments, and tumor characteristics. Based on that info we identified therapies they were most likely to respond to, and provided this information to their oncologists to inform future treatment decisions. My experience at that company is what inspired me to pursue my MPH at Rollins.

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

It’s been said before but I’ll say it again- the people! Emory has such a supportive environment. Everyone is incredibly welcoming and friendly, and there’s just a feeling that everyone from your peers to your professors really want to see you succeed.

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

Go for it!! I was debating if getting my MPH was the right decision up until I got here in August, but everything I’ve experienced since being at Emory has reassured me that it was!

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

I usually listen to The Daily from NYT every morning to stay up on general happenings & get an in-depth look at one story in the headlines that I may know nothing about (they recently did a series on the vaping epidemic- super interesting for epi people!) I’ve also started listening to a new podcast from NPR called Short Wave- it’s super short (10-15 mins) and covers a wide variety of topics that generally fall under the umbrella of “science.”

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

1. I’m obsessed with the Tiny Doors around Atlanta- I will find them all before I graduate
2. In college I had pet rats named Hodor & Scabbers
3. I played basketball at Northwestern (go ‘cats)

2nd Year MPH: Connor Van Meter

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Connor Van Meter!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I graduated from Washington University in Saint Louis in 2015 after studying mathematics and anthropology.

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interests are in both perinatal and infectious disease epidemiology. Specifically, I am interested in congenital infections and infectious disease dynamics and modeling.

What did you do this past summer?

This summer I worked on a team at CDC that specializes in emerging threats to mothers and babies. I supported projects in surveillance and research of Zika virus and other pathogens that can be transmitted from mothers to their children during pregnancy.

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

The research group I work with is reviewing responses to the Emory American Men’s Internet Survey. Results from the analysis may be used to inform transmission models of HIV among men who have sex with men. These models may be used to guide policy and prevention measures.

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

There are so many kind, conscientious, and intelligent people here with many different interests and different backgrounds. I’m always learning.

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

Easier said than done, but try not to over-commit. Always make time for the most important things, like yourself, your family, and your friends.

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

My favorite podcast is This American Life. Sundays at noon on 90.1 FM WABE but also streaming online or downloadable on the app! Generally two or three original stories each week are shared based around a central theme detailing life across America.

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

1. I can say the entire alphabet backwards.
2. I sing in my car when no one is riding with me.
3. I can sing the entire alphabet backwards in my car when no one is riding with me.

2nd Year MPH: Lilly Boyer

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we wanted to highlight someone who has played a big role in The Confounder’s success as its first editor: Lilly Boyer!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I was a Human Health major at Emory University.

What are your primary research interests?

I am interested in chronic disease epi. I am writing my thesis with CHOA on cancer survivorship.

What are you looking forward to this spring semester?

I am excited to be working with CHOA (after having worked with them last year through REAL)! I am passionate about cancer survivorship and excited to be a part of the great research they do that directly informs the care of childhood cancer survivors.

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

I’m currently working at the Georgia Department of Public Health with the acute Epidemiology team on foodborne illness. It’s been great seeing what it’s like to work at the state level.

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

I chose Rollins because of the exposure to public health practice through work experience and the strength of the academic program. I have really enjoyed getting to see public health in practice and being part of the community, especially being a part of the Confounder team!

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

There are so many great opportunities at Rollins and in the public health organizations in Atlanta but make sure you take some time to unwind and do something you love. I recommend going to the botantical garden and Piemont Park!

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

Some of my favorite podcasts to listen to are Freakonomics Radio, Dear HBR and Hidden Brain. I find Freakonomics Radio very interesting because it covers behavior change and even some public health issues. Dear HBR is good for professional development advice; I like Hidden Brain because it uses science to explain human behavior and relationships.

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

1. I raised sheep and had pet rabbits as a kid.
2. I love Orangetheory, just ask my friends. I’ve recruited 5 people to join.
3. I love to bake; it is genetic as my mom’s family were popular bakers in Germany and Washington DC.

What will you miss most about being part of the EmoryEpi Social Media Team?

2nd Year MPH: Marina Bruck

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Marina Bruck!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I was a pre-med Spanish major at the University of Florida (Go Gators!)

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interests include hospital epi, infectious disease, and climate change.

What are you looking forward to this spring semester?

I am really looking forward to graduation in May, and hoping the Gators make the NCAA tournament!

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

I am currently working as an intern with the Infection Prevention team at Emory University Hospital Midtown. I get to do surveillance of HAI’s and work on teams made up of people from across all sectors of the hospital.

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

My favorite part of earning my MPH at Emory is hearing about all the awesome things my friends are doing. Everyone has a different passion, and I love that we can all share that.

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

Put down the books once in a while and enjoy this great city you’re living in. Whether it’s joining a yoga class in a different part of town or grabbing a bite after class, each neighborhood in ATL has it’s own personality!

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

My current favorite podcast is “Battleground:Florida,” which talks about everything from the political climate to the film industry.

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

1. I grew up 30 minutes from Disney World.
2. My favorite movie of all time is Jaws.
3. I’ve only ever seen snow twice and that is more than enough for me!

1st Year MPH: Emma Butturini

For the first #IamEmoryEpi spotlight of the semester, we met up with the newest member of our EmoryEPI Social Media Team: Emma Butturini!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I just graduated from Wake Forest University, in North Carolina where I majored in biology and minored in health policy and administration.

What are your primary research interests?

My main research interests are in infectious disease, outbreak response, and disease surveillance.

What are you looking forward to this spring semester?

I am really looking forward to taking more electives this semester. I am taking a GIS class and global health systems and financing class, which I think will be really interesting topics to complement what I’ll be learning in the main Epi classes.

Are there any exciting projects or experiences you are involved in right now?

At my REAL job with the Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, their clinic in Rwanda has been recruited to assist in the administration of a mass Ebola vaccination campaign along the border of Rwanda and the DRC, so I have been able to help prepare some materials for the campaign and I am excited to continue working on that project as it unfolds and learn more about how large scale vaccination initiatives are run.

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

The professors have definitely been my favorite part about Rollins so far. In the intro classes last semester, I was so surprised how enthusiastic all of my professors were about the material, how passionate they were about getting to know their students, and how they provided guidance through their own journeys in public health.

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

Based on the advice I got from advisors in undergrad, I would remind them that while academics are important, going into your MPH it is just as important to focus on gaining practical experiences and professional/research mentorship to prepare you best for whatever opportunities you are hoping to pursue afterward. Also don’t feel pressured to decide on a specific research area from the start, take time to explore your interests and opportunities that are exciting to you!

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

Some of my favorite books that I have read recently are “The Hot Zone” by Richard Preston, about the origins of the Ebola virus and “We Fed an Island” by Jose Andreas, about the humanitarian response led by a group of chefs to feed hundreds of thousands of people in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

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

1. I love to cook and try new restaurants in my spare time.
2. I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 22 (and I am still not very good at it).
3. In my junior year of college I did a multi-country study abroad program, and spent the semester in India, South Africa, and Brazil.

What are you most excited about being on the EmoryEPI Social Media Team?

I am really excited to have the chance to get to know and learn about more people across the Rollins community, and to be able to help connect students to meaningful resources and opportunities!