InsideAPE: Zihao Liu and Emory School of Medicine

Zihao Liu is a rising second-year Epidemiology MSPH candidate who is spending his summer understanding patient-reported outcomes for sickle cell disease with Dr. Nitya Bakshi and Emory School of Medicine. His primary interests include infectious disease, specifically rotavirus, vaccine distribution, and patient-centered outcomes research. Read more about Zihao and his experience below!

Tell us about your APE project. 

For my APE, I am working with Dr. Nitya Bakshi from Emory School of Medicine on a project evaluating the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for an acute vaso-occlusive episode in sickle cell disease patients using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) under different demographic and clinical characteristics; this is part of the result of phase II clinical trial of intervenous arginine therapy in sickle cell disease. I will be conducting a systematic review, data analysis, and drafting a manuscript.

How did you find your APE project?

My APE is a continuation of my REAL job. I began working for Dr. Bakshi primarily as a data analyst for another sickle cell disease project. After finishing it in the Spring semester, we started my current project, and I have been working on it for my APE since then.

What has the experience been like so far?

My experience so far has been fantastic. It was a challenging and rewarding process to start the project, from conducting the literature review to spending months coding and conducting data analysis, then finally writing the result into a manuscript. But, more importantly, working on the APE is a precious learning experience for me.

How have you been spending your free time this summer?

I have been spending my free time this summer trying different restaurants in Atlanta and binge-watching “The Office” over and over again.

What are 3 fun facts that you want people to know about you?

1. I came from northeastern China, where the temperature usually gets to -30℉ in winter and sometimes still snows in April. Coming to Atlanta is the first time in my life where I don’t live with any snow in winter.

2. I adopted a cat named Crew when I came to Atlanta.

3. I have been volunteering at a local crisis hotline for 4 years and am still doing it during the weekend.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Zihao! Stay tuned to The Confounder for the next InsideAPE feature. 

#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Veronika Laird

Veronika is a rising second-year student interested in researching zoonotic diseases and will be completing her APE this summer with Dr. Guest and the Emory Outbreak Response Team! We chatted with her about this, some fun facts about her, and more!

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

I studied integrative biology with a minor in chemistry and global health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in their honors program. I am a die-hard fan of our sports teams and you’ll always catch me sporting some Illini gear. I-L-L!

What are your primary research interests?

I am most passionate about research at the animal-human interface. I would love to work with bats and non-human primates to study zoonotic diseases.

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

I try to go outside at least twice a day and (safely) spend time with new friends. I take a lot of breaks throughout my day to get up from my work computer which has helped me immensely.

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

I’m very excited to be completing my APE with the Outbreak Response Team with Dr. Jodie Guest and fellow first-years! I’ll also be working with the Malaria Branch of the CDC and I am really looking forward to it.

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

I feel like I have been able to find strong mentors and role models through my REAL position with the CDC thanks to Emory. But, most importantly, the friends I’ve made here are my favorite part because they are so ambitious and kind.

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

Email professors at schools you would be interested in going to and ask them to put you in touch with current MPH students. That’s what I did and it ultimately led me to Emory because students were honest about the program and faculty.

When applying, what were you looking for in a public health school, and what factors drove you towards Rollins?

I was chasing after mentors and meaningful relationships in the field and with friends. After emailing professors across Rollins, many got back to me in the span of 3 days and I knew this is where I wanted to go.

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

I’m working my way through the Lord of the Rings trilogy right now since it’s been a long time since I’ve read them. I have really dove into The Office Ladies podcast and Radio Rental which I would highly recommend. My favorite epi-related book is Spillover by David Quammen if you’re into infectious diseases-buckle up.

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

1. I love bats and primates, I spent 45 minutes at the gorilla exhibit at the Atlanta Zoo.
2. I am always chasing a beach trying to find time to snorkel and swim.
3. Once the new normal sets in, you’ll find me out salsa dancing with my friends every weekend!

Thanks to Veronika for taking the time to talk to us! Stay tuned to the next edition of the Confounder for another #WeAreEmoryEpi spotlight on the new EPI communications team for 2021-22!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Ashna Jagtiani

Ashna is a first-year EPI student interested in chronic disease epidemiology. In this week’s #WeAreEmoryEPI student spotlight, we got to know more about her, her ongoing projects, why she chose Rollins, and more!

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

I went to medical school in Mumbai, India, and graduated from there in 2019.

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interests are in chronic diseases particularly cardiovascular disease prevention.

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

Being in a new country and almost completely in a virtual format for classes and work has been slightly challenging. However, the Emory community including professors, advisors, classmates, and friends has made it a smooth sailing experience for me. I also enjoy going out for walks (love the Atlanta weather) and practising yoga, which are my stress busters.

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

I am working on the MINDS study – Mindfulness intervention to improve sleep and reduce diabetes risk among a diverse sample in Atlanta. For my APE, I will be working during the summer on a project to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for hypertension and diabetes screening and referral using integrated health information technology in India.

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

My favourite part about Emory is the community. I am a DEI advisor in the Rollins International Student Association and love discussing and implementing ideas related to promoting Community and Belonging at Rollins. I hope more international students like me choose to study at Emory.

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

My advice would be to reach out to professors and current students pursuing their MPH degrees. Everyone is very approachable and helpful and would love to assist you in the best way possible.

When applying, what were you looking for in a public health school, and what factors drove you towards Rollins?

I was looking for a school with a 2 year MPH program since it would give me enough time to digest new concepts and also the time to build a network. Rollins stood out to me not only because of its high ranking but also the positive feedback I received from multiple Alumni and students that I connected with during my application period.

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

I recently started listening to the famous Shiny Epi People podcast by Lisa Bodnar.

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

1. I am Indian but I was born and brought up in Nigeria which is still home to my parents
2. I was a national level swimmer back in the day
3. My biggest fear is “rats” or even a single rat

Thanks so much to Ashna for taking the time to introduce herself! To connect, you can find her @AshnaJagtiani on both Twitter and Instagram. Stay tuned to The Confounder next week for another #WeAreEmoryEPI student feature!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Maddy Lewis

Maddy is a second-year MPH student interested in infectious disease epi and is involved in research with Emory’s vaccine clinic. In our conversation, she shared some nuggets of advice for younger public health students and told us about her popular TikTok page!

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

I studied biology as an undergraduate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

What are your primary research interests?

I am primarily interested in infectious disease epidemiology.

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

I got connected to a new research project at Emory’s vaccine clinic studying the effects of the vaccine reactions which occur in the 15 or 30-minute monitoring period after patients receive their vaccines. Although this study is still in the early stages, I have already gained amazing experience in helping design, implement, and manage a research project from the very beginning.

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

My favorite part of Emory has been the professional experiences I was able to gain as a graduate student. Emory has so many connections within public health.

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

The best advice I can give is to try to build up a professional network authentically. Instead of forming connections for the sake of networking, build relationships naturally with others through volunteering, shared interests, or work. Because I was able to do this, my network is able to speak to my abilities and talents much better, which helped me find a full-time job before graduation.

As first-year students start to look for their APE positions, do you have any tips for finding a practicum?

A lot of Rollins students go in thinking they want to do research. Don’t be afraid to try out applied epidemiology at somewhere like Georgia Department of Public Health!

When applying, what were you looking for in a public health school, and what factors drove you towards Rollins?

I knew that if I went to Rollins, I would have access to the most opportunities and people in public health. Atlanta really is the world’s public health capital.

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

At first, I hated working from home. After about 3 months, I adjusted and realized I never wanted to go back into office full-time. As long as you are able to know when to stop working, work from home works really well for so many people.

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

I have 18k followers on my TikTok (@maddy.epidemiology) where I discuss public health, epidemiology, race, and other topics. Other fun facts are that I am allergic to cats and am looking for a roommate in August.

Thanks to Maddy for chatting with us this week! If you want to follow her, head to her TikTok page for great public health content!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Emily Drzymalla

Emily is a second-year EPI student also pursuing a certificate in Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology, which ties into her thesis project. We chatted about her thesis, working (and learning) from home, and she shared some fun facts!

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

I went to Texas A&M University for my undergraduate studies and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Genetics. I am currently a second-year MPH student for Epidemiology at Rollins and am also in the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Certificate.

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interest is in genetic epidemiology and epigenetics.

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

One project I’m working on is for my thesis project. It involves looking to see if there is an association between prenatal maternal depression and changes in the DNA methylation in the cord blood for the infant.

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

My favorite part about earning my MPH at Emory is the people I’ve gotten to meet and the relationships I’ve gotten to form.

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

Don’t be afraid to try new things. You may end up liking a class or topic more than you thought you would.

As first-year students start to look for their APE positions, do you have any tips for finding a practicum?

Networking can help you to find an APE position. You can talk to professors or guest speakers who share your interests after class. If they do not have a position open, they may know someone else who does.

When applying, what were you looking for in a public health school, and what factors drove you towards Rollins?

Honestly, the fact that Rollins was ranked fifth at the time and is also next to the CDC were major factors.

Do you have any other tips for prospective public health students?

Find what interests you. There are a lot of different facets of epidemiology and some you may not have any interest in. Also, try to acquire a broad skill set. If you have time, take classes that can teach you skills you may not be directly in your specific interest. These skills may come in handy later on.

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

Honestly, it has been difficult. Time management and discipline are important parts for navigating the work and learn from home experience.

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

I am currently reading The Brothers Karamazov. I haven’t finished it yet but so far it’s one of my favorite books.

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

1. I want to have a green thumb but I don’t.
2. I have a feisty cat named Pebbles.
3. I’ve seen three sharks unintentionally.

Thanks again to Emily for her time! We will be back with another #WeAreEmoryEPI spotlight next week!

#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Sean Huang

Sean is a second-year student interested in researching infectious diseases and vaccines. We talked to him more about his current projects, what he loves about Rollins, and why he chose to come to Emory!

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

I graduated from the University of Austin with a Microbiology degree.

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interest is Infectious Disease, I am especially intrigued by antimicrobial resistance and how we might be able to utilize vaccination as a prevention method.

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

I am currently working on a project called SHEP (SARS-Cov-2 in Hemo-dialysis Patients) where we are measuring the prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 in dialysis centers around Atlanta, we are also investigating possible influencing factors that may contribute to COVID-19 positivity. It’s exciting because I get to play around with the data and improve on the skills of data management, data analysis, and data visualization.

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

My favorite part has got to be meeting and making new friends who are also passionate about similar things.

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

Don’t get too bogged down with the coursework, there are other things that are also important such as taking a walk, chatting with people, and just taking care of yourself.

As first-year students start to look for their APE positions, do you have any tips for finding a practicum?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors/possible networking opportunities, most people are nice about it. They usually don’t have a reason to be mean to you.

When applying, what were you looking for in a public health school, and what factors drove you towards Rollins?

Rollins was appealing as a public health school because of its reputation and rank as it is the top five MPH program in the nation. But also, its proximity and connection to CDC played a crucial role in my decision as well.

Do you have any other tips for prospective public health students?

Be bold, be who you are, know what inspires you, but also be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.

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

It’s been a slow process, but you have to accept the fact that it won’t be as productive working/learning from home. You just have to maximize the efficiency however you can.

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

A podcast I have been listening to is She Tells True Crimes, it’s a great podcast that tells stories of mysteries and crimes around the world.

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

(1) Laughing is my default reaction, I have gotten into some awkward situations for laughing at inappropriate times.

(2) I love hiking! Especially those with a lake or a waterfall at the end of the trail

(3) I am acrophobic, which might be ironic considering my love for hiking.

Thanks to Sean for chatting with us! Check back with the Confounder next week for another student spotlight.