1st Year MPH: Sagarika Das

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Sagarika Das!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I’m from Silver Spring, Maryland, and I went to college at the University of Michigan, Class of 2017, where I received my BS in International Studies: Global Health and the Environment.

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interests are sexual minority health, reproductive healthcare, and medical devices for LMICs. I’m really fortunate to be currently involved in a project in each of these topic areas.

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

I got lucky my classes and REAL position translated well to WFH. I also took some extra cash flow in the Fall and had invested in a dual-monitor system for my home, which was such a wise decision.

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

Through the Global Health Innovation Experience partnership between Georgia Tech and Emory, I’ve been putting together a pilot study on a novel neonatal warming device for use in Ethiopia. Things are on hold right now with COVID craziness, but hopefully this study can takeoff someday. I’m also a GRA for the some super rad studies with PRISM that are looking at the uptake and use of at-home HIV and STI testing kits for MSM.

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

My favorite part about earning my MPH at Emory has been my classmates, particularly the really inspiring people of color. Everyone’s passionate and committed to their topic areas and super willing to help others on their own journeys.

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

Do your research! Make sure you have an idea of what the MPH is for you and what it will enable you to do in the future. The MPH is not an end, but a start for much more to come!

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

My Favorite Murder is always on my podcast docket. I can’t get enough of true crime podcasts. I’ve been reading A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee, inspired by my recent winter break trip to India.

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

1. I hold 2.5 citizenships: by birth in Canada, by naturalization to the U.S., and as an Overseas Citizen of India.
2. I am a pregnancy and abortion doula.
3. A baboon stole cookies from my hands in Mole National Park, Ghana.