2nd Year MPH: Abigail Ruths

For this week’s #IamEmoryEpi spotlight, we met up with Abigail Ruths!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history:

I graduated in 2017 from Penn State University with a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health

What are your primary research interests?

My primary interests are in Immigrant and Refugee Health, Humanitarian Emergencies/Disaster Response, Field Epidemiology, and Social Epidemiology

What are you looking forward to this Spring Semester?

I am looking forward to continuing to work at CDC in the Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health Branch. I am also looking forward to staying involved with community events through SORT.

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

Yeah– my thesis!!

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

I have appreciated the opportunity to take a variety of elective classes that have reinforced my interests and given me awesome hands-on/interactive experiences. I also love Atlanta and think it is a very underrated city!

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

Some progress is better than no progress. Imposter syndrome is real, and you deserve to be here. Send the email. Sleep!!

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

I am very slowly reading about six books but I’ll mention two: “This Land Is Our Land: An Immigrant’s Manifesto” by Suketu Mehta, and rereading “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by… well, you know.

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

1. I was on the powerlifting team in undergrad.
2. I have an avocado intolerance 🙁
3. I can (and have) spent several hours on Google Maps/Earth dropping myself on the map and looking around .