#WeAreEmoryEPI: Introducing the 2024-25 communication’s team!
Welcome back to #WeAreEmoryEPI, and we hope you all had a great start to the semester! This week, we are introducing our communication’s team for the year, consisting of Shamika Chavda (Twitter/X & #WeAreEmoryEPI), Kanak Belgaum (Instagram @RollinsEpiLife), and our new member, Chloe Wolma (The Confounder). Get to know our team members (new and returning) below!
Tell us about your academic history/where you went to school.
Shamika: I graduated from the University of Florida in May 2023 with a bachelor’s in public health and minor in health disparities in society.
Kanak: I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2022 and majored in Animal Science.
Chloe: I went to Michigan State University and studied Environmental Biology/Zoology. After graduating, I took a gap year to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Ingham County Health Department in Lansing, MI with a goal of improving college access/readiness in the Lansing area.
What are your primary research interests?
Shamika: I’m interested in infection prevention in the hospital setting, disease surveillance, and investigation of both old and emerging pathogens with an emphasis on OneHealth.
Kanak: I am most interested in infectious & zoonotic diseases, with a focus on the role of data science/machine learning in those fields
Chloe: My primary research interests are infectious diseases and social epidemiology/the social determinants of health.
What is your role on the communications team?
Shamika: I’m continuing as a social media associate to run the Twitter/X page as well as the #WeAreEmoryEPI section of the Confounder (such as this one!).
Kanak: Social media associate for Instagram
Chloe: I am the new Editorial Associate, so I manage the Confounder blog posts and the newsletter that is sent out each Monday.
What are you looking forward to the most this semester?
Shamika: I have a busy semester ahead, which means there’s so much I’m excited to learn!
Kanak: Getting though my thesis paper 🙃
Chloe: I am most looking forward to getting acclimated to Rollins and Atlanta this semester!
What are three fun facts you want people to know about you?
Shamika:
1. I play the piano and am teaching myself bass guitar.
2. I have a rubber chicken named Poblano that I bring with me to concerts to document the experience.
3. I volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium during my spare time.
Kanak:
1. I’ve watched 30+ seasons of Survivor.
2. I’m a diehard Clippers fan.
3. I can play the sax.
Chloe:
1. I grew up in NYC.
2. I love to bake and crochet.
3. My favorite animal is an elephant.
Thanks for joining us this week on #WeAreEmoryEPI, and stay tuned to see who we talk to next week!
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