#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!