#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet First-Year Sandra Amouzou

Sandra Amouzou is a first-year Global Epi Master’s student interested in social determinants of health and health outcomes in underrepresented communities. She also was elected an RSPH Student Government representative for the department! We talked to her more about her projects and her new role in this week’s #WeAreEmoryEPI.

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

I attended the University of Iowa where I obtained my BA in Health and Human Physiology, with minors in Global Health and French.

What are you most looking forward to during your term as RSGA EPI student representative?

What I am looking forward to the most is getting to know my cohort, as I felt like this quasi online format has limited the connections we’re building and the types of communities we’re forming with each other. I hope that we get to put on events that incorporate more relaxing activities for everyone to join in.

What are some changes or cool ideas you are looking to bring to the department?

I really really enjoy fun presentation parties in which everyone tunes in to those who have prepared a presentation on some random fun (appropriate) subject, and just seeing their logic in explaining it, such as “why Friends is just an adult version of Arthur” or “what types of fruit would world leaders be”, just fun things like that. I believe that we have multitudes of academically informational sessions for students, but sometimes having some time to just laugh is really disregarded.  If anyone has any other ideas, let me know! 

What are your primary research interests?

My primary research interests lie in social determinants of health, but also the intersection of mental health and health outcomes for underrepresented communities.

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

It has been a challenge, realizing that a majority of my work will be online as well as my courses. I have taken time to get away from my study area in my room and sit outside here and there, as well as taken breaks to play with my cat. I think the best thing I’ve done is separate my work from my pleasure, by not doing homework in bed, for example.

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

I’m working as a REAL student within the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, where I’m working on inputting and analyzing the Zika data they have collected over the years, but also looking at how COVID19 affects pregnant mothers.

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

My favorite part would have to be the environment, I believe that Emory is beautifully placed to be connected to many public health initiatives domestically and globally. I also really enjoy the weather.

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

I would advise those interested in getting their MPH to chat with someone who has their MPH to gauge interest, but also an understanding of how different everyone’s paths to an MPH would be. I am realizing that public health work does not just limit itself to one specific type of career, and that’s exciting!

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

I was specifically looking for public health schools that would be proponents of active learning and application of the public health programs (which is why I love REAL) as well as programs that incorporate multiple types of certificate programs to enhance understandings of other public health subjects.

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

I just finished the book Saint X that gives a chronology of a sisters’ search for answers to her older sister’s disappearance, interweaving societal and individual factors that may have contributed to her death, and I am hoping to start Dune before the movie comes out! (I mainly enjoy thrillers/dramas/scifi/overall fiction novels). I am also reading the Vanishing Half as a part of the book club!

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

1. I absolutely love pistachio gelato (any recommendation are welcome)

2. I have visited 8 nations thus far

3. I have a very vocal gray cat named Wesley (Yes, like Wesley from the Princess Bride) (Or Wes, like Wes Anderson, for short)

Thanks to Sandra for her time, and we can’t wait to see what she does in her time as RSGA rep in 2021. Tune in next week for another student spotlight on #WeAreEmoryEPI!