#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet Imari Genias!

Meet Imari Genias! She is a second-year MPH Candidate in Global Epidemiology with an interest in disease surveillance and non-communicable diseases.

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

I graduated from Duke University in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Visual & Media Studies.

What are your primary research interests?

I don’t want to be a researcher per se, but I am interested in disease surveillance and non-communicable diseases. Much of what we are able to do in public health is influenced by how well we monitor disease.

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

I am currently doing an internship with Leidos for a CDC project. I am working in the Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance at the CDC to manage healthcare organizations using electronic case reporting (eCR).

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

Emory has a lot of resources available for students to grow professionally.

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

I wanted a school with a lot of opportunities for students to gain real-world experience. I also wanted to stay in Georgia. Emory met both requirements.

What has been your favorite class at Rollins thus far, and why?

My favorite has been BIOS 500 with Jose Binongo. I like statistics and really enjoyed his personality. I even worked for him as a TA in the Spring and will continue doing so this fall semester.

What is one fond memory you’ve had at Rollins thus far?

Most of my friends are in my classes with me, so I enjoy getting to spend time with them. I don’t have a particular memory, but I enjoy working alongside them in class.

What advice do you have for 1st years?

Establish a good support group. It makes your experience (socially, academically, etc.) much easier.

How have you been spending your free time?

I play video games on my Nintendo Switch, and I try to get caught up on TV shows during the school year. (Watch the Bear on Hulu!)

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

1. I’m allergic to shellfish, but I love eating shrimp and crab.
2. I studied abroad in Australia for a month.
3. I spent 7 months of my gap year after college volunteering in Guatemala. I had 12 hours to leave on the day I left because of the pandemic.

Thanks for talking with us, Imari! Join us next week to see who we speak to next!