#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Jeffrey Osei!

Meet Jeffrey Osei! Jeffrey is a second-year MPH candidate in Epidemiology, and he is from Ghana. We caught up with Jeffrey to share more about what he’s doing here at Rollins, his experience, and his advice for 1st years.

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

I had my medical training in Ghana between 2011 and 2017. I am a proud alumnus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – School of Medicine and Dentistry.

What are your primary research interests?

I am interested in genomics and clinical research in cardiovascular disease. Genomics is so informative and helpful for clinically managing various inherited cardiovascular diseases. Also, ensuring that we put out safe and effective treatments is important to me, especially since I worked directly with patients in Ghana.

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

I am currently working on many interesting projects with Dr. Amit Shah, a cardiologist and a professor at Rollins. Most of our projects involve using devices such as smartwatches, portable patches, and handheld electrocardiogram devices to track participants’ health (primarily physiological data). For example, we hope to find the relationship between brain activities and cardiovascular outcomes such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and heart attack.

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

An MPH provides a better understanding of how social, economic, and cultural issues may affect people, and we tend to focus on improving the quality of care for all communities. Everyone at Rollins has the same passion for improving health outcomes for everyone, and the research we are doing here will have such an enormous impact. Also, getting an MPH has helped me become more well-rounded in healthcare, allowing me to become a better physician.

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

After going through the top 5 schools in the US, I really looked into the work being done at each school. I wanted the chance to gain more experience in research, and I also looked into the careers and research opportunities that students were able to participate in. Rollins has projects and faculty that I could learn a lot from.

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

My favorite class has been Dr. Binongo’s BIOS 500 class (Statistical Methods I). Biostatistics and epidemiology have a close relationship, with both fields trying to take a quantitative approach to solve complicated problems. As epidemiologists, we study the distribution, patterns, and trends in disease and determinants of health, and the numbers we get undergo a lot of statistical analysis to affirm their significance. Dr. Binongo taught us how to properly communicate those numbers with confidence, and he has a personality that made learning with him fun. I’m even taking another class taught by him.

As an international student, how has your experience at Rollins been so far? How has the department supported your success here?

When I first got here, everything was new to me. I was frightened and excited at the same time. I wasn’t sure if I could thrive in this weather, make new friends here, and live in harmony with everyone on campus. But, it turned out that RSPH had big plans for international students who had moved to the US for the first time. We had many opportunities to meet and chat with people from diverse backgrounds. I learned there were other people who, like me, were even more nervous and eager to meet new friends. As an international student, I have received much support from the EPI department and RSPH. I can confidently say that RSPH is my new home, far away from home!

How have you been spending your free time?

I pass through ALL RSPH events/meetings. There is always something happening, and students have the chance to be exposed to so much here. Also, events on campus are a great source of free food!

What advice do you have for 1st years?

Manage your time well and network with your professors! “Charity begins at home,” and so does networking. Start with your professors and classmates, and they will help shape a path for you!

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

1. I love being outdoors, such as playing soccer or hanging out with friends.
2. I love food, so long as it treats my tastebuds well.
3. I love to dance.

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