#WeAreEmoryEpi: Meet the 2023-24 Communications Team!

This week, we’re introducing this year’s communication team for the Epidemiology Department! Erica Schipper will be in charge of The Confounder, Kanak Belgaum will be running @rollinsepilife on Instagram, and I (Shamika Chavda) will be running our Twitter account, @EmoryEpi, and the #WeAreEmoryEpi posts. 

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

Shamika: I graduated from the University of Florida this past Spring with a Bachelor’s in Public Health and minor in Health Disparities in Society! 

Erica: I graduated from William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in 2022! I majored in Kinesiology & Health Sciences with a concentration in public health and a minor in math. I came straight to Rollins after undergrad, and am now a second year Epi student in the SDOH certificate program 🙂

Kanak: I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2022, where I majored in Animal Science.

What are your primary research interests? 

Shamika: I’m most interested in studying emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, and disease surveillance.

Erica: My primary research interests are chronic health and developmental disabilities such as Autism. I have also worked in cancer research, and am currently working on a project in perinatal health.

Kanak: I am most interested in infectious & zoonotic diseases, with a focus on the role of data science/machine learning in those fields

What is your role on the communications team?

Shamika: I am a social media associate, and am running the Twitter page as well as the #WeAreEmoryEpi posts!

Erica: I manage the weekly Confounder newsletter and the ScholarBlog website.

Kanak: Social Media Associate (Instagram)

What are you looking forward to the most this semester? 

Shamika: It’s my first semester at Emory, so I’m very excited to get involved with internships and research exploring my interests as well as build new skills in infectious disease epi and programming!

Erica:
I am really looking forward to taking more electives this semester, and applying everything I learned last year to my new classes.

Kanak: Besides paving my future career path, I am most excited to meet new people and explore the city of Atlanta. 

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

Shamika:

• I play the bass guitar and piano.
• I love rewatching Studio Ghibli movies, and am approaching my 10th rewatch of My Neighbor Totoro.
• I love going to concerts, and have a rubber chicken named Poblano that I bring with me to all of them to document the experience.

Erica:

• My favorite hobbies are making crafts, baking, and planning elaborate events like birthday parties or weddings that will never happen
• I’ve performed the national anthem before a professional baseball game twice on an instrument I don’t really know how to play
• I’m a Gilmore Girls mega fan and really wish I could live in Stars Hollow

Kanak: 

• I am a huge LA Clippers fan (unfortunately)
• Starting in 2021, have watched 30+ seasons of Survivor 3.
• I love traveling and visited Japan, England, and Paris this past summer!

Thanks for checking out this week’s WeAreEmoryEpi post!