Why did you decide to study public health?
“I originally studied health and exercise science as an undergrad at Wake Forest University with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. So, I got a job as a student athletic trainer to complement my studies. During my first semester working with the football team, I had to touch an injured player’s swollen knee, and I immediately fainted. That’s when I realized that physical therapy was not for me. Luckily, I was taking an epidemiology class at that time, and realized I liked doing health-related work at the population level instead.”
How did that set up the rest of your academic career?
“I decided to go to grad school, and I got my MPH in epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Although it was a great educational experience, it felt like there was a disconnect between what was happening at this incredible public health school versus the city itself. That inspired me to pursue my PhD here at SPH, because I felt like there was more of a connection between the school and public health practice.”
What research are you currently focused on?
“I’m interested in public health surveillance, which includes how we track and monitor diseases and detect outbreaks. Within public health surveillance, I’m particularly interested in foodborne illnesses. I do a lot of projects through the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence focused on improving surveillance for foodborne illnesses and improving outbreak response. I am also part of the Upper Midwest Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, which is focused on piloting and evaluating strategies and interventions for public health emergency preparedness and response in collaboration with community partners.
What courses do you teach, if any? What do you enjoy about working with students?
“I co-teach PubH 6183: Theory and Practice in Foodborne Disease Outbreak Detection, Investigation and Control with Craig Hedberg and Kirk Smith in collaboration with colleagues at the Colorado School of Public Health. That course is focused on learning outbreak investigation skills. I also teach PubH 6185: Field Epidemiology and PubH 7210: Global Food Systems.
My favorite part about working with students is seeing those ah-ha moments when they make connections between what they’re learning in class and how that relates to public health in their community.”
What is something that you think all public health students should know?
“Public health is chronically underfunded and funding ebbs and flows. There are times where there is more adequate funding, and other times where there are significant cuts. But public health is all about problem-solving, and we are just facing another problem. We have to be creative, resilient, and work together to get through these challenges.”
What do you do when you are not working?
“I have diverse hobbies! I really enjoy hiking, running, and spending time outdoors with my dog, Toast. I am also a big crafter. I know how to knit and sew, but, lately, I have been getting more into cross-stitching. My partner and I also go to most Minnesota United games!”
What are you reading or watching right now?
“I co-host a public health book club, and we recently read Vaccinated: One Man’s Quest to Defeat the World’s Deadliest Diseases by Paul Offit. The book club is hosted by the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service’s Alumni Association where I currently serve as the secretary/treasurer. It’s been a great way to stay connected with the broader public health community.”
