The second year at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University is both an exciting and stressful one. For this blog post, I sat down with a couple of second year friends to discuss their two years at Rollins. Read my informal sit-down interviews with them to learn more about how diverse second year experiences at Rollins.
First, I spoke with my friend Uju Kamanu. She is a second-year student in the Global Health Department.
How has the Maternal and Child Health certificate program enhanced your academic experience here at Rollins?
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program at Rollins has enhanced my academic experience by providing specialized training and practical opportunities to me. The MCH Certificate program offers a rigorous curriculum, requiring core courses, electives, and practical experiences related to maternal and child health. MCH students benefit from the Center of Excellence, which offers travel awards for presenting research or attending professional training. Although I am yet to use the travel funds, I was awarded a scholarship over the summer to do my practicum experience with a non-profit called Open Hand Atlanta, where I worked with the GDPH District 4, Georgia WIC and SNAP-Ed services to increase fruits and vegetable consumption in women and children. These opportunities have allowed me to gain hands-on experience, engage in community health initiatives, and develop skills that are crucial for careers in public health.
Did you feel adequately prepared to begin an MPH program coming straight out of undergrad?
Yes, I did. I majored in Health Sciences with a concentration in Community Health Education. I had a foundational knowledge of public health concepts such as biostatistics, epidemiology, policy and management, etc. Although we learn these things on a more in-depth level at Rollins, it was nice that the concepts were not entirely strange to me. To be honest, I still experienced moments of doubt and imposter syndrome during the first few weeks of school, but it went away pretty quickly when I realized it’s okay not to know everything. We’re all here to learn after all.
As a second year, do you foresee yourself staying in Atlanta after graduation?
I definitely see myself staying in Atlanta after graduation, I’m very open to it. The city has a thriving job market, particularly in public health, with opportunities to work with top organizations in the field as Atlanta is the public health capital of the world. Just through my REAL job and APE placement, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with these amazing organizations, gain valuable skills and apply my classroom knowledge to real public health issues. I’ll be most delighted to get a full-time role here. Aside from the promising job prospects here, Atlanta is very fun, you will never run out of things to do. Compared to other cities, the living costs here are more affordable, so I am assured of a good lifestyle quality. My only qualm is how hot it gets during the summer months, but it’s something I can overcome!
Second, I spoke with my friend Dawa Oluya. He is a second-year student in the Global Epidemiology Department.
How has the MPH program prepared you for the next chapter in your life?
The MPH program has given me the tools to analyze data, conduct research, and tackle health disparities head-on. Working on classroom and field projects has shown me how interpreting data can create real change, and I feel ready to make an impact.
Having worked in between graduating from undegrad and starting your MPH program, how has your professional network evolved?
My network has grown so much during this program. Between mentorships, group projects, and internships, I’ve connected with people who challenge and inspire me to think differently about public health.
What has it been like to balance several positions at the same time? As you’ve gone further along in the program, did this become more challenging?
It’s been tough but worth it. Balancing different roles pushed me to prioritize and stay focused, and I’ve learned how to get things done without burning out. These experiences have made me more resilient and confident in my abilities.
Lastly, I spoke with my friend Haley Cionfolo. She is a second-year student in the Global Epidemiology Department.
What are some of your favorite courses you have taken at Rollins?
My favorite classes are the ones with more hands-on learning. In my first year, my favorites were EPI 517, Case Studies in Infectious Disease, and EPI 535, Epidemiological Design and Implementation, for their emphasis on practicing the skills and concepts we learned with real-life examples. This year, my favorite so far is easily EPI 564, Public Health Preparedness and Practice, with my thesis advisor Allison Chamberlain. We look at different topics in emergency preparedness each week, often with different activities. Our midterm project also puts a lot of the skills and concepts we learned into practice, with how we would create and administer a community needs assessment after an emergency.
Is there an extracurricular that has contributed to your professional development or allowed you to explore your academic interests?
YES! I feel like everything I have done outside of the classroom at Rollins has really allowed me the opportunity to explore and connect with others in my field of interest. In addition to my REAL job at CDC’s Bacterial Special Pathogen Branch and my TA position for Marynn McKenna’s Health Writing and Narratives class in ECAS, I think the Student Outbreak Response Team has really defined my time at Rollins outside of coursework. As one of SORT’s 2024 Co-Presidents, I have had the opportunity to network with professionals across public health, especially those who work in emergency situations, as well as have opportunities for hands-on learning through volunteer opportunities, tabletop exercises, and full-scale exercises!
Reflecting on your time at Rollins so far, is there anything you would do differently?
I think if I had more time/bandwidth, I would have loved to take classes in the Complex Humanitarian Emergencies certificate or maybe pick up the certificate altogether. I love my certificate program, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, but I would have loved to combine these perspectives, had I realized my interest in CHE earlier on in my time at Rollins.
Rollins Student Ambassadors 