Epidemiology Ambassadors

Hi there! My name is Katie and I am a second-year MPH student in the epidemiology department. I am originally from Connecticut, but I fell in love with Atlanta when I first came to Emory for my undergraduate degree. After graduating in 2019, I served for one year in an AmeriCorps program called FoodCorps; then, I spent a year supporting my local health department’s COVID-19 response as a Community Health Worker. Currently, I work as a REAL student with the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, where I work on surveillance of healthcare-associated infections. Here at Rollins, I am inspired by the community of bright, creative, and ambitious peers that I am fortunate to interact with every day. When I am not in class or working, I love hanging out on the Beltline and exploring Atlanta’s amazing food scene. I am excited to connect with you all and to share my Rollins experience!

Academic Interests:
– Healthcare-Associated Infections
– Antimicrobial Resistance
– Infectious Diseases
Extra Curricular Activities
– Student Outbreak Response Team (SORT)

Academic Interests:
– Cardiometabolic Disease
– Social Epidemiology
– Health Services Research
Certificate Program: Social Determinants of Health
Extra Curricular Activities
– Volunteer at The Hope and Dignity Community Center

Hello! My name is Sofia Oviedo (she/her) and I am a second-year MPH student in the Department of Epidemiology. I am also completing the Social Determinants of Health certificate. I am originally from Houston, TX and graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Public Health.

I am currently a REAL student with the Health Services Research Center where I help with research looking at the effectiveness of an electronic kidney transplant referral system. I am also an intern at the American Cancer Society conudcting research on how factors such as Medicaid expansion, unemployment, and the financial burden of medical care affect cancer survivors. My thesis topic examines access to telehealth and changes in diabetes care patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic within a large integrated healthcare system among diabetes patients. In my free time, I enjoy reading a good sci-fi or fantasy novel, taking long walks in Lullwater Preserve, and trying new restaurants.

Hello! My name is Adil Muhammad (he/his/him) and I am in the MPH Epidemiology program, as well as in the Maternal and Child Health Certificate program! I graduated in 2019 with a degree in Biochemistry; over the past three years I worked as a scribe in an ER and as an EMT on an ambulance. In my free time I like to snowboard, go-kart, play basketball and keep up with Formula 1!

Academic Interests:
– Safe Abortion Access
– Maternal Mortality
– High-Risk Pregnancies
Certificate Program: Maternal and Child Health
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Emory Reproductive Health Association (ERHA)
– Student Outbreak Response Team (SORT)
– COVID-19 Journal Club

Academic Interests:
– Chronic Disease Epidemiology
– Genetic Risk Factors
– Social Determinants of Health
Certificate Program: Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– REAL

Hello, my name is Margo Bowers (she/her). I am originally from Cincinnati, OH, and recently graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program at Ohio State University in May 2022. With undergraduate experience in COVID-19 contact tracing and clinical research administration, my passion lies within studying chronic disease epidemiology with hopes of bringing this knowledge into a clinical setting. Deciding to join the MPH program here at Emory was a tough decision since I moved away from home, but I am beyond grateful for this decision and am extremely excited to share my experiences with prospective students!

My name is Kirsten Wade (she/her) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I am completing a certificate in social determinants of health. I am originally from New England, but I moved to Atlanta to study epidemiology at Rollins, with a hope of focusing on the social and spatial determinants of health. In my free time, I love to read, farmer’s market hop, or spend hours concocting an elaborate meal for friends.

Academic Interests:
– Social and Spatial Determinants of Health
– Built Environment
– Mental Health
– Health after Displacement
Certificate Program: Social Determinants of Health
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Emory Reproductive Health Association (ERHA)

Academic Interests:
– Cancer Epidemiology
– Maternal and Child Health
– Biostatistics

My name is Atese Natalie Yaa Akoto (she/her) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I am a passionate medical practitioner with two years of work experience. I am adept at providing excellent patient care with strong interest in preventive medicine among pediatric and adult populations. Further, I am a research enthusiast and articulate communicator.

Hi, my name is Lauren Mohler (she/her) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2021, I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Public Health, and I am excited to continue studying at Emory!

Academic Interests:
– Vaccines
– Vaccine Preventable Diseases
– Hospital Epidemiology

Academic Interests:
– Infectious Disease Epidemiology
– Food-borne Diseases
– Sexually Transmitted Diseases
– Diarrheal Infections
– Social Epidemiology
– Women’s Health
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Hi, my name is Chante Hamilton (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I am completing a certificate in infectious disease epidemiology. I am from Metro Atlanta. I am an Epidemiology Assistant at the Georgia Department of Public Health. My hobbies are bartending, event planning, cooking, interior designing, and shopping. 

Hi! My name is Franchesca Amor Aguilar (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I am completing a certificate in infectious disease epidemiology. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i and pursued my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology with a minor in East Asian Studies – Chinese Track at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA. I am currently a research assistant/data analyst for an NIH-funded project called RECOVER that focuses on understanding long COVID. I am also a Ferguson RISE fellow with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, working with the CDC on a study that focuses on strategies to prevent respiratory illnesses among people who experience homelessness. On campus, I am one of the representatives for the EPI department for the Rollins Student Government Association (RSGA), am the Co-President for the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Association (APIDA), and serve as a board member for the First-Gen at Rollins program. As a first-gen Filipina, it’s exciting to be here at Rollins and pursue my dream of becoming an epidemiologist! Outside of school/work, I love to play video games!

Academic Interests:
– Infectious Diseases
– Outbreak Response
– Antimicrobial Resistance
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– First-Gen at Rollins Advisory Board
– Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Association (APIDA)
– Rollins Student Government Association (RSGA)
– REAL

Academic Interests:
– Emergency Preparedness and Response
– Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Scholars-in-Action

My name is Amber-Leigh Garcia (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year MPH student in Epidemiology with a certificate in infectious diseases. I grew up in Seattle, Washington where I pursued my BA in Public Health at the University of Washington. Prior to coming to Rollins, I spent several years working as a Public Health Advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and volunteering as a Primary Responder for the CDC Global Rapid Response Team.

Hey, y’all! My name is Blake Launius (he/him/his), and I am a first-year MSPH student in Epidemiology. I grew up in upstate South Carolina and went to college at Clemson University, where I received my Bachelor’s in Health Science. For the last year before coming to Rollins, I worked on a research project looking at low-dose cancer screening usage for lung cancer in South Carolina. When not in class, you can usually find me exploring new hiking locations and checking out breweries.

Academic Interests:
– Zoonotic/Vector-Borne Illnesses
– Emerging Infectious Diseases
– Outbreak Response
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Academic Interests:
– Emerging Infectious Disease
– Hospital Epidemiology
– Healthcare-Associated Infections
– COVID-19
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– COVID-19 Journal Club
– Rollins Election Day Initiative (REDI)
– Society for Public Health in Medicine (SPHM)

Hi all, my name is Sarah Busby (she/her/hers), and I am a first-year student in the Epidemiology program completing a certificate in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology. I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (go Blazers!) with my B.S. in Public Health in 2018, and I worked for about 3.5 years in a variety of positions before matriculating to Rollins. Professionally I love attending classes that further my understanding of all things related to infectious diseases, and outside of class you will find me reading, playing video games, or discovering new places in Atlanta to eat some good spicy chicken! I hope I will be a valuable asset to any prospective Rollins students who want some insight into the first-year experience.

My name is Tosin Olojo (she/her/hers) and I am a second-year MPH Candidate in the Epidemiology department who hopes to focus her studies in disease surveillance. Before coming to Rollins, I graduated with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Science, Technology and Society from the University of Michigan, and worked for two and a half years as a wastewater chemist. I currently work as a research assistant at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and at the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, and am a social media associate for the Department of Epidemiology. I am also currently an Empowering Women for Leadership in Global Health (EMERGE) fellow.

Academic Interests:
– Global Health
– Social Epidemiology
– Infectious Diseases
– Disease Surveillance
– Capacity Building
– Social Determinants of Health
Certificate Program: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Association of Black Public Health Students (ABPHS)

Academic Interests:
– Cancer Epidemiology
– Barriers to Health Care Access
– Use of Public Health Data in Clinical Medicine
Certificate Program: Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology; Social Determinants of Health
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Rollins mHealth Collaboration
– Society for Public Health in Medicine (SPHM)
– Emory Global Health Institute Case Competition

Hi everyone! My name is Suprithi Pingle (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year Epidemiology MPH student and grew up right here in Atlanta, GA. I graduated in May 2021 with a B.S in Microbiology from The University of Georgia where some of my favorite classes ended up being for my minor in Global Health. After taking a year to work in clinical medicine, I decided to continue on for my MPH at Rollins because of the school’s passion for change and value in academia. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and exploring new places in the city with friends!

Hi everyone! My name is Courtney Kinnane (she/her) and I am a first-year MPH student in the Epidemiology Department. I just graduated from Furman University in South Carolina with my B.S. in public health and sociology, but I’m originally from the Chicagoland area. When I’m not at Rollins I have loved getting to explore Atlanta by walking the BeltLine and trying to find the best boba spots. Looking forward to connecting and sharing my Rollins experience!

Academic Interests:
– Infectious Diseases
– Social Epidemiology
Extra Curricular Activities:
– Volunteer at South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation

Academic Interests:
– Infectious Diseases
– Spatial Epidemiology
– Monitoring and Evaluation
Extra Curricular Activities:
– REAL

Hi everyone! My name is Cassie York (she/her), and I am a first-year MPH student in Global Epidemiology, originally from Indiana. I graduated from Cornell University with a major in Biological Engineering and a minor in Global Health in 2020. I worked for two years as a research assistant in the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School before coming to Rollins. I currently work as a REAL student as a Data Analytics and Epidemiology Assistant with the Trachoma Control Program at the Carter Center. When I am not in class or working, I like hiking, reading, and trying new restaurants around Atlanta!