Demi Adefarati
Collegeville, PA
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Demi
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because I loved the research being conducted by professors within the various departments, and because of Drexel's location within Philadelphia. Ultimately, I knew that I wanted to be in Philly because I love the community, and I wanted to be engaged with a city that I felt a personal connection to.
Research Interests: Chronic Inflammatory Conditions Amongst Women of Color, Health Inequities, Women of Color and their Experiences in the Healthcare System within the United States, Economic Determinants of Health, and the Intersection of Racial and Gender Based Trauma as a Determinant of Health
Adanna Aguta
Odenton, MD
MPH, Global Health (minor in Maternal and Child Health)
About Adanna
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose to attend Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health because of the diversity of opportunities. I was confident that I would receive the most forward-centered schooling in public health. In addition, the unique concentrations that the school of public health has to offer are what attracted me the most.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Global Health, Health Disparities, Reproductive Health, Policy, and Health Inequities.
Octavio Alanis
Maywood, IL
MPH, Epidemiology
About Octavio
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the research being done by the faculty. I was specifically interested in the SALURBAL project led by the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative and thankfully I have been able to join the team as a Graduate Research Project Assistant.
Research Interests: Clinical research, Urban Health, Data Analysis and Public Health Consulting
Khadijah Bundick
Roanoke, VA
MPH, Global Health
About Khadijah
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the distinctiveness of the program.
Research Interests: Maternal Reproductive Health (Research), Health Policy/Inequities
Meredith Cohen
Bensalem, PA
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Meredith
Why I Chose Dornsife: There are so many reasons I chose Dornsife. I knew this was the school for me because of the renowned faculty, the applied practical experience opportunity, and its top rank among Public Health programs across the country.
Research Interests: Health Law, Health Leadership, Maternal and Child Health
Isabel De Ramos
Philadelphia, PA
MS, Epidemiology
About Isabel
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife's dedication in improving the health of Philadelphia's disadvantaged and most vulnerable populations resonates with my own career goals. As a Philly native, I chose Drexel as my new home once I discovered that Dornsife has deep roots and connections with overall public health research, programs, and projects throughout the city.
Research Interests: Health Disparities, Immigrant & Refugee Health, Chronic Disease, Health Equity, Health of People of Color
My Data Analysis Project: I am completing a data analysis project examining life expectancy and lifespan variation by race/ethnicity and urbanicity in the US, 2015-2019.
Other Involvement at DSPH: Research assistant at the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative (UHC)
Ugonwa Ezeanyagu
Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Ugonwa
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife School of Public Health because it would be a great place to learn and grow my skills.
Research Interests: Clinical trials, Drug Discovery/Development, Population Health
Ngozi Fadulu
Clementon, NJ
MPH, Epidemiology (online program)
About Ngozi
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife based on revelations I read from current students and the school's expertise in the area of public health around the city of Philadelphia and all over the nation.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Surveillance, Maternal and Child Health, Social Epidemiology
My APE: My APE was with the Drexel COVID-19 Peer-2-Peer Social Media Campaign aimed at disseminating COVID-19 messaging to Drexel students (undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate) via social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook). A 2-part project consisting of a vaccine team and an Instagram team both interacted with students in real time, creating and disseminating COVID-19 messages on Instagram and on Facebook. As a social media coordinator, I created and posted my own messages, and I realized that timing is crucial in risk communication as it relates to infectious disease prevention and control. The other takeaway is the reality of misinformation and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to curb the menace. Overall, it was a great experience because I had the opportunity to put my public health training into practice to help inform and reduce the spread of COVID-19 among students.
My ILE: For my proposed ILE project, I am looking at contraceptive use among women in the United States and its relation to breast cancer diagnosis.
Other Involvement at DSPH: I am currently a Teaching Assistant with DSPH. Also, serving as a student ambassador with the This is Public Health (TIPH) Ambassador Program where we raise awareness about education and career options in Public Health.
Kaitlyn Farrell
Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Global Health
About Kaitlyn
Why I Chose Dornsife: I was instantly drawn to Dornsife's core mission to fight for health as a human right, locally and globally. Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health perfectly encapsulated everything I envisioned for my MPH degree. With unmatched educational opportunities and a newly created Global Health MPH program, the choice was clear. At Drexel, I would gain the tools I need to improve the health and well-being of children and families, both here in Philadelphia and around the globe.
Research Interests: Global Health, Ethics, Maternal and Child Health, and Latino and Immigrant Health
My APE: For my APE project, I served as a clinical operations intern for FHI Clinical (subsidiary of FHI 360 also known as Family Health International), a full service mission-driven clinical research organization that strives to address unmet clinical research needs in low-resource settings, specifically by supporting the development of vaccines and medications. In my intern role, I reported directly to the Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Operations, where I supported senior leadership, the organization as a whole, and had direct insight into active and prospective clinical trials.
Other Involvement at DSPH: Maternal Child Health Student Organization - Social Media Officer
Line Pascale Gonel
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Line Pascale
Why I Chose Dornsife: My choice was based on the broad practical opportunities available and the scholarships offered regardless if you are a resident student or not. As an international student those two opportunities are making a great difference in my graduate student experience. Furthermore, I love history and if I want to know more about Americans culture, Philadelphia is the best place. It's rich in history and Dornsife is the number #1 School of Public Health in Philadelphia.
Research Interests: Healthcare Management, Health Insurance
My APE: I was a Cities Changing Diabetes Intern with the Health Care Improvement Foundation where I was reviewing grant proposals for different house of faiths in Philadelphia that want to implement diabetes programs in their communities. As many of the faith leaders may not have time or experience in grant writing, I was reviewing their proposals in order for them to get more chance of finding the financial grants they were applying for.
My ILE: I kept my position as a Cities Changing Diabetes Intern. I will have to work in different diabetes related projects but the one I am working on now is a Youth Diabetes Camp which is a collaboration with different house of faiths and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Other Involvement at DSPH: Health Management and Policy Club - Event Coordinator
Bhavita Kalambekar
Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Global Health)
About Bhavita
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife has well renowned faculties who engage in lot of conversation about the current Public Health topics and provide us with wonderful insights that shapes us in becoming the Public Health Experts that the world needs now. There is a vast range of flexible curriculum offered by the school which is an added advantage. There are lot of clubs actively holding meetings that provide a window for students to learn about current dynamics in their favorite field.
Research Interests: Cancer, AIDS, Opioid Abuse
Nidhi Khadke
Nashik, Maharashtra, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Nidhi
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife is one of the reputed Public Health schools and offers great research opportunities with a flexible curriculum. It has extensive community engagement which provides a perspective into real world Public Health challenges.
Research Interests: Cancer, Neurodevelopment and Neurologic Disorders, Infectious Disease, Urban Health
Akshatha Krishna
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Akshatha
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife offers a curriculum which allows easy understanding through its quarter system. Also being one of the most renowned public schools, it offers a wide range of exposure in the health care field.
Research Interests: Cancer Research, Infectious Diseases, Urban Health, Community Health
Lorena Melendez-Chavez
Colima, Mexico
MPH, Community Health and Prevention (minor in Maternal and Child Health)
About Lorena
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife School of Public Health because of their multidisciplinary research and work in the field of public health and diverse faculty and staff. Also, for their commitment in fighting for health as a human right for everyone. Dornsife is the perfect place to grow as a student and as a professional in public health.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Community Nutrition, Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases and Latino and Immigrant Health
Alysha Melnyk
Mohnton, PA
MPH, Global Health
About Alysha
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife offers the school and work balance I was searching for. Since completing my Bachelor of Science in Biology at Susquehanna University in 2014, I have worked for over six years with international medical nonprofit ECRI. I always knew I would go back to school, but I was so passionate about growing my career at ECRI that I needed to find a program that I could complete with a full-time work schedule. Additionally, I was searching for a program that could truly compliment the work I do. Dornsife provides me with that balance, and I am happy I can build my career and gain additional knowledge at school simultaneously. Despite already working in the public health field, I find Dornsife continually offers new resources, varied perspectives and additional knowledge that allows me to grow inside and outside the classroom.
Research Interests: Global Health, Health Policy & Health Care Delivery, Behavioral Science & Health Communication
My APE: In my APE project, I provided E-learning Technical Support for the PCORI Health Care Horizon Scanning System (HCHSS). I specifically worked on the PCORI Horizon Scanning Database which is a part of HCHSS, and was developed to make health care technology innovation information more easily accessible to the public. In my role providing E-learning Technical Support, I helped to create user-friendly and accessible resources to help individuals navigate the PCORI Horizon Scanning Database.
Other Involvement at DSPH: Member of the American Public Health Association (APHA)
Aria Mooney
Dunmore, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Aria
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife offered me the ability to take a variety of classes in my areas of interest while also being in a great city with so many opportunities. The Dornsife staff was there for me whenever I needed help, so I knew this was the place for me.
Research Interests: Infectious Diseases, Emergency Preparedness
My APE: I worked with AIDS Care Group on expanding ACG's social media to reach a new audience. We researched important public health information regarding HIV/AIDS, PrEP, sexual health, and LGBTQ+ health, then formatted the information into approachable, non-intimidating TikTok video series. The account now has months of content ready to be posted for each topic series.
My ILE: I am using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets to measure the association between type of health insurance and the participant's knowledge of their current or past positive Hepatitis B status.
Garvita Nagar
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Biostatistics)
About Garvita
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife stands out by offering one of the best programs that provides a flexible curriculum with the perfect balance between statistical and public health courses. The school has a number of research opportunities to gain experience in my field of interest.
Research Interests: Epidemiological Research on Oncology, Infectious Diseases and Other Viral Infections
My APE: I worked Drexel's A. J. Drexel Autism Institute as a Data Analyst Intern. This position involves researching and cataloguing state-specific health policies related to services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I worked on several projects focused on state health policy and helped to analyze the data and create visualizations.
My ILE: My data analysis project studies the characteristics of hospital emergency department visits made by people with mental health conditions who had dental problems. This study will research the number of hospital emergency department visits made by people with mental health conditions who had dental problems in Pennsylvania 2017 by patient characteristics (which may include age, gender, and insurance type) and hospital demographics (including urbanicity, region, and whether the hospital is private or public).
Other Involvement at DSPH: I was a Research Assistant from Jan-June 2021 under Dr. Irene Headen for the research study, "To Support Neighborhood Context and Structural Racism for Black Birthing People."
Neeraj Narayan
West Chester, PA
MPH, Epidemiology (online program)
About Neeraj
Why I Chose Dornsife: I loved the opportunities here.
Research Interests: Injury Epidemiology
My APE: Spatial and statistical analysis of motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths in Bogota, Colombia
Other Involvement at DSPH: Research Assistant position, Dornsife Student Government Organization (Graduate)
Ifunanya Nwabueze
Lagos, Nigeria
MPH, Health Management and Policy (minor in Health Economics)
About Ifunanya
Why I Chose Dornsife: I was instantly drawn to Dornsife because of the wide array of minors offered, particularly health economics and the emphasis on practical skills. The Dornsife's commitment to health as a human right was quite inspiring, it felt like a community I would love to be a part of. Also, its location in the vibrant city of Philadelphia, while ranking as the number #1 school of public health in Philadelphia made it the right choice for me.
Research Interests: Cardiovascular Diseases, Health Economics, Health Policy, Global Health
Gabby O'Leary
Wynnewood, PA
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Gabby
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the research opportunities, emphasis on community engagement, and strong connections in the Philadelphia area.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Urban Health, Health Disparities, Injury Prevention, Policy
My APE: I interned in the Strategy and Business Development department at Jefferson Health System where I worked with the strategy team on day-to-day projects to inform decision making at Jefferson. As an internal corporate department, the strategy team delivers market-driven insights, supports nimble decision-making, and enable strategic growth for the enterprise.
My ILE: I'm continuing my work with the strategy team at Jefferson for my ILE project!
Other Involvement at DSPH: Research Assistant with the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative; Maternal and Child Health Program Assistant; Treasurer of the Peer Health Educators student group; and Vice President of the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization.
Georgia Pardales
Berkeley Heights, NJ
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Georgia
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the faculty, multiple research opportunities and the location!
Research Interests: Health Communication, Chronic Disease, Vaccination
My APE: Program Coordinator for Drexel Dornsife Public Health Summer Institute. Hosted a week-long program for high school students that were interested in Public Health. Taught a Public Health 101 course and participated in field trips.
My ILE: Program Coordinator at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Other Involvement at DSPH: DSPH Student Government Organization, Research Assistant at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, consultant at PA Med Home
Parth Patel
Ahmedabad, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Parth
Why I Chose Dornsife: At Dornsife, the course curriculum is set in a manner that it allows students to take care of their physical and mental well-being. Its location in the urban area and proximity to the biggest hospitals and research organizations of Philadelphia give students an opportunity to gain rich practical experience.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, Oral Cancer, Dental Public Health
Vishwa Patel
Maple Grove, MN
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Global Health)
About Vishwa
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of its core mission to fight for health as a human right locally and globally which is one that strongly resonates with me. Along with the school's distinguished faculty, research opportunities and strong emphasis on community engagement, I knew that Dornsife would provide me with all the tools necessary to succeed.
Research Interests: Global Health, Health Disparities, Health Equity, Infectious Diseases, Mental Health
Vidya Patil
Pune, Maharashtra, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Vidya
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because it was my Dream University. I was really fascinated by the Faculty and their Research Interests. The University also has extreme high-quality flexibility and perfect course study for MPH program.
Research Interests: Oral Cancers and Infectious Diseases
Mikaela Perez
San Antonio, TX
MPH, Epidemiology
About Mikaela
Why I Chose Dornsife: I love the diversity in Philadelphia. This is a great location to study public health as well as participate in the various research opportunities that Drexel offers such as the Urban Health Collaborative.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health, HIV/AIDS, Infectious Disease, Global Health, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health, and Urban Health
My APE: Vaccine Exemption Coordinator for Drexel University and then later transitioned into Contact Tracing Manager role.
My ILE: Analysis with CHOP's Policy Lab on the effect that nativity status has on maternal birth outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Other Involvement at DSPH: President of Peer Health Educators student group, Contact Tracing Manager for Drexel University
Whitney Roach
Sterling, KS
MPH, Urban Health
About Whitney
Why I Chose Dornsife: I live in Philadelphia and know of the great reputation Dornsife has as a public health leader!
Research Interests: Environmental Health, Healthcare Access, Maternal/Child, Nutrition
Jensy Rodriguez-Silva
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
MS, Epidemiology
About Jensy
Why I Chose Dornsife: The accessibility to resources and opportunities brought me to the Dornsife School of Public Health. I have felt so welcomed since I arrived that I've been able to share the basis of my ideas in epidemiology. The diversity of specializations in the epidemiological branch at the school help the students grow professionally and gain the ability to work together and combine projects from different backgrounds. Furthermore, I admire the school interest on community and global issues.
Research Interests: Substance Use and Abuse, Pharmacoepidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health, Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
Liam Romond
Wind Gap, PA
MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health (minor in Public Health Emergency Preparedness)
About Liam
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the school's distinguished faculty to learn from and work with, as well as the incredible resources that the school and university offer.
Research Interests: Unintentional Injuries Related to the Built Environment, Occupational Safety, Impacts of Climate Change on Older Populations, Environmental Justice in Rural Communities
My APE: I was selected to the Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) and paired with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 labor union. Our work investigated occupational hazards that Pennsylvania's public sector workers experience without protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
My ILE: Under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Taylor, I will be working with Dornsife's Center for Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends (FIRST) to conduct research pertaining to the violence experienced by emergency medical service members.
Other Involvement at DSPH: I am a Teaching Assistant for the PBHL 510 Public Health Foundations and Systems course
Jhumna Sarkar
Gurgaon, Haryana, India
MPH, Global Health (minor in Maternal and Child Health)
About Jhumna
Why I Chose Dornsife: Living in South Jersey, I was always aware that Drexel University is one of the most reputable Universities in the region. Also the fact that it is the best in Philadelphia in MPH and ranked 24th in the country were very important reasons why I chose Drexel. Also the fee structure fits my requirements.
Research Interests: Global Health and Maternal and Child Health
Ashni Shah
Mumbai, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Ashni
Why I Chose Dornsife: A curriculum with electives that make you proficient in your field of interest is every student’s dream and Drexel has exactly that to offer. There are amazing networking opportunities and the university is centrally located which makes this a great place to start your career.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Control and Chronic Health Disease Control
Isabelle Shumate
Hershey, PA
MPH/MBA Dual Degree
About Isabelle
Why I Chose Dornsife: I choose Dornsife because of the emphasis on the Philadelphia community and the opportunities the school provided. In addition, during a preview day I attended all of the students seemed so passionate about the school and their work which helped me make the final decision to attend Drexel.
Research Interests: Clinical Management, Healthcare Consulting
Other Involvement: Health Management and Policy Club Vice President
Gelila Solomon
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
MPH, Health Management and Policy (minor in Health Economics)
About Gelila
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because it is a private research university in Philadelphia. I was attracted by the multitude of research areas covered by faculty. In addition, Dornsife is unique in that it is well respected and known within the community through the numerous community collaborations it undertakes. This unique blend of community and academia gravitated me towards choosing Dornsife.
Research Interests: Health Services Research, Non-Communicable Diseases Research, Policy Analysis, Health Systems Development, Health Disparities and Intersection of Clinical Medicine and Public health
Varsha Sriram
Singapore
MPH, Epidemiology
About Varsha
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health because of the plethora of opportunities. Taking up public health allows me to look into a broad range of possible and interesting career options, through the structured didactics, ongoing research and practicum here at Dornsife. The renowned faculty and staff are very supportive and share a great camaraderie with the students. Our class has rich diversity where we celebrate our varied views & cultures amidst the classrooms and beyond.
Research Interests: Community Health and Prevention, Urban Health, Non-communicable Diseases specifically Heart Disease and Diabetes, HIV Medicine & Clinical Research
Ope Thompson
Ibadan, Nigeria
MPH, Health Management and Policy (minor in Health Informatics)
About Ope
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife offers one of the best public health programs in the country. The numerous public health initiatives and research shows the institution's dedication to improving public health in the country.
Research Interests: Use of Information Technology for Public Health Communication and Emergency Preparedness, Analyzing Public Health Policy targeted towards Vulnerable Communities and Groups
Josiane Tsobgny
Harrisburg , PA
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Josiane
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because it is the perfect combination of academics, research, and first-hand exposure to truly understanding and solving public health issues. With Dornsife's connections to public health research and programs in the city of Philadelphia, l knew that attending this program would challenge me to think outside the box.
Research Interests: Global health, Mental Health , Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Infectious Disease, and Reproductive Health
Yosselin Turcios
Alexandria, VA
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Yosselin
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of its skills-based curriculum, outstanding faculty research, and hands-on public health opportunities.
Research Interests: Latinx/Immigrant Health, Health Disparities and Health Equity, and Maternal and Child Health Among Marginalized Communities
My APE: I applied for the Title V internship, a program that matches graduate students with a state's Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Title V agency. I worked with Indiana's MCH Division to create a quarterly reporting tool to assist in monitoring and evaluating grant recipient's project goals. I also synthesized Indiana's 2020 Title V Needs Assessment data to create data placemats by population domains (i.e. children, adolescent, women health) that will be disseminated among statewide community partners.
Other Involvement at DSPH: Community Health and Prevention Club, Peer Health Educators student group, and UHC Research Fellow for Dr. Ana Martinez-Donate's lab.
Hope Vega
Bronx, NY
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Hope
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of its perfect location in a diverse and vibrant city, commitment to health as a human right, and the endless opportunities for hands-on experiences!
Research Interests: Minority Health and Health Disparities
Olivia Vesey
Hatfield, PA
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Infectious Disease and Population Health)
About Olivia
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Drexel Dornsife because of the methods focused curriculum, option to pursue a graduate level minor, and the close connections it has with various organizations in Philadelphia. I attended undergrad in Philly and wanted to further my education here because of the plentiful opportunities for public health graduates and continue to live in a city that I have made my second home.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, particularly Foodborne Disease Outbreaks and Zoonotic Diseases, Vaccinations, Clinical Trials, Nutrition, Mental Health, Neurodevelopment, and Health/Risk Communication
My APE: I worked at Pfizer in Vaccine Clinical Research and Development as a Lyme Vaccine Research Assistant. I analyzed Lyme disease incidence data to identify the top Lyme endemic states and counties to create heat maps that showcased patterns and distribution of the disease. My maps were used to inform priority areas for site selection for the Phase III Lyme Vaccine Efficacy trial. I also researched the use of skin biopsies in trials and how to improve acceptability of the procedure among patients, and healthcare networks and physicians for participation in the trial.
My ILE: I will be conducting an analysis using data from the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) Study to investigate whether there is an association between maternal physical activity during pregnancy and autism-related traits in their offspring. Examining modifiable risk factors that may have an impact on neurodevelopment of children can help us to better understand the etiology of autism.
Anusha Vishnubhotla
Brentwood, CA
MPH, Epidemiology (online program)
About Anusha
Why I Chose Dornsife: I have always been interested in Public Health and Dornsife seems to be the best place to gain that knowledge!
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, focusing on viruses and cancer
Shufang Wang
Nanjing, Jiang Su, China
MS, Epidemiology
About Shufang
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the excellent location, the top rank in the US, and the amazing faculty of Dornsife.
Research Interests: Disease Prevention, Chronic Disease, Mental Health
Thomas Williamson
Coventry, RI
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Biostatistics)
About Thomas
Why I Chose Dornsife: Academic focus on data science, school-directed internship opportunities, large variety of available graduate courses, and because of the 12-month MPH program.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Epidemiology (focus on pandemic or epidemic mitigation) / Field Epidemiology
Tessa Witkowsky
Park Ridge, IL
MPH, Epidemiology (minor in Global Health)
About Tessa
Why I Chose Dornsife: I have always wanted to live on the east coast and had a lot of friends that went to Drexel and always spoke highly of its professors and programs.
Research Interests: Health Inequalities, Access to health promoting resources and its impacts on overall health
Nicole Wittmeyer
Wilmington, DE
MPH, Health Management and Policy (minor in Infectious Disease and Population Health)
About Nicole
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the opportunities the program has to offer, the option to declare a minor, and the ability to participate in research and network with professors.
Research Interests: Health Management, Chronic Disease, Infectious Disease, Mental Health, Nutrition
My APE: I completed my APE at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia working as a clinical assistant on a research study analyzing rotavirus transmission in the neonatal intensive care unit. My main duties involved specimen collection, conducting data quality assurance, working with REDcap software, completing a data analysis project based on our specimen collection success rate, and screening articles for our study's systematic review.
My ILE: For my ILE project, I will continue working at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in a new position as a research assistant on a study focusing on smoking cessation. I will use my experience and knowledge I have gained so far by completing a research paper as my final deliverable.
Aletha Wolo
Liberia, West Africa (Currently live in Maryland)
MPH, Epidemiology (online program) (minor in Infectious Disease and Population Health)
About Aletha
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife provided me with the opportunity of scholarships, resources and also professional development.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Yassmen Zaki
Somerset, NJ
MPH, Epidemiology (online program)
About Yassmen
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife has been well-known for being a castle of diversity, providing quality education, and its focus on improving the health of disadvantaged populations and communities.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Infectious and Chronic Disease, and Health Policy
My APE: I am currently working on my APE with the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy & Practice (CTIPP). Working with the CTIPP, HEAL-PA, the Health Federation of Philadelphia, and other strategic partners, we can sustain a project that will not only be incredibly worthwhile for the staff, students, and school as a whole, but also create positive and necessary change in the city we call home.
Other Involvement at DSPH: I am serving as a Teaching Assistant in the department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Ammar Zaman
Lititz, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Ammar
Why I Chose Dornsife: Great opportunities for job placement and tremendous community involvement.
Research Interests: Cardiovascular Health, Environmental Health, Infectious Diseases
My APE: My APE was with Bridging the Gaps (BTG). I worked with fellow intern members to spread awareness of a new internet connecting program designed to provide free internet access to families with children who cannot afford regular monthly internet access.