Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016 - (Page 18)

MAJORING IN PUBLIC HEALTH IT USED TO BE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WAS A DISCIPLINE TO PURSUE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, BUT TODAY MANY COLLEGES OFFER UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND RELATED FIELDS. AS THESE WRITERS SHOW, IT'S AN INTELLECTUALLY RIGOROUS PATH THAT ALLOWS-AND ENCOURAGES-STUDENTS TO BEGIN MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVEN BEFORE THEY GRADUATE. UW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISTOCK.COM/MATHISWORKS FOR THE GREATER GOOD 18 The Power of Numbers by Marlena Norwood University of Washington, Class of 2016 Growing up, I always thought I'd be a doctor someday. I was fascinated by the workings of the human body and how it is affected by all sorts of things like diet, exercise, and disease. In high school, I pored over anatomical maps and texts about the systems of the human body. In my junior year, I followed my medical ambitions to a National Student Leadership Conference program focusing on public health, an experience that widened my perspective from improving the health of individuals to improving the health of entire populations. The notion that we could use population-level intervention to prevent disease from occurring in the first place was to me novel, exciting, and inspiring. I joined the public health major almost immediately after starting college at the University of Washington. I also enrolled in the UW Honors Program to complement my public health education with interdisciplinary coursework in small discussion-based classes. Since then, I have taken coursework in everything from biology to sociology, biostatistics to political science, and epidemiology to chemistry. I even had the opportunity to study global health abroad at University College London. The interdisciplinary nature of public health has allowed me to make connections among a wide range of courses, and the discussion-based class environment has shown me the importance of collaboration in solving public health problems. imagine Since the field is so broad, students of public health usually concentrate on one or two areas that are especially interesting to them. After taking courses in biostatistics and epidemiology, I immediately knew that those were my areas. Epidemiologists study the frequency, patterns, and causes of disease in a population, and biostatisticians develop statistical methodology to better study those factors. I had always been good at math, but now I understood how I could use math to improve the health of populations. I also learned that I enjoy statistical programming, a very useful skill for both research in biostatistics methods and epidemiologic data analysis. After discovering my passion for biostatistics and epidemiology, I pursued related research opportunities and coursework. I found professors who were willing and excited to work with me on research projects and to mentor me in my studies. I've just finished writing a paper for which I worked with a biostatistics professor to create a method to improve data analysis and interpretation in sexually transmitted disease research. Currently I'm working with an epidemiology professor to analyze birth outcomes in women with disabilities. I'm also taking an epidemic modeling class where I'm building math models of infectious disease. I am now applying to graduate school in epidemiology and biostatistics to pursue further studies and research in both areas. I'm so excited to see what the future holds! Jan/Feb 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016

Big Picture
In My Own Words CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
My Summer of Medicine Three ways of exploring healthcare
Teens Target: Public Health How high school students are solving real-world public health problems
Slowing the Race Addressing antibiotic resistance
For the Greater Good Majoring in public health
Epic Epidemics Studying History of Disease at CTY
Teen Health is Public Health Interview with Beth Marshall, Associate Director, Center for Adolescent Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Building Bridges Addressing health disparities through service
Becoming a Disease Detective Behind the scenes at the CDC
Finding Light in the Darkness Astrophysics at UCSC SIP
Girls Who Code Paving the way to careers in tech
Selected Opportunities and Resources
Off the Shelf Review of Iris Chang’s The Chinese in America
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options Interview with epidemiologist Christine Scott-Waldron, M.S.P.H.
One Step Ahead Summer in limbo
Planning Ahead for College Is medical school in your future?
Students Review: Tufts University
Creative Minds Imagine Essay contest winners
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016