Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016 - (Page 26)

Becoming a Behind the Scenes at the CDC by Michael Gerot I APPROACHED THE GATE AND FLASHED THE GUARD MY I.D. BADGE. SECURITY GUARDS ESCORTED ME OUT OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DOGS CHECKED IT FOR EXPLOSIVES. ONLY THEN WAS I ALLOWED TO ENTER THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. I WAS THERE LAST SUMMER TO ATTEND THE CDC DISEASE DETECTIVE CAMP, A ONE-WEEK PROGRAM THAT GIVES HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND GET A JAMES GATHANY, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION GLIMPSE OF WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CDC. I became aware of the CDC in 2014 when I read an article in Discover magazine about the work they were doing to try to contain the Ebola epidemic in Africa. I was intrigued by the idea of helping to prevent major disease outbreaks and having a global impact on public health. An academic counselor encouraged me to pursue my interest by submitting an application for the CDC-sponsored summer camp. I applied in February and learned in May that I was one of 30 students selected to attend the camp in June. We would stay at a local hotel with counselors who had previously attended the camp and spend our days exploring the inner workings of the CDC. Where Science Meets Passion Founded in 1946 as a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC works to identify and prevent potential disease outbreaks and inform the public about healthy behaviors. It comprises researchers, public affairs officers, and doctors who specialize in preventing the spread of disease. The organization uses advanced computing and lab analysis of huge amounts of data to track diseases and their causes and quickly The CDC's Arlen Specter Headquarters and Emergency Operations Center in Atlanta, Georgia No 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