YSPH alumna applying laboratory skills to improve global health

Senior Specialist in Global Health at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).

My past and current roles have had one thing in common: laboratory science. Prior to joining the APHL, I spent four years at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH) working as an APHL laboratory fellow, a public health scientist, and a laboratory supervisor overseeing antibiotic susceptibility work in the microbiology department. While my time at the NCSLPH provided my foundational understanding of laboratory science, my transition to the APHL was fueled by an interest in global health that began during my years at YSPH. At the APHL, I am currently a senior specialist on the global health team tasked with leading the Botswana PEPFAR portfolio. In this position, I lead the Botswana in-country staff across multiple activities ranging from strengthening laboratory systems and supporting point of care testing to improving quality management systems. It is a challenging position as it tests both my leadership skills and technical expertise to effectively steer the in-country team through the multitude of challenges that arise in global health work. However, it is rewarding to see improvement in a country's infrastructure and population health as a direct impact of my work.

YSPH provided me with a robust tool kit of public health skills through its interdisciplinary courses, which provided me with a foundational understanding of public health. To be a program manager in global health, you need to know the intersection of these disciplines to truly understand how to make a large-scale impact in a country.

Taking Professor Linda Niccolai's course in epidemiology and then having the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for her was an experience that ignited my passion for the field.

I think the biggest asset I gained from YSPH, aside from my degree, are my classmates. The people you attend classes with go on to become public health leaders and professionals in all realms of public health. It is a really cool thing to be able to cheer these people on.

Enjoy the experience and learn everything you can about things you are passionate about. If you spend the entire time stressing about what job you will have post-graduation, the whole experience will pass by in a blink of an eye.