Nathaniel Barrera-Nitz

District 8-2 Southwest Albany, Graduated December 2022

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Graduate Alma Matter: Florida State University

Epi Interests: Infectious Diseases, Maternal and Child Health, Chronic Diseases

Most excited about fellowship: “What excites me the most about this fellowship program is the idea that I get to do a project that I am assigned that is aimed at helping the health district that I am apart of better. It excited me that I can making a last impact within the health district that will help promote the mission of Public Health: to prevent disease and promote wellness throughout the community.”

Most excited about district: “I am excited to work in the Albany Health District because I am looking forward to training under a Senior Epidemiologist and other Epidemiologist within the health district that have been able to handle so well the COVID-19 pandemic. I am really looking forward to learning from them what it takes to protect such a large community from disease.”

Love most about Epi: “Epidemiology is the bedrock of Public Health that aims to look at the distribution and possible causes of disease within a population. I think it is amazing through data analysis, developing rapport with patients who have the disease, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals; that one can begin to understand the possible risk factors or causes that led someone to develop the disease. This subsequently leads to understanding how to prevent the disease from occurring and ultimately saving lives. To me it is rewarding and fulfilling work and what makes me so passionate about Epidemiology.”

Hobbies: Cooking, playing piano, and playing board games with friends

Fun fact: “My family and I are huge ice hockey fans. Go Tampa Bay Lightning!!!”