Led by Dr. Jodie Guest, Rollins students spent many hours working on COVID-19 outbreaks across Georgia during the summer of 2020. The team provided free COVID-19 testing to those in communities hardest hit by the epidemic. In addition they worked with community partners to develop educational materials to promote PPE use and hygiene. The students in this group have received invaluable hands on experience serving vulnerable communities in Georgia while contributing meaningfully to their applied practical experiences. The outbreak response team is poised and ready to respond if called upon to help curb outbreaks in other regions of the state. This team is coordinating with Georgia Health Districts to determine the need for active response across the state.
“In public health, we work with numbers, being a part of the Outbreak Response Team was a humble reminder of the individual faces behind the staggering COVID-19 numbers. As we continue our work in public health, it is critical to remember the individuals behind the numbers that represent our work and relentlessly fight for equity, justice, and improved health of the population.”
– Lisa Chung, 2nd year MPH Epidemiology Student
Honored with a “Heart of Emory” award, MPH student and future HIV epidemiologist Nellie Garlow has dedicated her time to the COVID-19 Outbreak and Response Team, the Rollins Election Day Initiative, and more.
As the pandemic unfolded, E. Lisa Chung got involved with multiple response efforts, from performing tests and delivering vaccines to mapping out prevention plans. She’ll continue her studies as a Rollins PhD student this fall.
Helping Students Register to Vote During a Pandemic – Lisa Chung and Nellie Garlow
The Emory Outbreak Response Team has been hard at work continuing to raise awareness about prevention strategies and bringing free COVID-19 testing to underserved communities in Georgia.
A number of Emory EPI students have been hard at work conducting surveillance activities and contributing to Fulton County EPI reports on changes in COVID-19 trends.
The Emory EPI Outbreak Response Team, led by Department Vice Chair Dr. Jodie Guest, has been working diligently this summer to support Hall County’s COVID-19 response through a variety of initiatives.