New Major Series – Epidemiology

Today’s guest blogger for our “New Major Blog Series” is Oladoyin Oladeru ’13. Ola writes about discovering a passion for epidemiology and understanding the worlds need for strong public health programs.

My interest in Public Health developed over the course of summer 2010 when I got into the habit of reading CNN’s health-related articles online. More importantly, I grew interest in global health and all its shortcomings. It depressed me when I read about thousands of people dying from malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious and chronic diseases. As an epidemiology major, I am attaining the necessary skills in order to prepare me for my long-range academic and professional plans. I am also learning about the distribution and determinants of these diseases. Although most of these illnesses and diseases have no cure, I have noticed a commonality – most are preventable.

This notion that most of the diseases, which affect a wide range of the population, are preventable is imperative because this means you can educate people and bring about awareness of safety precautions. In an attempt to exercise this idea and my passion for global health I decided to study abroad in South Africa last spring semester. During my stay, I got the opportunity to learn about the epidemiology of tuberculosis and apply what I learned in class by creating intervention plans that would reduce the incidence rate of tuberculosis. In collaboration with the South African Red Cross I developed posters, which encouraged and showed people how to prevent tuberculosis. By hanging posters up in the community and going door-to-door to encourage and following people to the community health clinic to know their health status, I was able to bring awareness to the fact that tuberculosis is treatable, preventable, and curable.

Epidemiology was the closest thing to global health here at Rochester; in my opinion it is the best track in the public health field. Epidemiology has given me an opportunity to apply the use of my problem solving skills and logical thinking skills from mathematics to approach public health issues. As an epidemiology major, most of my course requirements are graduate level courses at the department of community and preventive medicine. Although these courses are challenging, they have signified a transition for me. I went from reading in order to receive a good grade to now seeking an understanding of the material and developing my own opinion on critical issues. This exciting experience is preparing me for graduate school and career goals. I plan on pursuing a master’s and doctoral degree in Public health. I hope to eventually assume a position advising U.S. and other governments on public health matters or perhaps even to work at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.