ROLLINS TAKES ACTION
We are living in unprecedented times. While tremendous advancements in health innovation, research, and technology have improved health outcomes and saved lives, distinct inequities and obstacles remain. The need for a well-trained public health workforce, which reflects the communities we live in, has never been greater. While significant challenges persist, we are making steady and determined progress each day.
COVID-19
Since the pandemic began, federal funding agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, have increased their support to stop the pandemic. Emory ranked No. 3 nationwide in NIH awards for COVID-19 among universities.
Rollins community members engaged with the Emory COVID-19 Response Collaborative have led surveillance efforts, provided guidance to a range of local and national groups, assisted in on-the-ground testing and vaccination efforts, and more. Students involved with these efforts have been able to gain emergency response experience and to directly contribute to response plans and recommendations for major companies, events, and industries, including the Iditarod, the cruise industry, local schools, the Fulton County Board of Health, and more.
SOCIAL JUSTICE + CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Racial injustice has continued to marginalize, incarcerate, and execute Black and brown people in the U.S. This too is a pandemic that impairs and restricts access to public health, education, and financial sustainability. While we aim to create a diverse and inclusive learning community, we are not immune to the challenges of racial equity. Students and faculty have worked to address public health disparities through research topics such as outcomes for Black women with breast cancer, racial and geographic inequity in maternal mortality, water and sanitation access for people experiencing homelessness, HIV prevention in prison populations, and more.
Additionally, members of the Rollins community have taken an active stance in tackling inequities and promoting civic engagement through initiation of the Rollins Election Day Initiative, a day off from work and learning to enable community members to vote and participate in community service.
I am passionate about creating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Given our unique location within the ‘Civil Rights Capital’ of the nation, I believe we are well positioned to partner with other diverse institutions to improve DEI conditions within our school and serve as a model to other public health schools who are seeking to make similar changes.
Your Public Health Journey Begins Here
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