Cohorts
Summer 2024 Cohort
![Untitled design - Nikita24 Untitled design - Nikita24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_407132276/image.img.png/1717255999794.png)
Nikita Cudjoe
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Doctor of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office
I am from Trinidad and Tobago and hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology, followed by a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. Currently, I am pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health in Epidemiology at East Tennessee State University. My interests are arboviruses, infectious diseases, and opioid use disorders. This summer, I am interning with the Tennessee Department of Health, working with the Northeast Regional Office alongside my preceptor, Sarah Boop. Our project involves analyzing overdose data across different ethnic and racial groups and comparing it to the 2021 data set. The insights gained from this analysis will help in providing targeted interventions to improve the health and wellness of Tennesseans.
![Summer 2024 Intern Photo Edits - Valeria24 Summer 2024 Intern Photo Edits - Valeria24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1278173429/image.img.png/1717374434686.png)
Valeria Eadler
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Doctor of Philosiphy, Public History
Placement: Centennial History Project
My professional journey began in the Russian Far East, where I accumulated two decades of experience in the music industry, fostering an understanding of cultural heritage and preservation. I moved to the United States seven years ago. Currently, as a third-year PhD student in Public History at Middle Tennessee State University, I have broadened my expertise with a Museum Management Certificate. In my role as a Digitalization Specialist at the Annette Levy Ratkin Jewish Community Archives, I was involved in processing and digitizing a vast collection, ensuring the accessibility of historical narratives for future generations. Beyond the archives, I actively contribute to the Germantown Neighborhood Association in Nashville, developing a digital exhibition focused on Germantown's history. Additionally, I am coordinating efforts for related projects, such as the creation of an online repository of historic Germantown images and an Oral History Project.
![Summer 2024 Intern Photo Edits - Holly24 Summer 2024 Intern Photo Edits - Holly24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_885115272/image.img.png/1717524440364.png)
Holly Eaves
School: Belmont University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Office of Strategic Initiatives
I am from Nashville, Tennessee, and I have a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Belmont University. I will be completing my Master in Health Administration from East Tennessee State University from the College of Public Health starting Fall of 2024. I am passionate about health communication, maternal and child health, and the planning and evaluation of public health programs. My interest in these areas stems from the hands-on experience with child development and conducting mixed methods Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder research. I will be working alongside the Office of Strategic Initiatives team with Olivia Hall, Strategic Planning Director, to communicate, align, and implement planning efforts across the state.
![Untitled design - Kaylee24 Untitled design - Kaylee24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_2031455943/image.img.png/1717256024751.png)
Kaylee Ebner
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Vector-borne Diseases Program
I am from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and currently live in Nashville, TN. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology along with certificates in Health and the Humanities and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, I am attending Vanderbilt University and am in the Masters of Public Health Program on the Epidemiology Track. My research interests include infectious diseases, vector-borne diseases, and surveillance methods. This summer, I will be working with the Communicable Diseases and Emergency Preparedness program on vector-borne diseases and ticks. My supervisor is Dr. Abelardo Moncayo, Director of the Vector-Borne Diseases Program at TDH.
![Untitled design - Catharine24 Untitled design - Catharine24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1157240242/image.img.png/1717256062880.png)
Catharine Fennell
School: Belmont University College of Law
Degree: Juris Doctor
Placement: Office of General Counsel
While originally from Georgia, I have called Nashville my home for the last six years. I have a Bachelor of Arts in both the Communication of Science & Technology and Psychology from Vanderbilt University. At this time, I am pursuing a Juris Doctorate from Belmont University College of Law with an emphasis on health law. My academic passion exists within the intersection of the public health, clinical research, and the law because of my prior research experiences as a student and post-graduate. I will be working with the TN Health Department's Office of General Counsel across several teams handling licensing under the TN health boards.
![Untitled design - Sumon24 Untitled design - Sumon24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1153468532/image.img.png/1717256082893.png)
Sumon Ghosh
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Enteric Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigations
I am a PhD student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, studying Public Health Sciences. While currently serving as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Public Health at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, I previously held a significant role as a Veterinarian in the Infectious Diseases Division at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, which is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to advancing scientific knowledge and combating infectious diseases through meticulous research methodologies, participant recruitment, data analysis, and theoretical contributions. I have extensive experience collecting specimens related to avian influenza surveillance and have collaborated on research projects on rabies control in Asia. My research interests lie in infectious diseases, focusing on emerging and reemerging pathogens in tropical environments. I hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Master of Science (MS) from Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Bangladesh. I am excited to work with Dr. Samir Hanna on projects related to One Health, an interdisciplinary approach that addresses the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
![Untitled design - Gracie24 Untitled design - Gracie24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_659492548/image.img.png/1717256102248.png)
Gracie Hitchcock
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Child and Family Studies
Placement: East Regional Health Office
I am from Southern Illinois and currently live in Knoxville. I am working towards a Bachelor of Education, Health, and Human Sciences in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I recently was accepted into the accelerated MPH program at UTK pursuing my Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. I am looking forward to a life of serving and promoting health for everyone through my future work. I will be working at the East Tennessee Regional Office in Knoxville as a CEDS intern hoping to outreach and educate the surrounding counties of Knoxville.
![Untitled design - Zach24 Untitled design - Zach24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_978025089/image.img.png/1717256122881.png)
Zachary Huff
School: South College
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Montgomery County Health Department
I am originally from Lebanon, Tennessee, and now reside in Clarksville with my wife. My journey into public health and epidemiology began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology Health Science from Tennessee Technological University. While working at a pathology laboratory, I was captivated by the intricate workings of infectious diseases and their prevention. This experience spurred me to pursue a Master of Public Health at South College, with a focus on infectious disease control, as I aim to become an epidemiologist. Currently interning at the Montgomery County Health Department under Michele Haag's guidance, I'm gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the field. My ultimate goal is to leverage my skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to disease control efforts and improve public health outcomes in our community and beyond.
![Untitled design - Ayanna24 Untitled design - Ayanna24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1708533171/image.img.png/1717256144428.png)
Ayanna Jones
School: Tennessee State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, General Health Sciences
Placement: Division of Health Disparities Elimination
I am originally from Huntsville, Alabama, and now reside near Nashville. I moved to Nashville to pursue a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences at Tennessee State University. With a planned graduation in the spring of 2025, I am dedicated to furthering my education by pursuing a master's degree in Healthcare Administration. My passion for health sciences stems from my mother, who worked in a hospital for over 15 years, instilling in me a deep appreciation and commitment to the healthcare field.
![Untitled design - Amanda24 Untitled design - Amanda24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_394958603/image.img.png/1717256164819.png)
Amanda Knecht
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Business Management
Placement: Office of Human Resources and Talent Management
Originally from Franklin, just south of Nashville, I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. As I love helping people, my interest lies in Human Resources. I'll be working in the Office of Human Resources with Joey King to elevate the working environment, fostering growth, collaboration, and a sense of belonging at the Health Department.
![Untitled design - Kelly24 Untitled design - Kelly24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1861283541/image.img.png/1717256185937.png)
Kelly Longhini
School: Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Region IV Public Health Center Pathways to Practice Scholar
I am from the Milwaukee area in Wisconsin and currently live in Atlanta, Georgia. I have a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as Certificates in Global Health, Science Communication, and Leadership. Now, I am a student at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, pursuing my Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Certificate in Data Science. My interests include chronic disease epidemiology, cancer prevention and early detection, disease surveillance, and data visualization. I aspire to work in public health informatics to translate data into presentation and policy, and directly impact population-level health outcomes. This summer, I will be working on the Livability Indicators project within the Office of Primary Prevention as a Pathways to Practice Scholar through the Region IV Public Health Training Center. This project includes data on a set of health-related indicators for Tennessee, including affordable housing, active transportation, employment and workforce, education, broadband, aging in place, and others. I will collaborate across statewide agencies and with the Center for Rural Health at East Tennessee State University to develop an ArcGIS-based platform to share and map the data. This collaboration and the resulting product will foster a better understanding of factors related to livability in Tennessee and allow for the creation of programs and policies targeting vulnerable Tennessee communities.
![Untitled design - Ashlynn24 Untitled design - Ashlynn24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_584011235/image.img.png/1717256206629.png)
Ashlynn Malone
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: East Regional Health Office
I am from East Tennessee and currently live in Knoxville. I have a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and I am currently working on my Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. My foci include college health promotion and rural health disparity research. I am interested in these subjects with my current work as the General Health and Wellness Graduate Assistant in the Center for Health Education and Wellness as well as my experiences growing up in a rural area and working in rural hospitals. I will be working with the East Tennessee Regional Health Office alongside regional epidemiologist Brittany Isabell on food safety and enteric disease prevention.
![Untitled design - Alana24 Untitled design - Alana24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_255764828/image.img.png/1717256226687.png)
Alana Marcum
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Arts, Public History
Placement: Centennial History Project
I am from Nashville, where I currently live. I have a Bachelor of Science in History from Middle Tennessee State University, and I am currently working on my Master of Arts in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. My foci in historical research includes medicine and trauma medicine in war zones. I will be working on the Centennial Project to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Tennessee Department of Health.
![Untitled design - Alisa24 Untitled design - Alisa24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1136792985/image.img.png/1717256245323.png)
Alisa Osborne
School: Belmont University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
I am from Nashville, Tennessee. I am a recent graduate of Belmont University with a BSPH in Public Health and BA in Music with a Classical Voice Emphasis. I am currently in a gap year and fully plan to pursue graduate school in Fall 2025. My interests are health policy, substance use, infectious disease, and population health. Before my TDH internship, I was an outreach intern with Oasis Center, a non-profit that helps youth who are experiencing homelessness in the Nashville area. This summer, I will be working with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) under Rachael Stough this summer to improve surveillance and reporting within the department.
![Untitled design - Brina24 Untitled design - Brina24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1372780514/image.img.png/1717256264785.png)
Brina Ratangee
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Medicine, Health, and Society
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
Hailing from Orlando, FL, I recently earned my B.A. in Medicine, Health, and Society and Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and will be returning in the fall for my M.A. in the Social Foundations of Health. My research and policy interests center on the biological mechanisms and social determinants of aging and dementia, and, more recently, I've been exploring caregiver experiences and care networks for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. This summer, I will be interning within Family Health and Wellness under the mentorship of Krista Cole to conduct research and develop initiatives to improve the well-being of all families in Tennessee.
![Untitled design - Emma24 Untitled design - Emma24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1484899645/image.img.png/1717256290067.png)
Emma Rouston
School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Placement: Division of Population Health Assessment
I am from Goodlettsville. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health from Pennsylvania State University, and I am currently working on my Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Tufts University School of Medicine. My main interests are asthma and other chronic diseases. I will be working with the Office of Healthcare Statistics.
![Untitled design - Mary24 Untitled design - Mary24](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel/content/tn_textandimage_copy_1508453004/image.img.png/1717256320169.png)
Mary Zetterberg
School: University of Memphis
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office
I am from Knoxville, Tennessee, and currently live in Memphis, Tennessee. I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. I am currently working on my Doctor of Pharmacy from UTHSC and my Master of Public Health from the University of Memphis. My areas of focus are health literacy and primary prevention of chronic diseases. This summer, I will be the intern at the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office, where I will have the opportunity to work with a variety of health professionals and to further promote health literacy.
Alexandra Bird
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
I live in Hendersonville, TN, and am currently working on my master's in epidemiology at East Tennessee State University, set to graduate in Spring 2025. I'm a mom of three beautiful children, a Girl Scout troop leader, and an avid tabletop game player. I've always known I wanted to help people and contribute to meaningful changes. During my undergrad, I fell in love with microbiology, and I eventually decided to try infectious disease epidemiology. However, now I am working as the suicide prevention program manager for the Tennessee Army National Guard. I love working with service members and look forward to the endless possibilities ahead!
Sophia Cross
School: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office
I am from Northeast Tennessee and currently live near Johnson City. I am working on my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Biostatistics from the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. I am focusing on data analysis and how this can influence public health policies. I will be working with the Northeast Regional Office in data analysis of Community Health Assessments and attending community Health Council meetings to improve county health plans.
Cheyenne Gallina
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: State Laboratory
I currently work for the Tennessee Department of Health in the laboratory as a technician. I work under the Retail Food Study grant for the Food and Drug Administration. Under this grant I shop for and test grocery store meat products for bacteria that is then tested for antibacterial resistance. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with my bachelor's in microbiology and am currently working towards my master's in public health with a concentration in epidemiology at East Tennessee State University. I will be working with the Enterics department for my internship this summer.
Makayla Leake
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: East Regional Health Office
I am an undergraduate student at East Tennessee State University in the College of Public Health. I have a major in Public Health, a concentration in Community Health, and minors in Epidemiology and Spanish. My foci in public health are sexual education (especially in underserved populations), mental health awareness, women’s health, and rural/Appalachian health. Growing up in Appalachia my entire life, I’ve seen how each of these topics have created prominent yet preventable issues in my community through lack of awareness, misinformation, stigma, and inaccessibility to necessary resources. Through the knowledge, skills, and resources during my internship, I hope to be able to monitor and slow the spread of communicable sexually transmitted diseases, which will prepare me for a future career in epidemiology.
Shaxper McCarver
School: Vanderbilt Law School
Degree: Juris Doctor
Placement: Office of General Counsel
I am from Pleasant View, TN and currently live in Nashville. I graduated from Austin Peay State University with a degree in political science. I currently attend Vanderbilt Law School and will graduate in 2026. I am interested in a career in healthcare regulation. Healthcare is one of Nashville's largest industries, and it has been a sector I find fascinating. I am excited to work with the Office of General Counsel to gain hands-on experience with department rule-making procedures.
Jasmine Mumpfield
School: UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health, Maternal, Child, and Family Health
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, I got my bachelor's degree in Gender & Health with a minor in AfroAmerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. I am currently pursuing a Master's in Public Health at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, specializing in Maternal, Child, and Family Health. My research interests lie in maternal health within the incarcerated population, maternal mortality, reproductive justice, and investment in communities as a tool for social change. My passion for these topics has deepened through coursework and my internship with TDH. I am collaborating with TDH’s Family Health and Wellness on a jail project to understand the state of maternal health in Tennessee county jails and prisons. Through this experience we, my colleague Cal Feger and I under our preceptor Yoshie Darnall, plan to survey jail administrators to fill in gaps in literature about the reality of health care delivery in carceral settings. We hope this will be a starting point to enacting change in policies and procedures within the carceral system in Tennessee.
Celeste O'Brien
School: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Degree: Master of Public Health, Applied Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
Apeksha Phulgirkar
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Global Health
Placement: Division of Community Health Services, Oral Health Services
I am a healthcare professional with a diverse background in dental surgery, clinical research, and public health, currently residing in Southeast Tennessee. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Public Health with a focus on Global Health at Vanderbilt University. Having gained experience in India, Canada, and the USA, I am passionate about tackling issues related to the accessibility and affordability of oral healthcare. I envision a future where advanced technology, especially mobile healthcare solutions, ensures that everyone has access to top-tier oral healthcare, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographical location. I will be collaborating with the Division of Oral Health Services and working alongside Lauren Weiland and her team on the design, planning, training, and implementation of a statewide Basic Screening Survey.
Sharla Rahman
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
I am from Nashville, Tennessee, currently pursuing a Master's in Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology. I am passionate about conducting research in chronic diseases, particularly cancer. My academic journey is complemented by my dedication to understanding the complexities of cancer epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health policy. I aim to contribute to the advancement of cancer research and improve public health outcomes through rigorous research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Hannah Schluter
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Division of Family Health and Wellness
Haniya Shariff
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health, Health Policy
Placement: Office of Strategic Initiatives
I am a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine specializing in the Health Policy track. I am originally from Philadelphia, PA and hold a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Temple University. Prior to my work at the Tennessee Department of Health, I worked in communications and marketing within the fintech and health spaces, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This summer, I will be working with the Office of Strategic Initiatives to conduct program evaluations and build positive relationships with individuals and organizations across the state.
Olivia Welch
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: State Laboratory
I currently reside in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. I am working on my master's in public health with a concentration in Epidemiology at East Tennessee State University. I became interested in the field of public health while working for the Tennessee Department of Health for about the last seven years. During this time, I have been a part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), which is a retail food surveillance program. It is interesting to see the many different aspects of a public health organization, and how they all work together. This semester I will be working with the Enteric department while obtaining the experience I need.
Previous Cohorts
![Ligia Ligia](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1706482495592.jpg)
Ligia Maria Alfaro-Cruz
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
This semester I worked with Shamia Roberts to expand education in Viral Hepatitis C screening, diagnosis, and management in the pediatric population. During this semester, we were able to create didactic presentations, as well as brochures and small Q&A sessions with local healthcare providers in Northeast Tennessee, bringing updates of the new guidelines focusing on early screening. From my internship, I feel I was able to translate my theoretical knowledge into practice, visiting our communities and learning more about ongoing medical practices. As I plan to graduate this year from my Master of Public Health program from East Tennessee State University, I plan to continue working on expanding education across the State.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_926618060/image.img.jpg/1706482542992.jpg)
Melissa Allison
School: George Washington University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Hospital Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI-AR) Program
This semester I worked with Jessica A. Burns on the hospital acquired infections infection preventionist team within the Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness Division. My project was to perform a water management needs assessment of long term care facilities within the state to prevent waterborne diseases. This included educating facilities on best practices, collecting data in the REDCap system, creating a step-by-step guidebook to get them started, and analysis of the data through Excel and Tableau and sharing that data with the facilities. I feel I have bettered my skills in data analysis and health education. I will be completing my Master's Degree in Public Health from George Washington University before looking for public health opportunities utilizing my infection prevention and epidemiology skills.
![Benjamin Benjamin](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_935065289/image.img.jpg/1706482566895.jpg)
Benjamin Antwi
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
During my internship at the Tennessee Department of Health's COVID-19 Cluster Response Team, I played a key role in transitioning a data quality project from production to development status in REDCap and conducted thorough analyses to address internal data quality issues. Within this project, I conducted a data entry audit using information from past COVID-19 clusters to address internal data quality issues. I developed a basic idea that the COVID-19 Cluster Response team had for a project and transformed it into a thorough analysis that gave the team useful insights into areas that could be improved upon to make the data more robust. In my second project, using CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index (CDC/ATSDR SVI) data, I compared COVID-19 cluster surveillance data of nursing homes across Tennessee based on the county social vulnerability status. The results showed a higher COVID-19 burden for nursing homes in higher socially vulnerable counties, emphasizing the need to address health disparities. I learned to use various software applications such as REDCap, NEDSS, SAS, and Tableau and improved and received certification for ArcGIS Pro. I used Venngage to develop reports for communication of the project findings.
![Carla Carla](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_423857460/image.img.jpg/1706482587807.jpg)
Carla Augustin
School: Austin Peay State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office
This semester I worked with Jessica Hawley to create an OBGYN resource list for our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) syphilis team. I was also able to shadow different health department workers to see how everyone comes together to support the people of Tennessee. I feel that I have bettered my skills in peer-to-peer communication, infographic making, and administrative duties. I hope to start my master’s degree in public health this coming fall, and I believe everything that I learned at the Mid-Cumberland Regional Office will help me accomplish my professional and career goals.
![Bessie Bessie](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1923546597/image.img.jpg/1706482611183.jpg)
Bessie Boclaire
School: Nashville State Community College
Degree: Associate of Applied Science, Administrative and Professional Technology
Placement: Health Licensure and Regulation
This semester, I was able to use my current role as a Regularity Board Administrative Assistant II to complete my internship requirements. During my internship, I was able to gain more knowledge about the Tennessee Department of Health and the different roles that are available. I also had the opportunity to work closely with healthcare professionals and learn about the various regulations and policies that govern public health. While I continue my career with TDH, I will be transferring to Austin Peay State University to complete my bachelor’s degree, majoring in business administration with human resources as my concentration. I am excited to continue growing professionally and contributing to the important work of the Tennessee Department of Health
![Rebeca Rebeca](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_515159283/image.img.jpg/1706482631650.jpg)
Rebeca Cisneros Rivera
School: Austin Peay State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Health Care Management
Placement: Wilson County Health Department
This semester, I worked with Adalberto Valdez and Elesha Taylor to plan, organize, and launch a Mental Health Fair for Wilson County. This is a county-wide event to launch and promote the newly created Mental Health Committee that formed under the guidance of Mayor Hutto to streamline mental health services, remove, or reduce any gaps for treatment or services, and to see how community partners and stakeholders can better work together to ensure everyone has access to the care they need. During this internship, I have seen how confident I have grown in speaking in meetings, participating in community outreach events, and learning new platforms such as Canva Pro and PowerPoint. I also got to see firsthand the various budgets that the county health director must manage and was able to sit in at the annual Board of Health meeting with all the supervisors. This will help me tremendously in my professional life and will be useful when I go back to Austin Peay State University for my Master’s in Healthcare Administration. My goal is to join the Tennessee Department of Health in an administrative or program guidance capacity to serve my community and the State of Tennessee. I believe in helping the community and know I will find my way working as a public health professional.
![LaurenC LaurenC](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_833614878/image.img.jpg/1706482652133.jpg)
Lauren Clayton
School: Belmont University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office
This semester I worked with Misty Claude at the Communty Health and Wellness Office at the Mid-Cumberland Regional Office to improve and expand my knowledge of Health Education. Over the semester I was able to attend Health Council meetings of various counties, utilize Canva and Microsoft software to create educational / promotional content, and assist in the planning and execution of community events. Through my internship I have been able to better my public speaking skills, interpersonal communication, and get an accurate view of what a career in public health could look like. With what I've learned I hope to earn my Master's in Public Health at East Tennessee State University and persue a career in Health Education.
![AnnaMarie AnnaMarie](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1324392703/image.img.jpg/1706482676039.jpg)
Anna Marie Cooksey
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health, Community Health Education
Placement: East Regional Health Office, CEDS
This semester, I worked with the East Region Communicable and Environmental Disease Department (CEDS) to develop resources for providers regarding syphilis. During my internship I was able to attend trainings, work with multiple CEDS team members, and practice both epidemiological and community health education principles. I will be graduating in May with my Master of Public Health Degree from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I have already passed my Certified Health Education Specialist exam and have accepted a position serving as the public health educator for Grainger and Union Counties.
![Enrique Enrique](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_653858206/image.img.jpg/1706482695832.jpg)
Enrique Covarrubias
School: Austin Peay State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Management
Placement: Wilson County Health Department
![LaurenD LaurenD](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_95465751/image.img.jpg/1706482715816.jpg)
Lauren Davis
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Degree: Master of Public Health, Chronic Disease Prevention
Placement: Southeast Regional Health Office, Emergency Preparedness
This semester I worked with Robert Goff and Sydney Clark to develop a plan for feeding infants in emergency shelters. The plan provides a comprehensive list of items that would help parents or caregivers feed their infant, such as manual breast pumps, information for lactation support, bottles, wash basins, formula, and many other items. I feel the internship has provided me with a better understanding of public health, and I have a better understanding of how the Tennessee Department of Health operates. This has been a wonderful experience and this experience has made me more confident in my abilities to collaborate with others.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1535330607/image.img.jpg/1706482736901.jpg)
Catherine Fuko
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office, Epidemiology
During my enriching internship at the Northeast Regional Health Office under the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), I collaborated closely with a team of seasoned professionals. Sarah Boop, (CEDS director), served as my preceptor, guiding me through the intricacies of public health practice. Alongside Sarah, Hopelyn Mooney, the esteemed regional epidemiologist, provided invaluable insights into epidemiological methods and strategies. Additionally, working alongside Dr. David Kirschke, the esteemed Regional Medical Director, provided me with unique insights into research and infectious epidemiology knowledge. Their collective mentorship not only facilitated my acquisition of hands-on experience but also honed my critical thinking abilities, laying a robust foundation for my future endeavors in the field of public health.
![Dionne Dionne](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_484709172/image.img.jpg/1706482773970.jpg)
Dionne Gray
School: Grand Canyon University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Emergency Management
Placement: Southeast Regional Health Office, Emergency Preparedness
![Sydney Sydney](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_339021422/image.img.jpg/1706482794969.jpg)
Sydney Hall
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Southeast Regional Health Office
This semester I worked with Glenn Czarnecki in the Southeast Regional Office. During this internship I shadowed the Regional Director, and attended 8 mid year assessments, aging sectors partners meeting, a health council meeting, cultural diversity training, and regional management meeting. This experience allowed me to gain insights into various aspects of public health practice, such as community needs assessment, collaboration with local health authorities, and understanding the importance of cultural competence in healthcare delivery. Some skills I was able to improve during this time were data analysis, communication, and networking. Using what I have learned from this internship I will take with me in my future endeavors to pursue a career in healthcare administration after graduating with my Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1791482599/image.img.jpg/1706483274283.jpg)
Natalie Hasbrooke
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Family Health and Wellness
![Helena Helena](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1368097834/image.img.jpg/1706482825131.jpg)
Helena Horsley
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Communication
Placement: Southeast Regional Health Office
This semester I worked with Amanda Goodhard designing graphics for the Health Department. From my internship, I feel that I've bettered my graphic design skills, grown in my knowledge of public health, and deepened my professional skills. Using what I've learned, I plan to pursue a career in Communication or business in Nashville or Chattanooga.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_320800748/image.img.jpg/1706482845528.jpg)
Skyler Hughes
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Master of Education, Child Studies
Placement: Strategic Initiatives
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_653629946/image.img.jpg/1706483425115.jpg)
Helen Iang
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Wilson County Health Department
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1871059439/image.img.jpg/1706482864586.jpg)
Obinna Ikwuka
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office
This semester I worked with Sarah Boop at the Northeast Region of the Tennessee Department of Health. I Conducted data analysis on the Tennessee Department of Health Northeast Regional dataset to determine the relationship between the dental caries rate and water fluoridation in the Northeast region. I also worked on outbreak investigations. This internship provided me with experience to work with real-life data and gain valuable skills as an epidemiologist. I hope to employ the knowledge I have gained in the fight against infectious diseases.
![Julianne Julianne](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1022458306/image.img.jpg/1706634789942.jpg)
Julianne January
School: South College
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Bradley County Health Department
This semester I worked with the Bradley County Department of Health to be a project leader for Bradley County's Community Health Assessment. Although the Community Health Assessment is still in progress, doing this assessment for my Masters in Public Health practicum has given me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the area's health needs. Over the past ten weeks, I have learned the value of public health professionals and their goal to improve the lives of as many people as possible through forming meaningful relationships with people of all ages and lifestyles. From my internship, I have learned new skills such as data visualization, presenting research to public health professionals, and communication skills that will prepare me for future networking and continuing my journey in public health. Using what I have experienced during this internship, I plan to complete my Masters in Public Health from South College and continue a new chapter in my public health journey by beginning pharmacy school at the same institution.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1779546596/image.img.jpg/1706483351872.jpg)
Sophiya Marsani
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Community Health
Placement: Wilson County Health Department
![James James](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1204502901/image.img.jpg/1706482894964.jpg)
James Mason
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Community Health and Health Policy
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office, Emergeny Preparedness
![Nikki Nikki](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_2030837834/image.img.jpg/1706482914356.jpg)
Nikki Mastrud
School: Emory University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Global Epidemiology
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Waterborne/Zoonotic Diseases
![Tevin Tevin](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_606500012/image.img.jpg/1706482931778.jpg)
Tevin Mathew
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Global Health
Placement: Region IV Intern, Traumatic Brain Injury Program
During my internship, I designed an evaluation plan for the Traumatic Brain Injury Program. I first researched other states’ methodologies for evaluating their TBI programs to inform my proposed plan. I then worked alongside an interdisciplinary team to assess the evaluation capacity of the TBI Program and to develop various deliverables, including a logic model, PEST Analysis, and Stakeholder Analysis. Utilizing these deliverables, my preceptor and I designed the evaluation questions, which led me to create surveys in English and Spanish, a focus group protocol, and a data analysis and dissemination plan. I then presented the evaluation plan to the TBI Advisory Council. Overall, I enjoyed my internship, and I am so appreciative for the TBI team for their collaboration.
![Morgan Morgan](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1562857891/image.img.jpg/1706482955619.jpg)
Morgan O'Brien
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Foodborne and Enteric Diseases
![Anthony Anthony](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_637523411/image.img.jpg/1706482982306.jpg)
Anthony Ozoh
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Science, Health Care Informatics
Placement: Office of Informatic and Analytics, Data Governance
![Suprithi Suprithi](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_30232862/image.img.jpg/1706483003618.jpg)
Suprithi Pingle
School: Emory University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Newborn Screening and Birth Defects Surveillance Program
This semester I worked with the Tennessee Birth Defects Surveillance System (TNBDSS) and the Newborn Screening (NBS) programs to create informational resources to raise awareness about genetic testing and develop a surveillance system to track referral outcomes. From my internship, I have improved my research and data analysis skills and engaged in collaborative efforts with diverse public health professionals. I hope to use this knowledge as I complete my Masters in Public Health degree with a focus on Epidemiology at Emory Rollins School of Public Health and continue work in the field of maternal and child health.
![Blake Blake](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1199785081/image.img.jpg/1706483023615.jpg)
Blake Qualls
School: Austin Peay State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Strategic Initiatives
![JordanS JordanS](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1540200807/image.img.jpg/1706483043044.jpg)
Jordan Shipley
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Strategic Initiatives
This semester I worked with Lindsey Ferraro on the Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness (CEDEP) Strategic Initiatives Team to evaluate the Mental Health Instructor Classes, perform a literature review on mental health in the public health workforce, and contribute to the CEDEP annual report by aggregating and visualizing data on select reportable diseases. From my internship, I've been able to develop my skills in teamwork, attention to detail, and my understanding of what public health looks like in real practice. I plan to finish my Master's in Public Health from the University of Tennessee before pursuing a further career in public relations within public health.
![Yasmine Yasmine](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1176949198/image.img.jpg/1706483062913.jpg)
Yasmine Shivere
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Bachelor of Art, Medicine, Health, and Society
Placement: Family Health and Wellness
![Tia Tia](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_766790264/image.img.jpg/1706483081606.jpg)
Tia Valentino
School: Belmont University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Placement: Family Health and Wellness
![Kelsey Kelsey](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1907768641/image.img.jpg/1706483102143.jpg)
Kelsey Warren
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Public Health, Community Health
Placement: Family Health and Wellness
During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on a number of projects supporting Family Health and Wellness initiatives. My primary project involved supporting the Project Diabetes grant in conducting grantee interviews to discuss the public health impact and sustainability. In addition, I worked on chronic disease resources and social media content. I look forward to applying the skills I learned in my future projects.
![1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits 1/12/24 Health Intern Portraits](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_spring_2024/tn_textandimage_copy_1193560085/image.img.jpg/1706483166144.jpg)
Ruoyu Zhang
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Science, Biostatistics
Placement: Public Health Assessment, Office of the Cancer Registry
This semester I worked with Dr. Martin Whiteside to improve my intern experience by evaluating potential factors associated with lung cancer survival in Tennessee through survival analysis. The hands-on experience of conducting survival analysis with real-world data substantially strengthened my technical skills in statistical analysis, modeling, and programming using SAS software.
![Lindsey Allison Lindsey Allison](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1696695178952.jpg)
Lindsey E. Allison
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health - Community Health Education
Placement: Monroe and Loudon County Health Departments
![20230907 TN_013 20230907 TN_013](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_2044949288/image.img.jpg/1696346432906.jpg)
Abanoub S. Aziz
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Science in Professional Science - Biostatistics
Placement: Division of Population Health Assessment
Experience: The main goal of my internship was to perform survival analysis on the lung cancer dataset. First, I worked on proving Kaplan-Meier graphs on all the variables. Then, I did cox regression on all the variables to explore the effects of covariants on survival time.
![20230907 TN_030 20230907 TN_030](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_1154952360/image.img.jpg/1696347996864.jpg)
Kaileigh M. Cash
School: South College
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunizations Program
![20230907 TN_094 20230907 TN_094](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_1499415918/image.img.jpg/1696347053407.jpg)
Courtney L. Chaston
School: Tennessee Technological University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology
Placement: Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office
Experience: Over the semester, I have participated in multiple projects that have given me a broad understanding of the regional health offices. My most exciting task was creating one-page infographics that explain a variety of infectious diseases. These infographics are distributed to local facilities to give public health employees a quick reference to rising diseases. Another interesting task I assisted with was rearranging data for the upcoming UDS report. This report combines all county health department data and allows the state to compare our regional averages with the state and national averages.
![20230907 TN_090 20230907 TN_090](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_244804665/image.img.jpg/1696350170155.jpg)
Maya M. Clinton
School: Western Kentucky University
Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration
Placement: Division of Health Planning
Experience: During my health planning internship, I had the opportunity to work closely with a team of experienced professionals in developing community health programs. I conducted research on health disparities and analyzed data to identify areas of improvement. I also assisted in organizing health education workshops and collaborated with community organizations to promote wellness initiatives. Overall, the internship provided me with valuable hands-on experience in planning and implementing health interventions.
![20230907 TN_019 20230907 TN_019](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_892523925/image.img.jpg/1696361055198.jpg)
Mimi A. Coffey
School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Office of Strategic Initiatives
Experience: Engaging in strategic planning and reporting processes fostered the development of big-picture thinking, encouraging a focus on long-term goals and organizational impact. Through creative facilitation of systems diagrams and evaluation of dashboards and diverse funding streams, I honed my ability to conceptualize and communicate complex public health topics and solutions. In a unique application of these skills, I gained insight into the development of the Tennessee 4-Year strategic plan, involving the submission to Customer-Focused Government (CFG) and the creation of targeted objectives and action steps. During my internship, I undertook a series of projects that culminated in a presentation exploring lessons from successful global health strategies, emphasizing the overlap of social determinants of health in both global and local contexts, and facilitating discussion on their applicability at the state level. By sharing my journey in understanding this interconnectedness, I aimed to inspire reflection on how such insights could shape personal and professional perspectives in public health practice.
![20230907 TN_037 20230907 TN_037](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_1520076479/image.img.jpg/1696347350838.jpg)
Dalton P. Ford
School: East Tennessee State University, College of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
Placement: Waterborne and Zoonotic Disease Program
Experience: I examined and reported on trends in Cryptosporidium exposure and subtype data in Tennessee between January 2018 to November 2023. This data is sent to the CDC Cryptosporidium surveillance system known as CryptoNet, and it is the first comprehensive analysis of this data in Tennessee. Several exposure and demographic variables were analyzed, and the findings were consistent with previous literature and national trends. This report helps shed some light on areas of higher concern for Cryptosporidium infections in Tennessee.
![Fatima Fatima](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_407294048/image.img.jpg/1696347730684.jpg)
Fatima G. Garcia
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Community and Public Health
Placement: Wilson County Health Department
Experience: My project was based on addressing the lack of walkable communities in Wilson County, Tennessee. The project focuses on implementing sidewalks near elementary schools and by the Wilson County Health Department. The goal for my project is to draw attention to the many benefits that sidewalks in specific communities can provide to Wilson County’s growing population.
![20230907 TN_159 20230907 TN_159](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_51999877/image.img.jpg/1696358348626.jpg)
Jennifer G. Hinson
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
Experience: For my internship, I was tasked with building a sexual network map (SNM) of TN syphilis cases and contacts from PRISM data collected since 2010 by my preceptor Dr. Ruby Yadav, CEDEP STI Surveillance Director. A sexual network map displays information about how STIs spread from person to person. My responsibilities included using the programming language R to clean the data, create new variables/datasets, and create network graphs. The SNM is a resource for Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) that’s as easy to read as a road map to help ensure priority populations cases are identified and treated. I have learned a lot about epidemiological disease surveillance and I’m very grateful to everyone on my team and TDH for this opportunity.
![20230907 TN_051 20230907 TN_051](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_901587909/image.img.jpg/1696356794153.jpg)
Sara J. Jacobs
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Bachelor of Human and Organizational Development and Medicine, Health, and Society
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
Experience: I will forever value my time as an intern at the TN Department of Health under the Systems Surveillance and Informatics division. I was able to complete various projects on REDCap from creating surveys for TN employees to leading introductory division-wide REDCap training. Furthermore, I expanded CEDEP’s REDCap repository through creating new step-by-step instructional guides with Scribe. Lastly, I had the privilege to attend several esteemed trainings such as the TN Emerging Infection Program Annual Scientific Presentation with top public health professionals from around the world.
![Mahitha K 5 (1) Mahitha K 5 (1)](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_1202561211/image.img.jpg/1696349820871.jpg)
Mahitha Kasturi
School: Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health, Global Epidemiology
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
![20230907 TN_074 20230907 TN_074](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_939467930/image.img.jpg/1696348232090.jpg)
Amanda K. Krueger
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: South Central Regional Health Office
Experience: The major projects completed during my internship at the South-Central Regional Office included a variety of elements regarding mental health. The first was a report regarding the status of mental health in the South-Central Region. This report highlighted several key data sets regarding mental health and Social Determinates of Health. A presentation about the report and key information was presented to regional CHANT staff during a staff meeting. Another key element of this was a Community Provider and Resource Directory for the region. This directory included information and resources for the state mental health services, local county mental health resources, pediatric care, dental services, social services, and food pantries for all staff to have access to when helping community members. My final element to my project included informational resources for mental health awareness that included flyers and other media needs for county health councils to have access to and use in their efforts in their community.
![HeatherMendez HeatherMendez](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_359786331/image.img.jpg/1696350728821.jpg)
Heather I. Mendez
School: University of Florida
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
Experience: I am completing a remote internship with the Tennessee Department of Health where I have been afforded the opportunity to work within the Food-borne and Enteric Disease program of the Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness division.
My deliverables include developing a surveillance database that will allow for the collection, analysis and reporting of Cholera and Vibrio cases within the state of Tennessee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, this database can be used to run analysis reports of imported data to help guide future planning of health interventions. I also created a presentation to share our processes with the Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence within the country, titled "COVIS Surveillance: a data exchange work around.
It has truly been a rewarding experience to work on practical projects that will be implemented and hopefully nationally scaled to other state programs.
![20230907 TN_061 20230907 TN_061](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_541836481/image.img.jpg/1696345942019.jpg)
Julius D. Morris
School: East Tennessee State University
Degree: Bachelor of Public Health
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office
Experience: I actively worked alongside my preceptor, who is the emergency response coordinator for the Northeast region, to create a simulated emergency response exercise. Together, we designed a realistic scenario involving an influenza outbreak in our region. I played a role in researching for the exercise, modifying the presentation, and acting as a facilitator during the exercise. I facilitated discussions, ensured participants were actively engaged, and passed out informational materials that went along with the presentation. Afterward, I contributed to the debriefing process, gathering feedback and lessons learned to improve our region’s emergency response to a public health crisis.
![Lipika Lipika](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_1870079594/image.img.jpg/1696348625623.jpg)
Lipika Narisetti
School: Vanderbilt University
Degree: Bachelor of Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society
Placement: Family Health and Wellness
Experience: During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on a number of projects supporting Family Health and Wellness initiatives. My primary project involved supporting the FHW's care coordination and program referral processes by serving as a consultant for the FindHelp platform. As part of this project, I completed a series of findhelp.org trainings, receiving certification to assist new programs in effectively utilizing the platform. I also organized and led meetings with representatives of various FHW offices to assist them in adding their programs to FindHelp. Another project that I worked on was writing a report on strategies to effectively address sexual violence and rape in Tennessee, with a focus on community engagement, public awareness, community-based interventions, and shifts in social norms. This research helped inform a federal grant application and community initiatives aimed at mitigating sexual violence and providing support to survivors. Overall, I really enjoyed my internship and look forward to applying what I've learned to a career in medicine.
![Intern Yearbook Headshot Intern Yearbook Headshot](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_831006679/image.img.jpg/1696345576161.jpg)
Isabella B. Reid
School: East Tennessee State University, College of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health
Placement: Northeast Regional Health Office
Experience: During my internship, I had the opportunity to complete an outbreak investigation from start to finish. I was able to conduct interviews, create line lists and epi curves, collect environmental samples, conduct a case-control study, and educate organizations for prevention. The hands-on field epidemiology experience I gained with TDH was invaluable. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
![20230907 TN_116 20230907 TN_116](/content/tn/health/health-program-areas/careers/academic-health-department/internship0/cohorts/jcr%3acontent/content/tn_panel_20324030/content/tn_accordion/parsys_fall_2023/tn_textandimage_copy_2073370173/image.img.jpg/1696695014525.jpg)
Judyi R. Smith
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Degree: Master of Science in Professional Science - Health Care Informatics
Placement: Rutherford County Health Department
Experience: This experience has helped to shape me into a stronger professional. It has opened my eyes to wider range of possible career opportunities. It also shown me the impact that local county health departments have on their communities. Moreover, I am grateful to have been able to experience this internship. I don’t have a definite plan right now; however, I hope to join a company that allows me to grow and continue to mature into a wonderful professional.
Devon Lewis
School: University of Alabama, Birmingham
Degree: Master of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Experience: My role this semester working with the End the Syndemic project was to utilize digital mapping software to automate a process that allows for the determination on whether a location can be used as a Syringe Service Program. The location needs to follow zoning requirements (minimum 1000 feet away from a school, park, or greenway, 2000 feet in some counties with a lower population) to qualify to participate in the program. Another aspect of my project was to help determine which counties across the state are affected by the negative health outcomes as well as the social determinants of health that prevent effective intervention.
Kayley Pyles
School: Western Kentucky University
Degree: Bachelor of Public Health
Experience: One of the main projects I was able to work on while at the Gallatin Health Department was Walk Across Sumner. Walk Across Sumner is a 5K and mile fun run that is open to friends and families to participate in. During this project, I was able to attend meetings, make phone calls to sponsors, make flyers, and write "Thank You" letters. On the day of, I oversaw registration and making sure everything was running smoothly. It was an amazing experience!
Mary Adeyemo
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Lamiya Adri
School: Vanderbilt University
Anjola-Oluwa A. Ajayi
School: Vanderbilt University
Gbemisola Akinteye
School: Vanderbilt University
Ariana Allgood
School: Not applicable
Nicole Anderson
School: Vanderbilt University
Kajol Dahal
School: East Tennessee State University
Vyshnavi Dandanayakula
School: Not applicable
Genevieve Delano
School: Vanderbilt University
Holly Eaves
School: Belmont University
Alex (Cole) Farmer
School: East Tennessee State University
Lauren Finklea
School: Georgia State University
Adyson Goldberg
School: Tennessee Technological University
Anna Gordon
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Thilini Gurusinghe
School: University of Missouri
Imelda Gutierrez
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ashton Helveston
School: Vanderbilt University
Corianne Johnson
School: Vanderbilt University
Giselle Oliver
School: Belmont University
Ben Pederson
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Caroline Peterson
School: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health
Claire Piercey
School: Lipscomb University
Keerthi Reddy Chaduvula Venkata
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Silas Taiget
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Ziad Ahmed
School: Not applicable
Sandra Anazor Obianuju
School: East Tennessee State University
Geeta Bhattari
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Emilie Bordeau
School: East Tennessee State University
Jeri Dossett
School: East Tennessee State University
Brittany Gutierrez-Kitto
School: Vanderbilt University
Alan Holloway
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Chisom Nwankeki
School: East Tennessee State University
Rylie Payne
School: East Tennessee State University
Laney Puhalla
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Nyia Sayle
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Imuwahen Uzzi
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Britt Willis
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Olubukola Adenyemo
School: Tennessee State University
Kendall Basham
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Gabrielle Chesak
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Savannah Childress
School: Vanderbilt University
Madeline Kiger
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Paula Lara
School: Not applicable
Salem Negasi
School: Belmont University
Alyssa Powers
School: Belmont University
Abigail Anderson
School: East Tennessee State University
Robert 'Bobby' Berger
School: East Tennessee State University
Nathan Beuerlein
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Amanda Blackwedler
School: East Tennessee State University
Aaliyah Cannon
School: Austin Peay State University
Maya Carter
School: West Virginia University
Raegan Coleman
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Carol Davis
School: Emory University
Megan Davis
School: Vanderbilt University
Mariah Dee
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Meredith Denny
School: Vanderbilt University
Dannielle Gibson
School: Vanderbilt University
Sophie Goldenberg
School: Vanderbilt University
Mya Gray
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Kyle Hart
School: Vanderbilt University
Noufa Khan
School: University of Washington
Tucker L. Finch
School: Berea College
An Le
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Jordyn Lesh
School: Tulane University
Yufei Long
School: Vanderbilt University
Hannah M. Duiven
School: Vanderbilt University
Celeste O’Brien
School: Belmont University
Mariagorathy Okonkwo
School: Tennessee State University
Mariam Olutusin
School: University of Memphis
Jason Pan
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Jazmyn Pickstock
School: Belmont University
Rishi Pillai
School: Vanderbilt University
Jennifer Sanchez
School: East Tennessee State University
Sarah (Grace) Scephens
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Siddharth Sheth
School: University of Texas, Dallas
Alycia Shipley
School: Vanderbilt University
Barrett Smith
School: Vanderbilt University
Natalie Smith
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Clair Umstead
School: Vanderbilt University
Polly Warner
School: George Washington University
Joshua Woods
School: Vanderbilt University
Emily Xaysongkham
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Kendra Yokely
School: Tennessee State University
Cohort List Forthcoming
Lillian Adamson
School: Belmont University
Deviyani Bajpai
School: Belmont University
Megan Ballew
School: Liberty University
Augustine Chung
School: Vanderbilt University
Dreama Coats
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Mary Ferris
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Octavia Forrest
School: Belmont University
Joshua Ho
School: Saint Louis University
Amy Moody
School: Nebraska Medical College
Jesslyn Sloan
School: Belmont University
Mariah Cabrello
School: Vanderbilt University
Abby Carpenter
School: University of Tennessee, Health Science Center
Austin Fernandez
School: Vanderbilt University
Rachel Jameson
School: Vanderbilt University
Kristyne Mansilla-Dubon
School: Vanderbilt University
Yolanda McDonald
School: Vanderbilt University
Kathleen McGuire
School: East Tennessee State University
Donia Mousley
School: Belmont University
Ben O'Connell
School: Emory University
Krusha Patel
School: Tennessee State University
Olivia (Claire) Robinson
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Jacob Shultz
School: East Tennessee State University
Robert Stilz
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Cassidy Townsend
School: Belmont University
Cyndy Vasquez
School: Johns Hopkins University
Anna Wisotzkey
School: Vanderbilt University
Levi Blazer
School: Belmont University
Hannah Hull Ocker
School: East Tennessee State University
Trenton Jiles
School: Belmont University
Maggie Morris
School: East Tennessee State University
Isaac Stovall
School: Not applicable
Alberta TwiYeboah
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Simur Halefom
School: Not applicable
Ashley James
School: Not applicable
Janelle Wenstrup
School: University of Missouri
Cohort List Forthcoming
Latisha Baker
School: Tennessee State University
Mary Landau
School: University of Florida
Colton McKay
School: Not applicable
Taylore Melton
School: University of Tennessee, Martin
Cassandra Oliver
School: Vanderbilt University
Morgan Osbun
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Haley Renner
School: Not applicable
Iqra Sheikh
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Sherard Stephens
School: Vanderbilt University
Amy Su
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Inyene Ukpong
School: Belmont University
Caitlin Washburn
School: Vanderbilt University
Ashli Alexander
School: Vanderbilt University
Erin Boshers
School: University of Alabama, Birmingham
Meave Brennan
School: University of Albany
Keni Gray Timmons
School: East Tennessee State University
Farrah Hasan
School: Vanderbilt University
Mackenzie Jackson
School: Vanderbilt University
Lauren Kuzma
School: East Tennessee State University
Alison (Yu) Qiao
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Laura Shaw
School: Meharry University
Anagha Ashokan
School: Johns Hopkins University
Richard Brawley
School: University of Tennessee, Martin
Kirsten Cottingham
School: Meharry University
Emoni Degon
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Chris Elmlinger
School: Emory University
Peter Hsu
School: Vanderbilt University
Kasey James
School: Emory University
Christopher Justus
School: University of Tennessee, Health Science Center
Jamie Means
School: Meharry University
Jessica Milholm
School: Kansas State University
Autumn Montgomery
School: Meharry University
Tiana Moorer
School: Berea College
Muna Muday
School: Vanderbilt University
Varvara Probst
School: Vanderbilt University
Justine Rolava
School: Austin Peay State University
Smita Saji
School: University of South Florida
Chanasawan Souvannasing
School: University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Ihouma Tasie
School: Meharry University
Julia Vesely
School: Tennessee Technological University
Marcelle Bulla
School: Belmont University
Natalie Cagianese
School: Kent State University
Heather Grome
School: Vanderbilt University
Haily Howard
School: Austin Peay State University
Amanda Johnson
School: East Tennessee State University
Josephine Kutting
School: Liberty University
Sarah Mayberry
School: Vanderbilt University
Brent Newman
School: Tennessee State University
Jaehyun Shin
School: Vanderbilt University
Adam Tomlinson
School: Austin Peay State University
Helene Treu
School: University of Alabama, Birmingham
Anup Challa
School: Vanderbilt University
Monika Conrad
School: Austin Peay State University
Jacinta Ejirefe
School: Liberty University
Teanna Hayes
School: Austin Peay State University
Katrece Holland
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Randi Jacobson
School: Austin Peay State University
Estrella Ndriansay
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Yesenia Sanchez
School: Morehead State University
Tiarra Williamson
School: Tennessee State University
Olatayo Akindele
School: Not applicable
Jessica Barnett
School: Not applicable
John Maxwell
School: Not applicable
Micah McGlathery
School: Not applicable
Sylvie Muhimpundu
School: Not applicable
Meghana Parikh
School: Not applicable
Margaret Smith
School: Not applicable
Jennifer Trumbo
School: Not applicable