Ravi Harley 25PH

April 8, 2025

When you ask anyone why they choose Emory for a public health degree, chances are that they mention the proximity to the CDC. That was definitely true for me, and during my time as a student, I was able to have a lot of amazing experiences thanks to that relationship. Student organizations often had guest speakers come to talk about recent outbreaks and unusual public health threats.

My peers and I had ample opportunity to engage with several federal health projects through internships and practicums. Many of my courses were taught by CDC faculty. Namely, my favorite course, Malaria Epidemiology, allowed me to tour CDC facilities where parasite samples from across the globe are analyzed, practice differentiating types of mosquitoes, and be introduced to cutting-edge genotyping machines. No other institution in the world is able to provide these experiences, and I feel extremely fortunate. Though it is uncertain if collaboration with the agency will be able to return to what it was, I can only hope that students that follow in my footsteps can have the same benefits.