Christine Jackson, D.O.’20, M.P.H.’20, completed an eight-week internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, during July and August 2018. Christine was selected to participate in this internship as part of the DMU Department of Global Health’s Distinguished Global Health Internships program. These internships are selective research opportunities that enable students to collaborate with researchers to explore global health research topics at various national organizations.
During her internship at the CDC, Christine worked specifically with the National Center for Environmental Health within the Climate and Health Program. She conducted a research project on integrated mosquito management and its use and effectiveness in the United States. She was particularly interested in West Nile virus (WNV) and how climate change is altering the habitats of Culex species mosquitoes, which carry WNV. Her project required a lot of investigation and research as well as cooperation and consultation with experts in the fields of vector management and climate change.
In addition to her project, Christine had the opportunity to meet with experts in several other fields, including two officers in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), which is a fellowship program for health professionals who want to be on the front lines of epidemiology. A dual-degree student in osteopathic medicine and public health, Christine is interested in participating in the EIS program upon completion of her residency as it would allow her to use clinical medicine and apply public health principles to assist the public.
The CDC internship provided Christine with knowledge, advice and connections that she will be able to use in her career in medicine and public health.
“With this internship I have grown in my understanding in public health as well as my ability to design and create a technical report,” she says. “I am extremely thankful to Des Moines University and the Department of Global Health for creating this opportunity.”
Are you a DMU student interested in the internship at the CDC or one of the other Distinguished Global Health internships? The application for the Distinguished Global Health internships for 2019 will open on Nov. 5, 2018. For more information and how to apply, please visit the Department of Global Health’s website. If you have any questions, please contact the department at globalhealth@dmu.edu.
