Harikrishna “Kris” Halaharvi, D.O.’21, M.P.H.’23, completed an eight-week internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, during July and August 2019. He was selected to participate in this internship as part of the DMU Department of Global Health’s Distinguished Global Health Internships program. These internships enable select students to collaborate with researchers to explore global health research topics at various national organizations.
Kris’ internship was within the Climate and Health Program at the CDC. He described his interest in pursuing the CDC internship: “I was drawn to pursue the Center of Disease Control Distinguished Global Health Internship because I envisioned this opportunity as an ideal means through which I was able to fulfill the purpose of my combined degrees in medicine and public health.”
Kris focused on exploring the relationship of heat and climate change on cardiovascular health. His work was part of a project that looks at the effects that the increase of extreme-heat events in the United States is having on cardiovascular system health. He had the opportunity to discuss his research with public health experts at the CDC and gain insight into how to improve the project. He also had an opportunity to speak with an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) physician regarding his future aspirations. During the internship, he received a lot of practical advice on shaping his education and accomplishing future goals.
Overall, Kris said he had an amazing experience at the CDC. “This internship was a culmination of my scientific and educational endeavors – a milestone on my journey to become an investigative physician who is dedicated to unifying individual and global health.”
Are you a DMU student interested in an internship at the CDC or one of the other Distinguished Global Health Internships? The application for these internships for 2020 will open on Nov. 4, 2019. 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.
