Title: High School Student Advocates for National Organization of Epidemiology Clubs
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Section/SPIG: Epidemiology
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Epidemics are as devastating to our society as the worst natural disasters. However, unlike with other natural catastrophes, we have ways to control epidemics, and the science of epidemiology is our key. I was fortunate enough last year to be exposed to this marvelous field through the YES Competition. Through the competition, I understood the immense potential of epidemiology to improve human conditions, and realized that the more peers involved, the greater the achievements. Thus, I started an epidemiology club at my school. The club has the double mission of exposing students to the fields of epidemiology and public health as career choices and of informing the community about various epidemics and ways of keeping healthy. Members discuss the latest groundbreaking news on epidemics, hear prominent speakers in the field of epidemiology, and even reach out to their peers and the community, informing them about epidemics through posters, bulletins, etc.
Many epidemics, however, are not localized in one community. Some of the most devastating epidemics, such as AIDS, violence, and smoking, are prevalent in the entire nation. Therefore, a national club would be needed to coordinate the efforts of local epidemiology clubs. It would thus improve the health of people all throughout the United States by improving health community by community. Members of such a national club could even put their ideas into action by organizing activities/conventions in communities all across the country or by reporting health care problems in their communities to health officials and making a change. Motivated by this dream, I wanted to contact a national organization to try to make my vision come true. Because the College Board is a national organization that has close connections with high school students - and because it sponsors the YES Competition, which inspired me in the first place - I went to them for help. The College Board was very enthusiastic about this club. The representatives have been extremely helpful and supportive, and we are working very hard in making this vision come true.
Ershela Duressi
Editor's Note: Ershela Durresi attends Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and runs an epidemiology club at her high school. In addition to advocating for a national organization of high school epidemiology clubs, Durresi was a 2004-2005 regional finalist in the Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) competition. The title of her abstract was “Using Network Topologies Against Bioterrorist Attacks".