London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Please explain a bit about your academic/professional background.  

I am from West Virginia, USA and completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. I graduated in 2021 and worked as a temporary research assistant with the Infection & Global Health Division at St Andrews before coming to LSHTM. 

Why did you choose to study at LSHTM?

I chose the Control of Infectious Diseases course because it is so interdisciplinary. The course blends epidemiology, social sciences, and laboratory work, so it teaches you to look at health problems from multiple angles. This was perfect for me as I wanted to gain different perspectives while still building on my lab science background. 

How will the programme help your career in the future? 

I am starting a medicine degree next year, and after coming from a lab-focused undergraduate degree I wanted to develop some different skills. Studying epidemiology trains your brain to think through problems in a different way, which I think will be especially helpful for me in the future. 

The course blends epidemiology, social sciences, and laboratory work, so it teaches you to look at health problems from multiple angles.

What have you enjoyed most about your course? 

I have loved the variety of modules, but the highlight has been the cohort. The Control of Infectious Diseases cohort is fairly small and the atmosphere has just been really friendly and social. People in the course come from all kinds of backgrounds, from policy to medicine, so you get the chance to learn from your peers as well as professors.  

What have been the best aspects of studying in London / in the UK in general?  

Studying in London has been a dream come true. The city is huge but so well-connected, so there is always something to do and somewhere new to explore. 

How did you find the mix of online and in-person teaching?  

It has not always been easy, but the teaching staff have made a huge effort to be flexible so it has worked well overall. Most days are either all online or all in-person, which is really helpful for those who have to commute to LSHTM.  

What advice would you give to someone considering studying your course? 

I would say don’t be afraid to take modules outside of your skillset if you are interested. Since students on the course come from such varied backgrounds, the teaching staff make a real effort to meet you where you are, making it a great opportunity to try new things. Some of my favourite modules on the course have been completely unrelated to my undergraduate experience, and I have gained so much from them. 

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