Public health students integral to slowing spread of COVID-19
Once the pandemic began, many Ohio State students found themselves taking on contact tracing roles within their communities and at the university.
Some of those students were also enrolled in the highly relevant epidemiology course “Outbreak Investigations” (PUBHEPI 5411), taught by Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Research Bill Miller.
Miller asked students in current or previous contact tracing roles to discuss their experiences and any key lessons learned during their work with Ohio State, Columbus Public Health and Warren County Health District. The student contact tracers shared similar challenges, payoffs and stories of professional growth.
“While contact tracing is always happening for other diseases, the need for COVID-19 is much greater. The opportunity to be contact tracers has given our students real, applied experiences in public health,” Miller said.
From explaining the science behind disease spread, to recommending a best course of action based on limited knowledge, to spending a whole morning calming down someone stressed by the news of a positive test, there’s been no shortage of work — or adapting and learning on the spot.
“It’s been a way to apply what they’ve learned so far, learn even more through the experience and contribute to their community," Miller said.
