“Through my course work and field experience at the Mailman School of Public Health, I feel well prepared for a career in global health.”

Having already completed his MPH, Eduard Eduardo, a doctoral candidate within the department of Epidemiology, arrived at the Mailman School craving more advanced training in epidemiology and more opportunities in international health. Eduard’s passion and dedication to international health, infectious diseases in particular, was sparked by his own childhood experiences in the Dominican Republic. Eduard explains that "growing up in the Dominican Republic where I was surrounded by poverty and inequality led me to public health."

Knowing that eventually he would love to work for an international health organization like the Pan-American Health Organization or the World Health Organization, the Mailman School was a perfect fit because of its strong academic program in epidemiology and its world renowned projects in global health. "I was immediately drawn to the program at Columbia because of the strength of the program, its international opportunities in public health and its recognition."

Following his undergraduate degree in environmental sciences, Eduard worked for an environmental consulting firm but was disappointed with the lack of attention given to the health effects of the environmental hazards they would uncover. Eduard consulted an undergraduate professor and a former classmate who urged him to pursue an MPH. Although Eduard had not heard of the discipline of public health, he explained that as he learned more about it "it seemed to foster a connection between my background, drive to increase equality and help alleviate poverty in developing countries. Public health was more in line with my personal and academic interests."

In his three years at the Mailman School, Eduard has been closely working with Dr. Alan Berkman (Associate Clinical Professor in Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences) and specifically with the Mailman School’s active participation in the national roll out program for HIV/AIDS prevention in the Dominican Republic. "My work with Dr. Berkman has provided me with an excellent opportunity to combine infectious disease epidemiology and not just in any developing country, but the one where I am originally from and where my 'informal' public health education began." Like many other Mailman School students, Eduard has formed close ties with faculty, "faculty support has been great, the professors are very accessible and they go beyond their duty to help you. They were extremely supportive of me and my family when we lost three relatives in a tragic house fire last year including two children."

During the summer of 2005, Eduard spent the summer in the Dominican Republic under the guidance of Dr. Alan Berkman and Dr. Denis Nash (Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research, International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Program). In the Dominican Republic, Eduard was responsible for collaborating with the ministry of health in the design and implementation of patient registers to monitor and evaluate the national HIV/AIDS program.

After graduation Eduard plans to continue working internationally with infectious diseases. "Through my course work and field experience at the Mailman School of Public Health, I feel well prepared for a career in international health."