Hello fellow GDBers! My name is Jason Singson and I am a 2019 graduate of the GDB major as well as a 2020 graduate of the MPH program at UC Davis. I currently am a CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow for COVID-19 at the California Department of Public Health. GDB provided a great foundation for my MPH and my fellowship - from LOGIC models and incident command system in GDB 102, SIR models of GDB 101 and VME 158, and the endless phylogenetic trees of EVE 100. However, I am most grateful for the 25 units of restricted electives! Some of those units were dedicated to courses in ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, and even art history. These courses provided the critical lenses to understand complex health inequities and nuance the idea of “health” beyond a biological definition. Just like our GDB logo (fun fact: I created it!), we need many pieces and disciplines to approach health problems - and that is what I love about GDB! Our logo shows the “global” effort that is needed to create tomorrow’s solutions. You do not have to be an expert in everything, but GDB left me with the necessity for interdisciplinary teamwork.

Entering this major, I knew I was interested in public health department work and applied to be an intern for Yolo County’s Communicable Disease Control program the summer after my freshmen year. I immediately loved government public health and would remain as an intern for the rest of my time at Davis. This led to my practicum project, which reviewed the 2017 multischool outbreak of norovirus in Yolo County through an informed comparison with other norovirus outbreaks in K-12 schools that were published in the literature. While my practicum is very unique, this example serves as a reminder that research comes in many forms and does not have to be a “wet-lab experience.” Ultimately, choose the experiences that are meaningful and dedicate yourself to life-long learning. And the most important reminder: we must fight for a equitable and just future! The work can be difficult and tiring and sometimes you can feel lost in where you need to be. Don’t forget to keep yourself grounded with friends, student organizations, GDB faculty and staff, and some (COVID-safe) fun. 

Feel free to reach out to me at jrcsingson@gmail.com for tips, advice, and questions. Stay safe and well!