About Exploring Health

Produced and hosted by students at Emory University’s Center for the Study of Human Health, HealthierU is a podcast that aims to make sense of the science behind human health. This season, we’re diving into our generation’s burning health questions. Questions like: Is it bad to use the internet to diagnose yourself? Why do so many athletes get eating disorders, and why are they so hard to spot? Is sugar really so dangerous? To find the answers, we’re talking to scientists, nutritionists, counselors, medical professionals and regular folks, every week on HealthierU.

The COVID Chronicles covers a variety of public health topics intertwined with the pandemic, as reported by the students in the HLTH 385: Health & Science Podcasting class during the Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 semesters. The series includes interviews with experts in epidemiology, mental health, maternal health, and more.

Christabelle Toso holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at the Rollins School of Public Health, specializing in Global Health. Her focus area is Sexual and Reproductive Health and Population Studies. Christabelle is dedicated to fostering healthier communities through education, research, strategic program planning, communications, and advocacy. She serves as TA for HLTH 385W and is assistant editor of the Exploring Health student news vertical.

Caroline Hansen is a junior at Emory University studying Human Health and Economics with a minor in ethics. Her interest is in bioethics, healthcare administration, and health policy. Outside of class, Caroline is a hurdler and jumper on the Emory Track and Field team and a writer on the Emory Spoke. For fun, Caroline likes to read, drink a lot of coffee, and discover new music.

Manju Karthikeyan is a junior at Emory University studying Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Human Health with a concentration in Health Innovation. She is an aspiring physician-scientist passionate about investigating the role of communication in healthcare settings— whether that be by working on clinical research projects or writing articles that help bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public. When she’s not in class or the lab, Manju enjoys spending time with loved ones, listening to music, and getting lost in a good book. 

Lydia King is a junior at Emory University majoring in Anthropology and Human Biology, as well as Linguistics. In past years, she’s explored the language of undergraduate reflection through the lens of corpus linguistics, and she’s also researched the connections between well-being and student farm work. Ultimately, an internship at the CDC Museum cemented her interest in public health, and she now works in the Gillespie Lab, exploring One Health concepts through qualitative analysis. She loves farming and gardening, and she’s a big fan of walks. She believes that a walk is best enjoyed with an iced latte in hand.  

Saanvi Nayar is currently a second-year student, majoring in Human Health and minoring in Global Development Studies. Her interests in global health revolve around women’s healthcare interventions across different cultural contexts, specifically in the areas of sexual violence, nutrition, and maternal health. On campus, she is an Opinion Editor for the Emory Wheel, an IDEAS fellow, and a Director of Community Engagement for the Global Health Institute’s Advisory Board. This semester, she is looking forward to working on the safe + natal project in the Health Co-Design Lab,  alongside leading a one credit sidecar course called “Demystifying the Gut Microbiome.”  

Julia Roth is a sophomore at Emory University majoring in Human Health and minoring in Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Design. She is interested in pursuing a career in science journalism, and her areas of interest include all aspects of health, such as mental health, physical health, and holistic health. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, thrifting, and exploring new towns and cities.  

Cora Bainum is a senior at Emory studying human health and sustainability who hopes to pursue a career in health policy and management to bring sustainable and equitable solutions to the field. She is particularly interested in preventative health as a path to better health and environmental outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys running, camping, and cooking new recipes.

Lexy Campbell is a senior at Emory University majoring in Biology and minoring in Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Design. She has previous experience in biotech research and development, clinical trauma research, fertility research, and quality improvement. She is passionate about health equity and sharing stories related to news in healthcare and science. In the future, she is interested in the healthcare industry, including healthcare consulting, quality improvement, or research. 

Gillian Feinglass is a senior at Emory University majoring in Human Health and minoring in Sustainability Studies. She hopes for a career combining her passions for health, sustainability, and food. She has been actively involved with the non-profit The Farmlink Project for three years, connecting surplus farm produce to food banks to combat food waste and food insecurity and developing sustainable solutions within the food industry as a Farmlink FIELD Fellow. She also enjoys watching sports, cooking, and composting.  

Andrew Feld graduated from Emory with a double major in human health and economics. He covered sports for Emory’s student-run newspaper, the Emory Wheel. Born in New Orleans and raised in Atlanta, he is a huge Saints fan. Outside of school and work, he loves playing tennis, working out, and reading memoirs.

Saif Hossain is a senior at Emory, double-majoring in Biology and Human Health. He is interested in pursuing a career as a physician, combining his passion for the biological sciences with his love of sports. Saif is an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician for Emory EMS, and volunteers and researches at the Winship Cancer Institute. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, working out, and cooking. 

Harleigh Markowitz is a junior at Emory University studying Human Health. Her academic interests include the intersection between public health, neuroscience, and psychology. She has previous experience in social neuroscience and biomedical research. She is passionate about health equity and hopes to work in the field of social and behavioral health. Her hobbies include traveling, kayaking, drawing, and exploring new coffee shops.  

Ellie Purinton is a senior at Emory studying Human Health and Creative Writing. She is interested in improving healthcare and plans to pursue a legal education studying health law. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dogs and watching true crime shows.  

Nolan Shah is a senior at Emory studying Human Health and Quantitative Sciences. His areas of interests in healthcare include health tech, fitness and wellness, and human performance. He hopes to blend these passions to become a clinician. In his free time you can find him on the tennis court or playing his saxophone.

Jeeya Sharma is a senior at Emory University majoring in Biology and minoring in Quantitative Sciences. As an aspiring physician-scientist, she hopes to advance healthcare through scientific discovery. She is particularly interested in preventing and improving care for chronic illnesses. Outside of her studies, Jeeya enjoys drawing and painting, going on nature walks, and spending time with her family and friends.  

Soma Sonawane is a junior at the Emory College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Human Health and minoring in Women’s, Gender, Sexuality. She is also an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Chahroudi HIV Lab. Soma plans to pursue a medical career in gynecology, obstetrics, and/or women’s Health after graduation. In her free time, Soma likes to go thrifting and going on runs with her dogs.

Katie Stachowicz is a senior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and minoring in French Studies. She has spent the last several years working on neuro-related research topics in rodents ranging from traumatic brain injuries to substance use disorder. She’s particularly interested in how the brain responds to a changing environment and what happens to neuron communities as the brain learns. After graduation, she plans on going to graduate school for a PhD in neuroscience, but for now, she’s playing ultimate frisbee for Emory, cooking, and hanging out with her mice. 

Chaya Tong is a junior double majoring in biology and English. She is interested in pursuing a career in journalism after graduation and writing about the intersection between race and governmental systems, such as the healthcare and justice systems. In her free time, she enjoys drinking boba, drawing, acting and exploring Atlanta.