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.

Ananya Dash is the assistant editor of ExploringHealth and the teaching assistant for HLTH 381W and 497R-2. She is an Immunology & Molecular Pathogenesis Ph.D. candidate at Emory University in Dr. LaRock’s lab, where she studies Streptococcus pyogenes. She wants to take science beyond the lab bench and strives to make it both accessible and tangible for the community. Through her writings, she wants to tell stories about microbes, infections, and vaccines. Outside of the lab, you will find her visiting a bookstore. 

Alya Khoury is currently pursuing a major in Anthropology and Human Biology and a minor in Film and Media Studies at Emory University. She is interested in learning more about the intersections of science and media to deliver digestible information to readers. Outside of class, Alya works in the Learning, Understanding, Memory, & Neurodevelopment (LUMeN) Lab where she investigates how emotion and memory affect brain development. In her free time, she enjoys taking pictures with old film cameras, writing for the school paper, and spending time outdoors in a hammock. 

Merom Arthur is an Emory graduate who majored in Human Health and minoring in Film and Media. In her time at Emory University, she developed  developed an admiration for the bench to bedside aspects of translational medicine, thus she aspires to become a physician-scientist. She has conducted research in the areas of genetic medicine and clinical neuroscience. Her interdisciplinary approach to education has established a purpose and passion to serve and to tell stories, and she hopes to also accomplish this through science communication and media/tv entertainment. Merom is from Northern Virginia. She loves family time, reading, production, volleyball, and obtaining new talents!

Michelle Arauz is a Junior at Emory University, majoring in Human Health and Chemistry. She is planning on graduating in the Spring of 2027 and going on to pursue a PhD in Organic Chemistry. She is passionate about health equity and hopes to link her background in Chemistry to developments in healthcare. Michelle is a part of the Emory Women in STEM committee and is also conducting undergraduate research under the Deans Laboratory.  

Jackson is a senior at Emory University majoring in Human Health with a minor in Nutrition Science. He is interested in the influence of systemic factors such as food and nutrition policy and economic disparities that shape food access, diet quality, and public health. Jackson conducts research in endocrinology at Emory and plans on attending medical school after graduation.  

Laniah Bowdery is a Junior at Emory University, majoring in Human Health and African American Studies. They intend to pursue a dual masters degree in Public Health and Divinity after graduation in the spring of 2027. On campus, they are the Co-President of Emory Gardening Group, President of the Alpha Tau Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the Executive Student Director of Social Media for Emory’s Graduation Generation. 

Victoria Charles is a 4th-year at Emory majoring in Human Health on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track, with a passion to bridge the gap in disparities that plague the American healthcare system. After graduation, she plans to pursue a MPH/PA dual degree program to continue working in both fields. At Emory, Victoria makes an active effort to remain involved in her community on and off campus by serving as President of the Emory NAACP, and volunteering with Lifting Our Voices by providing meals every Saturday to the unhoused population of Atlanta.  

Collin France is a Chemistry major on the Pre-Med Track, planning to graduate in Spring 2028. He is interested in chemistry, microbiology, public health, immunology, and exercise science. He transferred to Emory University from Vassar College, where he was a member of the track and field and basketball teams. At Emory, he is a decathlete on the track and field team, and a part of the Catholic community.  

Talia Gordon Wexler is a junior at Emory University, majoring in Human Health with a minor in Anthropology. She is passionate about combining her interests in health advocacy, health equity, and exercise science with plans to get her master’s in public health in the future. Outside of academics, Talia is a part of Emory’s Club Ice Hockey team and is on the Executive Board of the Body Positive Alliance (BPA) on Emory’s campus. 

Yasemin Isbilir is a junior at Emory University studying Human Health and planning to graduate in Spring 2027. She intends to pursue dental school with the goal of specializing in pediatric dentistry. She is passionate about how preventative care can reduce health disparities, specifically the ways that oral health influences different health outcomes. Outside of class, Yasemin enjoys gardening and crocheting, and conducts research on the oral microbiome. 

Harrison Luba is a fourth-year student at Emory University majoring in Biology. He plans to graduate in Fall 2025 and is applying to medical school. He is currently an undergraduate researcher in The Pallas Lab at the Emory School of Medicine where he is investigating the role of the protein PP2A as a tumor suppressor. Outside of the lab, Harrison is a member of Emory’s club tennis team, chess club, and Juice Ultimate frisbee team.  

Clara Silvestri is a senior at Emory University double majoring in Biology and Human Health. After graduation, she plans to pursue medical school with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. She is especially passionate about refugee health and global child health. She is on the executive board for Phi Delta Epsilon (Emory’s pre-medical fraternity) and is a teaching assistant for the Biology department. Outside of Emory, she volunteers regularly at Global Village Project (a school for refugee girls) and the Harriet Tubman Women’s Clinic. 

Kimberly Yang is a sophomore at Emory University majoring in Human Health and Economics with a minor in Quantitative Sciences and Statistics. She is passionate about health policy and equity, with an interest in social determinants of health and maternal and infant health. After graduation, she plans to pursue a law degree focusing on health law and an MPH with a concentration in biostatistics. At Emory, Kimberly is involved in Volunteer Emory, Emory UMMI, Emory Badminton Association, Emory Public Health Collective, and Residence Life as a Sophomore Advisor. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing badminton, and baking. 

Joanna Yao (she/her) is a junior at Emory University studying Neuroscience with a minor in Quantitative Sciences. She is on the physician-scientist track and would like to obtain an MD alongside a PhD in Molecular & Cellular Biology following graduation. She is passionate about glia (specifically astrocytes!), development, and research translating basic science into clinical implications. At Emory, she is involved in Biokind Analytics, is a TA, and works as a student researcher at the Sloan Lab at Emory’s Department of Human Genetics.  

Yiying Zhang is a junior at Emory University double majoring in Human Health and Data Science, with strong interests in mental health, behavioral science, and health equity. She works as a research assistant at the Social Identity and Stigma Lab, where she contributed to data classification and coding. Passionate about community engagement, Yiying volunteers weekly at Emory Decatur Hospital. She aspires to pursue an MPH in biostatistics or epidemiology, aiming to become a health analyst dedicated to advancing public health. 

Emily Zhou (she/her) is a junior at Emory University in the Human Health Innovation Program, pursuing studies in Human Health with a strong interdisciplinary focus that bridges biology, policy, and society. She is interested in health administration and policy, particularly how predictive health frameworks and competitive healthcare systems can shape more equitable access to care. At Emory, she has engaged in coursework and research spanning nutrition, anatomy, and health ethics, and participated in the Paris Human Health Program under Dr. Michelle Lampl. She previously conducted biological research on skeletal growth using zebrafish models, and she is also passionate about addressing menstrual health stigma through advocacy and nonprofit work.