“In addition to gaining robust training in methods and statistics, my professors and peers at the Mailman School helped me understand the importance of linking classroom lessons to real-world situations.”

Upon graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in biology, Dr. Sybil Eng worked in a molecular biology lab analyzing blood samples for genetic mutations predisposing populations to the development of diabetes mellitus. Through this work, Dr. Eng came to understand the link between modifiable population risk factors and the development of disease, which sparked an interest in epidemiology.

Her path was determined when she discovered a text on molecular epidemiology written by a professor at the Mailman School. "The book helped me understand that I could combine epidemiology with my background in molecular biology," Dr. Eng says.

She quickly applied to the Mailman School's MPH program. After receiving an MPH in epidemiology in 1996, she worked for a year before enrolling in the School's epidemiology doctoral program. Dr. Eng defended her thesis in 2002 and, like many Mailman graduates, had several career choices before her.

"Throughout my studies, I found that it often takes a long time to translate the results from an epidemiologic study to a meaningful intervention that can be implemented at the population level," Dr. Eng explains. "In my career, I wanted to see the practical application of my skills, so I took a position as an epidemiologist at Pfizer."

"In addition to gaining robust training in methods and statistics, my professors and peers at the Mailman School helped me understand the importance of linking classroom lessons to real-world situations," says Dr. Eng.