Jemima was an Epidemiology Intern for Paso Del Norte Health Information Exchange during Summer 2025.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
This organization gathers health data across the conty of El Paso and creates project based on their findings. I pioneered their environemental health project which looked at the health impacts of air pollution on communities. I gathered data on air pollution monitors across the county, displayed it on maps I created using GIS, organized patient data (specifically respiratory illnesses) into census tracts, built and ran regression models using patient and pollution data, and presented my findings in a report for PHIX. They'll be using it to encourage policy makers to promote air pollution awareness! I learnt a lot about the power that data can provide.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I learnt a lot about data visualization and how to find patterns in numbers! I was expecting more literature reading but I got to learn a lot about regressions and statistics and how necessary they are in creating powerful insights.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I am more interested in environmental health and my plans have become more specific. I came out of the internship having a better understanding of working in non-profits and a better understanding of myself as well.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
My experience helped open my eyes a lot more at the opportunities that are out there. It's easy to say "I am interested in research" but there's so much more within it! Collecting data, literature reviews, working directly with communities, hundreds of potential topics, questioning everything you find, and so much more! Coming from Fiji, I never thought of any of this as a career path. It's definitely made me grateful to be a part of a university that provides opportunities like this internship.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would recommend this internship to any student that is interested in seeing how non profit organizations work. You get a close up view and learn a lot from working with other interns as well.
