When Husena Rajkotwala talks about her path into public health, she points to the encouragement she received at home.
“My mom has played a huge role in inspiring me to go into public health because she always encouraged me to follow my passion no matter where it led,” she said. “Immediately upon researching public health at USF’s College of Public Health (COPH), I understood that this was the path for me.”
Rajkotwala graduated from the COPH in May with a bachelor of science in public health, a concentration in global health and minors in environmental health and infection control. She credits faculty at the COPH with nurturing her interests.
“Dr. Alison Oberne was one of my first professors at the college and she sparked my love for public health research,” she recalled. “Another professor who helped me was Dr. Catherine Bulka—she gave me my first insight into publishing public health work by allowing me to draft a manuscript and guiding me through the process.”
It was also at COPH where she first heard about the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) internship.
“I learned about the internship opportunity from the COPH’s weekly newsletter,” she said. “My main motivation for applying was that I wanted to learn more about the different aspects of public health.”
Rajkotwala spent a year interning at the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Tampa.
“During this time, I spent six months in their health care-associated infections department. This is a sentinel chicken surveillance program that tracks viruses spread by mosquitoes. That’s where I learned a wide range of bench science skills and how a public health laboratory operates,” she explained. “For the second half, I moved to the flu surveillance project. That helped me lay the groundwork for transitioning into the fellowship because it taught me how to communicate outside of my usual scope and what working on larger public health projects would be like.”
That transition came naturally when she graduated.
“The APHL fellowship is a full-time position where you’re based at a public health laboratory and complete a variety of projects over one or two years,” Rajkotwala said. “As an intern, I was working on one project. As a fellow, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of projects and experiences. I was fortunate that my mentor for the internship was willing to take me on as a fellow as well. That helped me move from a part-time role into a full-time one seamlessly.”
Husena (left) traveled with colleague, Alexis Young, to visit another state laboratory to collaborate on a project together for the fellowship. (Photo courtesy of Rajkotwala)
Rajkotwala is most excited about the growth she sees ahead.
“Being a part of a public health laboratory has already allowed me to develop my bench science skills significantly,” she said. “I hope to continue my laboratory skills during the fellowship as well as strengthening my ability to conduct meaningful research. My mentor also encourages us to take the reins, and that has already helped me become more confident in communicating with people both in and out of the lab.”
Long term, Rajkotwala envisions herself in infectious disease research on a global scale.
“Understanding how diseases spread and how we can keep people safe is something I am very passionate about,” she explained. “This fellowship places me in a unique position to explore both the world of laboratory sciences and the world of public health beyond the lab.”
She also hopes to strengthen the connection between scientists and the communities they serve.
“One issue I’ve been very aware of since I started in public health is the disconnect that sometimes exists between professionals and the people they’re trying to help,” she said. “Through my work, I hope to help bridge that gap.”
To students considering similar opportunities, her message is clear: “Go for it. The worst someone can do is either not respond or say no. But if you don’t go after what you want, you’ll always be left wondering. Even if it feels daunting or you think someone else might be better suited, still apply. You never know the kinds of doors you’re opening for yourself just by trying.”