Shenandoah Student Completes Exclusive National Epidemiology Internship

Saber Chowdhury ’27, a student in Shenandoah University’s Master of Public Health program, was at the annual American Public Health Association Conference in Washington, D.C., in November 2025 when he learned of a professional development opportunity.

Chowdhury was networking with members of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs at the conference when the AMCHP’s Graduate Student Epidemiology Program (GSEP) entered the conversation. To Chowdhury, the internship program seemed an ideal opportunity to bridge the gap between what he’d learned in the classroom and real-world practice.

Despite GSEP being highly exclusive and competitive, Chowdhury was selected to participate. He spent three months in Summer 2026 working directly with the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiology team. His project, performed remotely over the course of nearly 200 hours, allowed Chowdhury to explore the use of data to improve population health. His focus was on the health factors and social drivers of health among Maine’s perinatal population using 2023 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS) data.

“I developed an analysis plan and learned SAS (statistical analysis systems) coding, which for the first time exposed me to survey methods and conducting weighted analyses,” Chowdhury said. “One of the most valuable lessons was learning the importance of data quality, reliability, and responsible interpretation when working with small population subgroups.”

The GSEP experience, Chowdhury said, allowed him to see how epidemiology functions in practice – from developing research questions and analyzing surveillance data to interpreting findings and supporting decision-making – and strengthened his skills in SAS, data visualization and communicating findings to diverse audiences.

“Most importantly, the experience confirmed my interest in work that combines epidemiology, health equity, and evidence-informed decision-making. Seeing how PRAMS data help identify health needs, monitor trends, and inform MCH programs reinforced my desire to pursue a public health career focused on meaningful action,” Chowdhury said.

Chowdhury credited Shenandoah’s MPH program with providing the strong foundation from which he was able to excel in his GSEP internship, which came with a $9,300 stipend and included weekly enrichment sessions, networking opportunities, peer discussions and professional development activities in addition to his project.

Coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, health communication, and MCH prepared me with analytical and critical-thinking skills necessary for applied public health work. Just as importantly, Shenandoah taught me to view health through a population health lens and consider how policies, systems and social factors shape health outcomes.”

Saber Chowdhury ’27

Collectively, Chowdhury’s experiences in Shenandoah’s MPH program and GSEP have strengthened his understanding of the scope and impact of public health. In the classroom, Chowdhury has learned about prevention, epidemiology, health equity and population health. During his internship, he saw those concepts applied in practice.

I learned that public health data are more than numbers; they help identify disparities, prioritize needs, guide programs, highlight progress and inform policy decisions. I also gained a greater appreciation for collaboration, as improving health outcomes requires partnerships across disciplines and organizations. These experiences have reinforced my view of public health as both a science and a collaborative practice dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities.”

Saber Chowdhury ’27