Payal Vedanayagam

1st-year MPH student, Epidemiology

From November 2^nd – November 5^th, a handful of Epi students attended American Public Health Association in Washington D.C.! This year’s theme was, “Making the Public’s Health a National Priority.” APHA is the largest public health gathering of the year and it’s where public health professionals from around the world can come together to share ideas, inspire, and motivate each other to make health a human right. 

I attended a session called Wastewater Surveillance and I was absolutely fascinated with this topic. The Houston Health Department talked about their initiative in monitoring wastewater at different locations throughout the city. By monitoring, they are trying to detect germs that can cause illnesses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. This was an eye-opening session that I had the privilege of attending. More attention should be brought to wastewater surveillance because they can act as warning signs to potential cases that may develop. 

Visting Washington D.C. was a great experience. The city was quiet with the shutdown, but that made it easier for us to explore the city without traffic. D.C.’s metro was simple to navigate, and we were able to get on at a stop right outside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which took us closer to the monuments. With just a short walk, we were able to see the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. The weather was pleasant enough that we could leave our jackets back home in Iowa. It’s November, how crazy! Although we were disappointed that we couldn’t visit the Smithsonian Museum, it didn’t take away from how much we enjoyed our time in the nation’s capital. 

Attending APHA was a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait till next year. I learned so much and feel even more empowered to continue my journey in Public Health. I can’t wait to attend APHA in San Antonio, Texas next year!