I am pursuing a PhD in International Health because I believe it is the next important step in my career in public health research. I have a passion for research, I enjoy disease detective work, and I believe there are still many important public health issues that remain unsolved. I have worked at the Centers for Disease Control for 7 years and my experiences have allowed me to concretely apply public health research conducted in often difficult and resource-limited contexts. My recent work in epidemiological surveillance in particular has solidified my interest in international health and infectious disease epidemiology. I am applying to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health doctoral program because of the strong research and curriculum in international health, as well as the active affiliation with world-renowned organizations. public health agencies will provide me with the best foundation to develop as a public health researcher. Additionally, the Global Epidemiology and Disease Control program will allow me to combine my interest in international health with that of epidemiology. Given my interests and career goals, I want my doctoral training to benefit from the broad curriculum offered at Hopkins, but also from the opportunity to work with top researchers in international health. I have already had the privilege of working with some Hopkins scholars from around the world. –in Mozambique as well as at the national level, both as part of a surveillance project and an outbreak investigation. Their excellent public health work and continued enthusiasm for their alma mater have demonstrated to me that Hopkins has exactly what I need to succeed in the next stage of...... middle of paper ...... laboratory manager whose lab did not have a working refrigerator or telephone, and an epidemiologist who did not have a working computer and who instead calculated disease trends with a pencil and paper. These challenges, while often insurmountable, have left me with a deep desire to improve public health. My cumulative research experience, training, and commitment to advancing health standards among the disadvantaged, combined with a deep desire to learn, make me an excellent candidate for the Johns Hopkins University Ph.D. program. I am confident that I will receive the training and experience necessary to be at the forefront of the field of epidemiology. There are significant public health issues today, and I believe we can achieve incredible achievements in my lifetime. I thank the committee for considering my application..