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Epidemiologists design and conduct investigations aimed at improving the health of groups of people by combining knowledge from the social sciences, medicine, biology, the environment, and statistics.
December 15, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Christina Bhola originally chose USC because it was close to family, but she stayed for her second Arnold School degree because Carolina felt like home. A native of the small South American country of Guyana, Bhola gained experience as a pharmacy technician at CVS when she first came to the U.S. Studying public health appeared to be a great foundation for continuing down that career path, but she quickly discovered a love for epidemiology and community health.
“I learned how data turns into meaningful policies and how federal, state, and local programs impact the everyday lives of South Carolinians,” she says. “I know I can use this knowledge to someday make my home country a better place by making health care access equitable, especially in the maternal child health sector.”
After finding USC’s environment to be a welcoming one, Bhola decided to stay at the Arnold School to pursue an M.S. in Epidemiology. She’s made lifelong friends, learned valuable life skills, and broadened her community. At the Arnold School in particular, Bhola has treasured the unique perspectives of passionate students who have come together to expand their capacity for improving the health of their communities.
“Students come here from all over the world with a fuel for doing more for themselves and others, and it inspires me to be a better student, community member and human,” she says.
During her master’s program, Bhola developed interests in infectious disease and maternal and child health epidemiology. She gained experience as a graduate research assistant and project coordinator at USC as well as off campus with the SC Department of Public Health and SC Emergency Management Division. She found mentors in epidemiology and biostatistics faculty Nelis Soto-Ramírez, who served as chair for her thesis project on household income dependency and postpartum depression, as well as Jihong Liu and Yanan Zhang.
“I served as a graduate assistant on Dr. Soto-Ramírez’s work on secondary data analysis for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Study, which allowed me to apply what I have learned in class with practical skills in the field, such as codebook preparation, writing manuscripts, and overall project management,” she says. “All my mentors and professors at the Arnold School have created a comfortable space to ask questions and get needed support, whether professional or personal.”
After graduating this month, Bhola plans to continue building on her experience through a fellowship or a position within the state. She says that her master’s degree has enhanced her career trajectory by shaping her data analysis, program implementation, and community engagement skills. Further, the Arnold School’s large network will help facilitate the collaboration, mentorship, and community engagement she plans to incorporate into her work.
“The study of disease and how it impacts the community is and will continue to be invaluable work, and we need public health advocates,” Bhola says to students considering a similar path. “I would encourage anyone who has a passion for health data and serving others to complete this program and to participate in events on and off campus as building a network is crucial and will give you a sense of community, especially at a big university. I have loved my experience here, and I know all I have learned will continue to shape my personal and professional life.”
