May 16, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Zach Drechsler’s first encounter with infectious disease epidemiology took place when he was three. The Maryland native contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite, though early treatment fortunately prevented severe damage.

His interest in epidemiology grew with other outdoor activities like crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay when he was 11. Drechsler was curious about how environmental conditions impacted both animal and human health. With these interests in mind, he studied biology as an undergraduate at McDaniel College.

“I became interested in public health because I think it’s imperative to ensure the public has the information necessary to protect their health and overall wellbeing,” Drechsler says. “I chose epidemiology because I enjoyed taking microbiology as an undergrad and learning about different diseases.”

After graduating in 2022, he took a position as a laboratory technician with Precision for Medicine, a global clinical research organization with a facility based in Frederick, Maryland. Two years later, he rose to the level of research associate, conducting flow cytometry and immune assays, improving lab procedures, implementing new techniques, maintaining lab safety, and assisting scientists with assay development and validation.

With his full-time position as his priority, USC’s 100 percent Online Master of Public Health in Epidemiology program offered the perfect path to pursuing a graduate degree in the field while also providing a small scholarship. During his program, Drechsler found a mentor in MPH program director and clinical associate professor Myriam Torres.

“Dr. Torres has encouraged me to continue working hard to finish the program,” he says. “She always had an answer or knew which direction to point me in.”

Building on his interests in infectious disease and environmental epidemiology that were sparked 23 and 15 years ago, Drechsler plans to pursue a position in one or both of these areas in the next few years. “Earning this degree taught me complex epidemiological topics relevant to achieving this goal,” he says.

Drechsler also has advice for other students considering a similar path, particularly those who plan to work full time and pursue their graduate degree through distance education.

“Be prepared to make sacrifices in your social life and temporarily mental wellbeing, but it will be worth it in the end,” says Drechsler, who graduates with a 4.0 and an invitation to join the Delta Omega Honorary Society. “I suggest researching what each program teaches, cost per credit, and the standard timeline of each program.”

---