Trainings
August 2026 Fellows Retreat
Orientation week welcomed Cohort 7 to a 4-day retreat introducing them to the Rollins Epidemiology Fellowship. Training throughout the week included an overview of the Georgia Department of Public Health with Dr. Jessica Pavlick, the transition from academic training into public health practice with Dr. Allison Chamberlain, a Strengths-Based Leadership session using Clifton Strengths with Dr. Ariela Freedman and a workshop on representative data practices facilitated by Shelby Rentmeester.
Fellow alumna Teresa Costa presented Interviewing for Surveillance on communicating public health information and conducting surveillance interviews. Cohort 7 also toured the Serious Communicable Diseases Program Unit.
The week closed with a final day that started with Breakfast with Emory Mentors, followed by a Fellow Experience Q&A, providing opportunities to learn from 2nd Fellow experiences. Second-year Fellows also presented posters highlighting their work during a networking and awards lunch. Concluding was a keynote address from the 2026 Outstanding Supervisor awardee, Robert Thornton, Chief Epidemiologist & Director of Epidemiology & Quality Improvement at Coastal Health District.
August 2025 Fellows Retreat
Cohort 6 Fellows were welcomed to the Rollins School of Public Health for orientation week of the Rollins Epi Fellowship. After a program introduction by director Shelby Rentmeester, Dr. Jessica Pavlick of the Georgia Department of Public Health provided an overview of Georgia DPH systems with an introduction to SendSS. The day included Transitioning to Public Health Practice with Dr. Allison Chamberlain and ended with a tour of the Serious Communicable Diseases Program Unit.
Fellows began day 2 with a Strengths-Based Leadership session using Clifton Strengths with Dr. Ariela Freedman, designed to help Fellows explore their individual strengths and approaches to leadership. The afternoon focused on public health communications where Dr. Jodie Guest led the Practical Science Communications, a training on building skills relevant to communicating public health information effectively.
The final day of orientation started with breakfast with the Fellows’ Emory mentors, followed by a Fellow Experience Q&A with 2nd year fellows. The day continued with a networking awards lunch where three 2nd year fellows were recognized for their impact and effort during their first year of the Fellowship. Orientation week concluded with a keynote address by Dr. Jimmie Smith, Administrator of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department.
August 2024 Fellows Retreat
Cohort 5 Fellows began day 1 of the retreat with Welcome and Orientation from Rollins Epi Fellowship by Shelby Rentmeester and Transitioning to Public Health Practice by Dr. Allison Chamberlain. Dr. Jessica Pavlick of Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) presented an Overview of Georgia’s Public Health System and was joined by her colleague Fabio Machado to present Intro to SendSS and OASIS. The day was closed out with a tour of the Serious Communicable Disease Unit at Emory University Hospital.
Days 2 and 3 were filled with engaging information including a panel of Cohort 4 Fellows discussing their experiences, Strength-Based Leadership Training facilitated by Dr. Ariela Freedman, and Motivational Interviewing Training presented by Bridget Walsh, a Rollins Epidemiology Fellowship Alum and current Epidemiology Supervisor with District 1-2. Fellows engaged in communications and public speaking trainings presented by Dr. Freedman, Dr. Chamberlain and Beonca Brown of Cohort 4.
Dr. Jamila Porter, Lynne Le & Zamir Bradford of the deBeaumont Foundation opened day 4 of the retreat with a presentation before fellows were led on a tour of the CDC Museum.
On Friday, Fellows were addressed by keynote speaker Dr. Sandra Valenciano, District Health Director for DeKalb Public Health. In her speech, Dr. Valenciano shared her pathway to medicine and public health, and becoming a District Health Director. The retreat was closed out with a Fellow poster presentations, awards, and a networking luncheon.
August 2023 Fellows Retreat
In early August, Rollins Epidemiology Fellows were welcomed to Atlanta for an in-person week-long training. The newest cohort, Cohort 4, arrived on Monday and were joined by other current fellows on Thursday and Friday.
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the fellows took part in training sessions focused on public speaking, presenting data, and other fellowship-related tasks. Sessions included a Welcome & Orientation from the Rollins Epidemiology Fellowship & Georgia DPH Leaders with Shelby Rentmeeter, Drs. Jessica Pavlick, and Allison Chamberlain, OASIS and SendSS training with Fabio Machado and Dr. Jessica Pavlick, and a public speaking and communication workshop with Dr. Ariela Freedman.
On Thursday, fellows took part in a data discussion led by Dr. Folami Prescott-Adams and McKenzie Wren of HTI Catalysts. Later that day, fellows along with staff took a trip to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
The 2023 Retreat wrapped up on Friday with a keynote speech from Dr. Brian Castrucci of the de Beaumont Foundation. Fellows and staff later gathered for fellow poster presentations and a networking luncheon.
August 2022 Fellows Retreat
From August 1st through 5th, the ECRC hosted an in-person orientation, training, and networking retreat for new and current fellows. Cohort Three kicked off the week with training sessions Monday through Wednesday, and Cohorts One and Two joined Thursday and Friday for additional trainings and networking.
Training sessions included a welcome and orientation to public health in Georgia with Shelby Rentmeeter, Drs. Amanda Jara, Jessica Pavlick, and Allison Chamberlain, Strengths-Based Leadership with Dr. Ariela Freedman, Public Speaking with Dad’s Garage, Abstract Writing with Dr. Cherie Drenzek, and “Presenting Data to All Audiences” with Drs. Aaron Siegler and Allison Chamberlain.
The Thursday sessions for all Fellows included a panel presentation from Epidemiology Intelligence Service Officers on the opportunities and challenges of working in public health practice, a tour of the CDC Museum, and “Racism, Racial Health Inequities, and Action” with BLKHLTH, Inc. On Friday, we invited health district supervisors and colleagues and others to participate in a networking and socializing session. Dr. Allison Chamberlain presented a keynote speech, “A Joy Amid the Crisis: Creating the ECRC and the Rollins COVID-19 Epi Fellows Program.” Current fellows then had the opportunity to present their health district work, and we hosted a lunch and awards ceremony.
November 2021 Fellows Retreat
In November, our Fellows and ECRC colleagues gathered for a two-day in-person retreat. Starting with a workshop hosted by Dad’s Garage, a local improv theater in Atlanta, fellows got professional development in public speaking skills, as well as team work and thinking on your feet. Dr. Aaron Siegler, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health gave a presentation entitled “Presenting Data to Lay Audiences.”
Day two of the conference opened with remarks from Dr. Jim Curran, Dean, Emory Rollins School of Public Health and Dr. Cherie Drenzek, State Epidemiologist, Georgia Department of Public Health. Eight fellows then presented their posters highlighting the amazing work they have been conducting in their respective districts during their fellowship.
