May 14, 2021 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Born in India, Neha Jaggi Sood has called the United States home since she was a newborn. After growing up in the Columbia area of South Carolina, it was a natural fit to study biology at UofSC. Sood had been interested in healthcare for a long time and explored these interests during her time as an undergraduate by volunteering at the Free Medical Clinic and interning with an OB-GYN office.
“I noticed that certain communities were disproportionately affected because of systemic, health and social inequities,” Sood says. “For many people in racial and ethnic minority groups, living conditions and access to care contributed to health conditions, while for some, there were cultural belief and linguistical barriers. Especially during my internship, I saw many women who had not seen a doctor in years and didn’t feel the need to due to the lack of understanding the importance of well checkups.”
I noticed that certain communities were disproportionately affected because of systemic, health and social inequities.
-Neha Sood, MPH in HPEB, Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication 2016
These experiences sparked Sood’s passion for public health, and she began looking into graduate programs. The Arnold School’s national reputation and rankings led her to enroll in the Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She completed this degree, along with a Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication, in 2016.
Sood believes these academic programs and her research/practical experiences with the South Carolina Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program, South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative, and the UofSC School of Medicine helped prepare her for her next role: a two-year ORISE fellowship as a health communication specialist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Working with the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases for a total of three years, Sood gained experience in the CDC’s role in health communications and emergency responses.
In 2019, she transitioned into her current position as a health communication specialist with the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. In the 18 hectic months since then, Sood has been an integral player in the CDC’s responses to both Ebola and COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has really been all-hands-on-deck across public health. As a health communication specialist, I use both of my degrees on a daily basis.
-Neha Sood, MPH in HPEB, Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication 2016
“The COVID-19 pandemic has really been all-hands-on-deck across public health,” she says. “As a health communication specialist, I use both of my degrees on a daily basis. All communication materials are based on theory and accepted principles, methods and practices. I translate technical information into plain language for the lay audience to understand, as well as target or tailor messages for diverse audiences as needed.”
For prospective or current students interested in a similar path, Sood has some advice.
“We all have interests that we like to focus on; however make sure to branch out because you might be surprised and develop new interests,” she says. “Additionally, be able to apply the principles you learn across any public health emergency that may come your way.”