This current pandemic and the nation’s response may give some public health students a feeling of déjà vu. As part of a Global Health course in March 2018, Dr. Brian Bossak co-led a study abroad trip with 10 students to visit the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. They met with public health leaders at the WHO and visited the situation room where they learned about preparations for the next pandemic, how the response would work, and current disease detection efforts.
 Dr. Bossak and students in the WHO Situation Room learning about the preparation for the next pandemic in March 2018. |
 The Director General declaring the COVID-19 outbreak in February 2020. |
“It’s kind of surreal. We were hearing about these pandemic preparation and response activities two years before one actually occurred, thinking that one day these plans will get used – but not thinking it would be that soon,” said Dr. Bossak. “Lesson learned: never take any day for granted, you never know what tomorrow might bring!”
Study abroad trips, undergraduate research, internships and field experiences are a few ways students in the College of Charleston’s public health program can apply knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. These experiences are critical in training and educating the next group of public health professionals.
