Phi Beta Kappa welcomes ten from Gillings School

November 11, 2015

Ten students from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health have been inducted as new members of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest college honorary society in the United States.

Phi Beta Kappa membership is open to undergraduates who meet strict eligibility requirements. Fewer than one percent of all college students qualify.

Congratulations to these exemplary inductees!

Marnie Blalock is a senior pursuing a health policy and management major and a chemistry minor.

Marnie Blalock

“I think the greatest asset of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program at Gillings is the collaborative learning environment,” said Blalock. “The small class sizes are conducive to developing real relationships with peers, faculty and community organizations. I’m confident I’ll be able to use my background in public health to make a positive impact throughout my career.”

Blalock, who is from Newport News, Va., hopes to eventually practice as a physician.

Stephanie Chien is a junior studying health policy and management and information systems.

Stephanie Chien

“Studying health policy and management has furthered my development as a future healthcare professional by giving me access to resources and crucial connections,” Chien said. “With the help of my program adviser, I gained a mentor who was also interested in the topic of aging and worked with aging populations in the local community.”

As an aspiring primary care physician or geriatrician, Chien says she chose to study health policy and management to gain a more holistic view of the administrative side of the healthcare system. Before tackling medical school, she is considering gaining hands-on experience through healthcare consulting.

Jack Cordes is a junior working toward a double major in environmental health sciences and geography.

Jack Cordes

“The BSPH degree has been the perfect way for me to study and research human-environment interaction and its effects on human health,” Cordes shared. “I really enjoy the diversity of the field and its practical applications to prevent disease by improving water, air and soil quality.”

Cordes, who is originally from Lincolnshire, Ill., is most interested in exposure assessment and plans to study spatial epidemiology in graduate school. Ultimately, he would like to work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzing disease outbreak and diffusion.

Yongkyum Kim is a junior pursuing a nutrition major.

Yongkyum Kim

“Nutrition combines my interests in chemistry, biology and public health,” Kim said. “What keeps me coming back every day, though, are the amazing students and faculty I get to work with on groundbreaking research.”

Kim is currently working on an honors thesis about the gut microbiome and hopes to continue his education at medical school.

Andrea Lane is a senior studying biostatistics and music.

Andrea Lane

“There aren’t many BSPH programs in biostatistics, so studying at the Gillings School is a rare opportunity,” said Lane. “This exposure to coursework and research in biostatistics has allowed me to solidify my career goals early in my studies. All my professors have conveyed a passion for both statistics and public health, and they’ve encourage me to continue pursuing this exciting field.”

Upon graduation in May 2016, Lane hopes to enter a doctoral program in biostatistics and investigate novel statistical methods and relevant public health applications.

Claudia Meyer is a junior working toward an environmental health sciences major and chemistry and biology minors.

“There aren’t many schools that have undergraduate public health programs,” Meyer shared. “Here at Gillings, the unique curricula, engaged faculty and the ability to take courses alongside graduate students have made me a more engaged student and encouraged me to challenge myself academically every day.”

Meyer, who is from Raleigh, N.C., hopes to continue studying occupational health and medicine in medical school after graduation.

Harish Pudukodu is a junior pursuing a double major in environmental health biology and biology, with a chemistry minor.

Harish Pudukodu

“The program in environmental health sciences has broadened my understanding of fundamental scientific principles by grounding them in critical issues regarding human health,” Pudukodu said. “So far in my time at Gillings, I have met incredibly gifted students and accomplished faculty who have opened my eyes to fascinating fields; these individuals have inspired me to ask important public health questions and seek answers through creative means.”

Pudukodu plans to attend medical school and gain a deeper understanding of key pathologies to propel him into a career of neurotoxicology. He hopes to eventually investige the effects of common toxicants on the human nervous system and use that knowledge to support his work in a clinical practice.

Lane Polk is a senior studying health policy and management.

Lane Polk

“This program has truly addressed the complexity of the healthcare industry by offering a wide range of academic courses,” explained Polk. “I’ve learned about healthcare information technology, healthcare finance, strategic planning and marketing. Another great aspect of the department is the camaraderie of my cohort – many of us have become lifelong friends.”

After graduation, Polk plans to either find a job in healthcare consulting or continue his education in medical school.

Ryan Visser is a junior working toward a major in environmental health sciences and a minor in chemistry.

Visser is from Wilmington, N.C.

Zimeng (Parker) Xie is a senior pursuing a double major in biostatistics and mathematics.

Zimeng (Parker) Xie

“The BSPH program in biostatistics, with its rigorous quantitative courses and wide-ranging public health courses, has given me a well-rounded preparation for graduate studies,” said Xie. “It’s also been nice to be part of a small program, because students are very likely to know each other and to get individualized advising from great professors.”

Xie plans to stay at the Gillings School after graduation to pursue a doctoral degree in biostatistics.