Shaun Ajinkya is our 2013 Outstanding Young Alum for the Department of Epidemiology

Shaun AjinkyaShaun Ajinkya is our 2013 Outstanding Young Alum for the Department of Epidemiology. He was born and raised in Gainesville, FL. He is a two-time Gator having received his B.Sc in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida in 2009 and his MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology from UF in 2011. At graduation, he also was awarded the Outstanding Epidemiology Student. During his time in the MPH program, he helped manage a project regarding oral HPV in college-aged women for Epidemiology faculty member Dr. Robert Cook and participated in several outreach events regarding health education.

Immediately after graduating, in 2011, he began working for Founding Chair Dr. Linda Cottler as a statistical data analyst. He assisted in the analysis and publication of research regarding drug use in Afghanistan, substance abuse in medical professionals, and community perceptions of medical research at several sites, a position he kept until he left for medical school in 2012.

Shaun is currently a medical student at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando and is anticipated to graduate in 2016. He feels that the education he received in the department has been invaluable, and continues to participate in research with the Cottler group, research at UCF and community outreach.

For more on this award and Shaun Ajinkya visit http://phhp.ufl.edu/2013/11/13/phhp-recognizes-outstanding-graduates/