I am pursuing a Doctorate in International Health because I believe it is the next important step in my career in public health research. I have a passion for research, I enjoy disease detective work, and I think there are still many important unsolved public health problems. I have been working at the Centers for Disease Control for 7 years, and my experiences have provided practical application of public health research conducted in often challenging and under-resourced settings. My recent epidemiological surveillance work, in particular, has solidified my interest in international health and infectious disease epidemiology. I am applying to the doctoral program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health because the strong research and international health curriculum, coupled with the active affiliation of world-renowned institutes and public health agencies will provide me with the best foundation to develop as a scholar of public health. Additionally, the Global Epidemiology and Disease Control program will allow me to combine my interest in international health with a focus on epidemiology. Given my interests and career goals, I want my doctoral training to have the benefit of the broad curriculum offered at Hopkins, but also the opportunity to work with top researchers in international health. I have already had the privilege of working with Hopkins scholars around the world – in Moçambique and nationally on both a surveillance project and an outbreak investigation. Their excellent work in the field of public health and continued enthusiasm for their alma mater has shown me that Hopkins has exactly what I need to succeed in the next phase of... middle of paper... lab chief on whose laboratory did not have a working refrigerator or telephone, and an epidemiologist who did not have a working computer and instead calculated the progress of the disease with pencil and paper. These challenges, while often overwhelming, have left me with a deep desire to improve public health. My overall research experience, education, and commitment to advancing healthcare standards among the underprivileged, combined with a deep desire to learn, make me an excellent doctoral candidate from Johns Hopkins University. plan. I am confident that I will receive the training and experience necessary to be at the forefront of the field of epidemiology. There are important problems in public health today and I believe we can achieve extraordinary results in my lifetime. I thank the committee for considering my application.