Internship Capstone

Role: Public Health Intern, Illinois Public Health Association
Focus: Epidemiological analysis · data storytelling · prevention strategies

The challenge. The Firearm Safe Storage Strategies grant needed a clearer, more compelling way to present firearm-injury data across Illinois — one that could move stakeholders toward prevention and strengthen the case for continued funding.

What I did. I conducted a multi-county epidemiological analysis of firearm suicide trends across six counties using tools such as Excel, producing reproducible findings. Beyond the analysis, I re-framed the data around a prevention-focused suicide narrative — a shift that became central to how the program positioned itself. I then translated the findings into drafting community-facing formats: one-pagers, brochure templates, and infographics designed for local health departments and regions to download and share.

The outcome. The re-framed narrative helped secure CDC recognition and a multi-year funding extension. The work informed an IDPH- and CDC-approved Firearm Safety Digital Toolkit, now publicly available on HelpGuideThrive.org, and supported a partnership with the Illinois State Police. My research and drafted deliverables were adapted into the published toolkit.

Why it matters. This project shows the full range of what I do: rigorous analysis, a narrative insight that changed program direction, and translation of complex data into formats that drive real-world adoption and funding.

Interactive Tableau data story on housing affordability across Northampton County, PA — mapping rent burden (GRAPI 30%+) by ZIP code and tracing how median salary, gross rent, and rent burden have diverged since 2019, with a county-level look at the link to homelessness. Built from U.S. Census ACS and PA PIT data (2019–2024). Demonstrates multi-question analytical storytelling, geospatial and time-series analysis, and transparent methodology.

Interactive dashboard tracking SNAP participation across Northampton County, PA ZIP codes (2020–2024), with benchmarks against U.S., state, and county averages so users can spot neighborhood-level disparities in food assistance access. Built from U.S. Census ACS estimates. Demonstrates geographic analysis, time-series visualization, and interactive dashboard design.

Choropleth map built in R showing county-level MMR vaccination coverage across Pennsylvania, highlighting communities below the ~95% threshold for measles herd immunity. Built from CORI and CDC data (2025–2026). Demonstrates geospatial analysis, R programming, and epidemiological data storytelling.

Bar chart comparing diabetes crude mortality rates across Missouri counties against state and national benchmarks, surfacing counties running several times above the norm (Atchison, 151.9; Phelps, 93.2) alongside the state mean (39.8). Built in Google Sheets from CDC WONDER data (2018–2023). Demonstrates benchmark comparison and public health data storytelling.

County-level choropleth of diabetes crude mortality rates across Missouri, showing the geographic pattern behind the disparities. Built in Datawrapper from CDC WONDER data (2018–2023), with suppressed and statistically unreliable values clearly flagged. Demonstrates geospatial analysis and transparent data-quality handling.

Animated bar-chart race showing population shifts across Missouri counties from 2012–2023, with bars reordering year by year to reveal growth and decline trends. Built in Flourish from CDC WONDER Census estimates. Demonstrates animated visualization and time-series storytelling.