Internship in Kenya enriches Global Health Epidemiology personal journey
Christopher Floyd, BS ’21, MPH ’24
Global Health Epidemiology
Christopher Floyd, BS ’21, MPH ’24, was well acquainted with the University of Michigan School of Public Health after he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Sciences in 2021.
It was that familiarity that allowed him to zero in on a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health Epidemiology.
A blend of personal and academic experiences has cemented Floyd’s commitment to public health. The untimely death of relatives in his hometown of Southfield, Michigan, sparked his early interest in the health field, laying the foundation for his career.
An eight-month internship in Kenya proved pivotal, offering practical exposure to global health issues and cultural immersion, further enriching his academic perspectives.
Floyd will graduate in May with a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health Epidemiology from Michigan Public Health. He was supported through the Office of Global Public Health as a Gelman Global Scholar and through the Natalie and Jack Blumenthal Internship and Mechthild Medzihradsky Global Internship funds.
Personal experiences spark public health drive
Several of Floyd’s relatives, including aunts, uncles and even his grandfather died from health complications in their mid-to-late 60s, which planted a seed in for his interest in health and healthcare.
“When I was growing up, I had a lot of family members who unfortunately died at a relatively young age,” Floyd said. “So, part of my motivation for entering the health field was to gain an understanding of why certain health events occur.
“My father is nearing 60 and considering other family members who passed away at what I consider a young age is unsettling. It raises concerns and difficult thoughts about life expectancy, which moved me toward a deeper exploration of health issues to perhaps influence change in that area.”
I didn’t even know what public health was before I started my undergraduate studies, but COVID-19 really put public health in the spotlight. Now, even my parents, who first thought I was studying medicine, appreciate the breadth and significance of public health.”
His undergraduate journey began with the intent of studying medicine but shifted toward public health after exposure to courses that highlighted the multidimensional nature of health and the influence of social determinants.
This passion for understanding health beyond the clinician-patient dynamic led him to pursue a graduate degree. Floyd’s appreciation for interdisciplinary studies resonated with epidemiology, where he values the scope ranging from infectious diseases to environmental impacts and systemic health issues such as food insecurity.
Being an undergraduate student during the COVID-19 pandemic solidified his newfound passion for public health.
“I didn’t even know what public health was before I started my undergraduate studies, but COVID-19 really put public health in the spotlight,” Floyd said. “Now, even my parents, who first thought I was studying medicine, appreciate the breadth and significance of public health.”
Interconnecting health’s social determinants
Learning about the social determinants of health, the conditions in environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age, and how they affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks, had a profound impact on Floyd.
“One of the most interesting parts about it was just realizing how interconnected everything is,” he said. “Learning about how one aspect of public health has direct or indirect effects on another system or institution is fascinating, especially when addressing issues such as food insecurity.”
The food system, for instance, is deeply tied to people’s living conditions and broader societal structures.
I appreciate epidemiology’s interdisciplinary nature, allowing exploration into various areas from infectious diseases to environmental health and beyond.”
“At Michigan Public Health, I learned to critically evaluate these intricate networks and appreciate the complexity of creating effective interventions,” Floyd said.
He saw firsthand the thoroughness involved in not just proposing solutions but in planning their sustainable implementation and the community impact. His experiences in classes, such as the class, challenged him to consider the full lifecycle of public health initiatives, from conception through to the long-term effects on the communities involved.
Floyd regards epidemiology as a cornerstone of the public health field—the discipline through which risks are assessed and health data is extrapolated. His intrigue in epidemiology stems from its analytical role in deciphering the relationships between activities such as smoking and health consequences such as cancer.
“I appreciate epidemiology’s interdisciplinary nature, allowing exploration into various areas from infectious diseases to environmental health and beyond,” said Floyd, whose current interest lies in how food insecurity impacts long-term health outcomes, reflecting the breadth that epidemiology encompasses.
Kenya internship shapes global health perspective
He chose Michigan Public Health for his graduate studies because of its strong Global Health Epidemiology program, which aligns with his interests in international health concerns.
His commitment to global health was further cemented by an opportunity to intern in Kenya, where he contributed to a project evaluating climate change risks. As a research intern with Eco2Librium, Floyd designed surveys to capture perceptions of climate impact among residents in western Kenya, exploring the relation between local weather patterns and issues of food and water security.
Spending eight-months in Kenya provided an experiential experience, grounding his academic knowledge in real-world contexts. The experience of living internationally for an extended period was more than just an academic or professional excursion for Floyd. It was a broadening life experience that deeply influenced his perspective.
“I really enjoyed my experience,” he said. “It was a fantastic opportunity to go to Kenya. I had never been to Kenya or the African continent. Immersing myself in a foreign country for eight months will always be something to look back on with fondness as I continue my career.”
Residing in Kakamega—a smaller city compared to Kenya’s bustling capital of Nairobi—Floyd experienced a different pace of life.
“It was definitely a very different experience to how everything is in the United States,” he said. “We very much have this obsession with productivity and getting things done at a certain time. Going to Kenya taught me that it’s OK to slow down, and everything doesn’t have to be so time constrained. Even just that small difference in culture was very impactful.
“I lived in the forest, and it was so quiet—it was peaceful and a lot colder than I expected because it was the rainy season. I also really liked the food.”
This international experience has not only expanded Floyd's professional capabilities. It has also altered his worldview and deepened his appreciation for cultural diversity. As he continues along his career path, Floyd will carry with him the lessons learned and the relationships forged during his transformative time in Kenya—a defining chapter in his journey through the world of public health.
I like to think that public health gives people the opportunity to live their life to the fullest extent.”
Charting pathways in public health
Having gained experience outside the classroom while earning two degrees from Michigan Public Health during a pandemic also had a profound effect on Floyd.
Along with several classmates, he went to Grenada as a member of the Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) in February. PHAST helped develop a voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation program. In collaboration with the Grenada Red Cross Society, the team completed eight key-informant interviews with stakeholders in education, health and disaster management as well as 77 surveys with local community members.
Floyd also was a research assistant for Abram Wagner, assistant professor of Epidemiology and Global Public Health, studying vaccination and mask-wearing behaviors in the United States.
Overall, he is open to what the future may hold, and he’s thankful he is well equipped for that journey because of his time at Michigan Public Health.
“I think public health is a good way to kind of ‘liberate people,’” Floyd said. “In the sense that when you are in a position where you’re worrying about if you’re going to have enough food or about hospital bills for you or your children or things like that, that can be very debilitating. It doesn’t allow you to live a fulfilling life; it doesn't allow you to really experience the world—you’re always in survival mode.
“I like to think that public health gives people the opportunity to live their life to the fullest extent.”
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