Megan Halbrook ('07)

Dec 12, 2020 | Christian Fulghum
Halbrook

From Journalism to Epidemiology

Megan Halbrook is an infectious disease epidemiologist and current PhD candidate at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Her website states that she is “interested in infectious disease dynamics, anthropogenic factors in disease emergence, outbreak response and understanding emerging (and re-emerging) infectious threats in a complex and interconnected environment.”

Overlake is fortunate to have Megan serve as the school’s infectious disease epidemiologist, acting in an advisory role along with fellow Owl alum Dr. Samantha Hillyer (’00), to help the school navigate the COVID-19 crisis using the best science and public health data and practices to keep everyone in The Overlake School community safe.

In a phone conversation earlier this year, I am struck by how much her voice is like that of her mother Lisa Orenstein, a beloved member of the faculty since 1992. Though both of her parents are scientists, Megan recalls that she wasn’t particularly drawn to that profession, nor was she encouraged to be a scientist. “I wanted to be a journalist, and that’s what I pursued after high school initially.”

Megan received her BA from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and worked at the McGill Center for Convergence of Health and Economics as a research assistant. Gradually her interest turned towards public health, and in 2016 she received her Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University.

She worked as an epidemiologist for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and has done field work in the Democratic Republic of Congo where she got to witness firsthand how a lack of infrastructure can limit the reach of needed vaccines to people in remote areas: “Without proper refrigeration along the entire supply chain, distribution of certain vaccines is impossible. This means where you live determines your quality of life, and indeed, whether you live.”

As Megan works to complete her PhD at UCLA, she finds coming full circle back to scientific research and Overlake a natural progression. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to follow my journalistic interests, and I’m not surprised to find my path has led me to the work I am doing now.” Like so many Owls, Megan has found being of service to others through her work to be rewarding and meaningful.

Thank you, Megan, from all of us in the Overlake community for your invaluable help this year keeping us safe!

 

  • Christian Fulghum (’77)