Initially, epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina only expected her daily email updates to be sent for six weeks during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, her newsletter, Your Local Epidemiologist, has now become a valuable source of information for over 230,000 people in 100 countries.
Jetelina’s newsletters began as informal emails with basic Excel graphs aimed at explaining the new virus to a concerned audience. As the pandemic progressed, her newsletters evolved to cover a wider range of public health topics such as mental health and gun violence. It is evident that Jetelina is passionate about teaching and educating the public on the complexities of public health through her newsletters.
Now working as a scientific-communications consultant for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Jetelina is expanding her reach beyond her newsletter. She has raised funds to start a nonprofit that will support and amplify the work of other scientists who are dedicated to public education. Jetelina believes that visibility is crucial for the field of public health, as its successes are often unseen.
Jetelina’s dedication to educating the public about public health issues has made her a respected figure in the field. Her efforts continue to provide valuable information to a global audience, showcasing the importance of clear and accessible health communication.
As an epidemiologist, Katelyn Jetelina recognized early on that there was a need for clear communication around COVID-19. Her initial thought was that it would only be necessary for six weeks, but four years later, she has built an audience of over 230,000 people from around the world with her free newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist.
Initially, Jetelina’s newsletters were simple emails with basic graphs aimed at helping people understand COVID-19 better. But as time passed and more information became available about other aspects of public health such as mental health and gun violence, she began covering these topics too.
It is evident from reading Jetelina’s newsletters that she is passionate about teaching others about complex public health issues in an accessible way. Her dedication has made her respected among colleagues in the field.
Nowadays, Jetelina works as a scientific-communications consultant at CDC where she continues to expand her reach beyond just writing newsletters.
She has started raising funds for a nonprofit organization called “Amplify Public Health,” which supports other scientists who share their passion for educating people about various aspects of public health.
Jetelina believes that visibility plays a crucial role in ensuring success in this field because many important achievements go unnoticed without proper exposure.
Through all these efforts and accomplishments, Katelyn Jetelina has established herself as one of leading voices in public health education globally.