There’s power in conversations. Just ask Gabe Argueta. The Georgia State University School of Public Health graduate used the connections he developed to find an internship and fulfilling career, and now he’s using what he’s learned to help current students.
Today, Argueta is a Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance Epidemiologist at the Georgia Department of Public Health, completing a circle that began in a bachelor’s-level epidemiology course and that led to a Master of Public Health from Georgia State.
Making his own path
Although Argueta began his undergraduate degree studies as a business major, he took several health-related courses, including kinesiology and family health. While taking these classes, Argueta pondered his interests and potential pathways, and he signed up for that epidemiology course that changed his career outlook.
“Those professors really kind of pushed the narrative of public health and community health outcomes instead of specific individuals’ health,” he said. “I think that got me hooked. At that point, I just started jumping into as many public health courses that I could possibly get my hands on.”
Outside of the classroom, Argueta spoke with friends and neighbors about his passion, and one of them referred him to an internship position he applied for and received with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When Argueta finished his bachelor’s degree program at Kennesaw State, he entered the workforce right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He also noticed the large number of workers with an MPH, and Argueta wanted to elevate his resume.
“I really wanted to kind of stick out of the crowd, and my CDC supervisor at the time had previously attended Georgia State University,” he said. “They spoke extremely highly about it, recommended I apply, and the rest is history.”
Argueta began studies in the graduate certificate program, but he enjoyed the courses and the professors enough to shift to the full MPH program shortly thereafter.
Argueta completed several impactful courses. In Assistant Professor Karen Nielsen’s section of biostatistics, he learned about statistical software and began understanding its use within epidemiology. Professor Monica Swahn’s global health course created opportunities to build “invaluable” connections with his peers.
Argueta credits Clinical Associate Professor Colin Smith for lighting the public health fire in him. Smith also nurtured that fire, introducing Argueta to networking and public health informational opportunities through the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the American Public Health Association. During Argueta’s time as a student, he was able to secure a position with the Georgia DPH in its Occupational Health Surveillance Section. He completed his applied practice experience with the CDC, working with the Division of Overdose Prevention’s cannabis strategy unit.
In Argueta’s current role, he completes epidemiological investigations and surveillance for VPDs, including whooping cough and mumps. He also assists in interviews with health care providers and patients and recommends appropriate prevention and control measures, closely working with district and county health colleagues and jurisdictions.
Argueta said his career is exciting and fulfilling, and he looks forward to where it will take him.
“I just feel like I’m just continuing to take steps to grow in my career,” he said. “And while I don’t have a specific goal in mind at this time, my plan is to continue to gain knowledge and experience as I go down my path.”
A passion for future students
An Alumni Board member of the School of Public Health, Argueta is passionate about advancing student opportunities and promoting awareness of those initiatives. Argueta also emphasized the importance of conversations and community, two important values of public health students and professionals.
“I literally was just talking about public health in an open setting, and I just managed to make a connection through that,” Argueta said. “Public health is a community, and I think it’s one that continues to grow stronger through these areas of collaboration.”
And as vast as that community is, Argueta encourages students to explore the more boundless ideas the field offers.
“Public health is not confined to a single discipline; I truly believe it is interdisciplinary,” Argueta said. “Public health really thrives at the intersections of diverse areas within subjects like epidemiology, informatics, health equity, policy and countless others. I think the most impactful aspects of public health come from the willingness to draw insights and methods from multiple areas to create solutions for complex health challenges.”