Answering the Call

Regis public health students step up to help trace COVID-19 in Massachusetts

When Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker called on local public health college students to assist the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in tracing COVID-19 cases to help contain the virus spread, 40 Regis College students were among those who quickly volunteered. The global pandemic and the partnership—a first-of-its-kind in the nation, according to the governor—provide an unexpected opportunity to learn and serve.

When public health major Markina Ako-Brew ’21 heard about the opportunity to volunteer for the COVID-Regis initiative from a professor during class, she at first wondered if she was qualified. But once she signed up she felt a sense of relief and excitement. 

“COVID-19 is something that is going to change our world and I was excited to help the public health department to contain the spread of it,” says Ako-Brew, who has completed rigorous training and is now helping trace the spread of coronavirus cases. She is serving on the Academic Public Health Volunteer Corps (Volunteer Corps), an initiative of approximately 1,800 public health students and professionals who have volunteered to help “flatten the curve” by partnering with local health departments across Massachusetts. 

Ako-Brew—who knows people with COVID-19 and one person who passed away from it—was eager to put her preventive skills to work in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. “This virus has impacted so many people so far and I wanted to help out in some way. Right now, this is the way I can do that.”  

Read more about how Ako-Brew and other Regis students helped in the fight against COVID-19.