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As a graduate student in public health, I was excited to present my research on the carriage (the condition of harboring a pathogen within the body) of Streptococcus pneumoniae among children in daycare centers as part of the University's annual graduate student showcase. The experience was both exciting and nerve-wracking, as I had looked forward to being selected and having the opportunity to participate since my first year at the University.

The research was conducted during my internship at the , where I got the opportunity to work with great minds and professors on the SalivaDirect team, which was highly instrumental to my learning. The research entailed using saliva samples collected from healthy and asymptomatic children in daycare centers in the Greater New Haven area and analyzing the samples for the presence of S. pneumoniae.

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Patterns and trends observed in the analysis helped to draw conclusions about the prevalence of the bacterium among healthy children and how carriage rates are affected by social interaction with other children. As a dentist, I found that one of the things that excited me about the research was the use of saliva instead of the conventional nasal swabs, which provides a more comfortable, cost-effective, and scalable testing option.

As I celebrate my graduation, my heart is filled with so much gratitude. I'm thankful for all the knowledge I've gained over my time at the University of New Haven, my awesome professors, friends, lifetime relationships, and all associations I have been a part of. I have had so many memorable moments that I will not forget.

Damilola Egbewole ’23 MPH is a new graduate of the University’s Master of Public Health program.