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Student Spotlight: Emma Duff '19

Current Role: Population Health Planning and Improvement Coordinator, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD), Virginia Department of Health
Location: Roanoke, Virginia 

Emma's Journey

After graduating from Roanoke College and completing two semesters of research at the Center for Community Health Innovation, Emma knew she wanted to improve community health in some way. She began her career in Clinical Project Management under the Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, supporting international clinical trials and observational studies in Germany, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and the Republic of Georgia. Much of Emma’s early career was dedicated to the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) - a longitudinal study that enrolled individuals living with and without HIV across sub-Saharan Africa, leading to unparallelled characterization of the HIV epidemic in the African context. This experience deepened Emma’s understanding of how access to care, geography, culture, and clinical practices shape health outcomes. After four years in international clinical research, Emma felt called to become a changemaker in her home community and returned to Roanoke, VA. Her community connections and mentors from her time at the Center for Community Health Innovation led Emma to her current role as Population Health Planning and Improvement Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Health.  

Impact of the Center

“My time at the Center gave me a front-row seat to projects Melrose Plaza and the Invest Health initiative. Seeing the dedication and long-term investment required to create lasting change inspired me to pursue a career in public and community health. I also learned that data is powerful—but even more important is the story it tells about the people behind it.”

Advice to Students

“Take full advantage of the opportunities available through the Center and Roanoke College. Be curious, absorb everything you can, and seek out experiences that challenge and inspire you. Let your brain be a sponge—you never know where it might lead you.”