C19C Student Feature: Birjis Khan

The COVID-19 Committee (C19C) is a student-led committee that recruits and connects OUHSC students to COVID-19 projects and initiatives happening on campus. The C19C also recognizes student involvement in the fight to end the pandemic.

Birjis Khan, a Master of Health Administration and Policy candidate, served as a volunteer and member of the workforce. As a Clinical Research Coordinator, she conducted FDA clinical trials phases II through IV. This role was deemed essential due to the nature of its work - clinical trials allowed for the passage of the vaccine as well as IV antibody treatments and the like. Birjis performed trials for Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, and Amgen and interned with the Oklahoma Public Health Training Center to develop a Hazard Communication Protocol that provided preparedness training and emergency response guidance to the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, an underserved and vulnerable part of our population. This role entailed working with the emergency management team and following FEMA guidelines in addition to assisting with the preparation of a Pandemic Response Plan. Additionally, when the initial vaccine rollout began, Birjis would help patients schedule their vaccine appointments as well as scheduled tests for those that needed it once testing centers were established. Finally, she volunteered with OSIIS as a data processor and ensured population immunization data was recorded and reaching the state.

If you are a student who has been (or is) involved in the fight to end the pandemic, please connect with the C19C at https://bit.ly/3sFuR8z to have your contributions recognized.