C19C Student Feature: Michaela Khoussine

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.

Michaela Khoussine, an MPH candidate in epidemiology, contributed to collecting and analyzing wastewater samples at the Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE) lab which covered distinct areas throughout Oklahoma. By analyzing wastewater samples, they were able to detect specific COVID variants of concern and assess why some may be more prevalent than others depending on the sample location. Since people shed the virus in their waste prior to developing symptoms, wastewater data can allow for us to identify surges before they even occur. This surveillance technique is crucial for highlighting areas of concern in the community and halting the incidence of COVID cases.

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