Doussou Torre

Global Health '27

October 26, 2026

Why did you choose Rollins? And why did you decide to study Global Health with an MCH Certificate?

I chose Rollins for its welcoming community; everyone in the school is willing to support and help wherever you need, and there is an empowering energy that pushes students to strive to be their best selves as students and future public health professionals. Global health and MCH have always been a passion of mine. As a first-generation Guinean-American raised by Black mothers, I wanted to prioritize giving back to the community that helped me flourish. Attending Rollins gave me access to the resources, faculty, and programming to support my goals.

What experiences did you bring with you to Rollins?

I did some public health work during my undergraduate years here at Emory. I had mentors who introduced me to public health research and pushed me to broaden my understanding of the field. I worked with organizations such as the Carter Center and the CDC, where I further honed my interests and expanded my research and applied practice skills.  I also learned to incorporate creativity and narrative into my research and work, showing that art and research are not mutually exclusive and can work hand in hand to positively impact communities.

Could you tell us about your Practicum experience? What did you do, and how has it contributed to your experience at Rollins so far? 

My practicum experience is on the Sister Well Project, which focuses on doula well-being and integration within clinical settings. My specific project focuses on finding creative, community-centered ways to disseminate research on doula well-being. So far, this experience has been very rewarding: with the help of the MCH Hogue Hargraves grant, I’ve heard and learned from doulas’ experiences, and I’ve been able to use the creative side of my brain to make sure the research feels empowering and collaborative rather than extractive. The experience has deepened my knowledge and made my Rollins experience more encompassing.

What are you doing for your thesis?

I will be doing my thesis on another aspect of the Sister Well Project, but I will be focused on how doulas interpret how they impact the mental health of their clients. I will conduct a thematic analysis of focus group data to review doula perspectives and understand how doulas support mothers mentally throughout their pregnancies.

What do you hope to do after graduating from Rollins? 

I hope to pursue my PhD in implementation science with a primary focus on global Black maternal health. Specifically, I want to position myself for both a career in academia focused on maternal health and work as a global research consultant on maternal health programming and interventions.

What do you enjoy doing most outside of public health? 

The two things I enjoy most outside of public health are writing and performing my poetry and planning community-centered meals with friends and family.