Class of 2026: Emily Gaskill finds public health services research to be a rewarding pursuit
Name: Emily Gaskill
Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey
Major: Public health
College: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Why she became a Hokie: “Virginia Tech was always on my radar as a school, and I ended up picking here, ultimately, because I wanted to be in the mountains, I had friends and family in the area, and I liked public health. Not a lot of schools offer it as an undergrad major, so that was really exciting for me.”
Plans after graduation: Finishing up her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree she is already working toward in a dual-degree program, with an eye toward another Virginia Tech commencement in May 2027.
Phi Kappa Phi Medallion
Emily Gaskill is the recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Medallion, awarded for having the highest grade point average among students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH).
“I was very surprised when I found out,” Gaskill said of the honor. “I did not know that I was going to be the top graduating senior. I've always just tried to do my best in my classes. I find that taking coursework that you're interested in makes it a lot easier to do well in it. And I think Virginia Tech offers so many different types of courses that I've been able to kind of customize my education to do things that I like, so that it doesn't feel as much like a like a burden.”
Health services researcher
“My primary interest is health services research -- behavioral and substance use health services research,” Gaskill said.
Gaskill's research focuses on harm reduction and how substance use disorders, HIV, hepatitis C, and mental health conditions often occur together and reinforce one another. She is particularly interested in integrated care models and drug policy reform as tools for expanding access to treatment among underserved populations.
Gaskill said she entered college knowing her interests but not knowing if she wanted to delve into research. Virginia Tech’s heavy focus on research and multiple opportunities to engage and collaborate on her topics of interest eventually led her down the path of enjoying and pursuing research.
“I know that I love research,” Gaskiill said. “I've been involved in several research projects. I do research on substance use policy and contraceptive policy for women in jails, and I love that work. I love qualitative research, talking to people, talking to providers about how they provide their services.”
As a capacity building and education intern at HealthHIV in Washington, D.C., Gaskill helped draft grant proposals to public and private funders contributing to more than $1 million in secured funding. She also facilitated focus groups, moderated accredited continuing health education webinars, and developed on-demand learning modules for providers across the DMV region.
Engagement with faculty is key
At Virginia Tech, Gaskill has served as a research assistant in the Center for Public Health Practice and Research.
“Emily has used her real-world experiences to contribute to classroom discussions and produced top quality work,” said Sophie Wenzel, associate director of the Center for Public Health Practice and Research. “When she approached me about wanting some research experience with the center, I knew exactly the project I wanted her to work on. She is currently working on a team looking at policy implications of access to substance use treatment and contraceptives in jails. She has gone above and beyond with her literature review and has jumped in to assist other team members. I am grateful to have her expertise on my research team.”
Gaskill encourages younger students to engage with faculty.
“I think for undergrads that are coming in now who are concerned about doing well academically, you need to engage with your professors,” Gaskill said. “I know it's scary, especially in the big classes of hundreds, but there's more people not talking to the professors than there are people talking to them, and they want to talk to you, and that's how you're going to learn, not only what you like, but also what you need to do to succeed in the class.”
