Making Sense of COVID-19 Data (On-demand webinar)

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on September 30, 2020.

Training Overview
Public health data are often imperfect, which means we have to rely on multiple data streams to get a clearer picture of the present situation. Proper understanding of data with context is the antidote to disinformation. In this webinar, we’ll go through how to find and evaluate data, identifying the merits and challenges of different data sets, to make sure we have the right data to answer our questions.

The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard.

This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu.

About the Trainer
Amber Schmidtke, PhD

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Amber Schmidtke recognized there was a large gap between the way that scientists communicate and how non-scientists receive information. She has combined her roles as a public health microbiologist and college educator to provide meaningful analysis and explanation of disease trends to the public through a popular newsletter and podcast. As a result of these communication efforts she was invited to serve as a member of the Georgia COVID-19 Data State Task Force, advising government agencies on how to package their complex data to meet the needs of the public. In addition, she is a trusted resource for multiple local governments and news media outlets. Dr. Schmidtke holds a Ph.D. in medical microbiology and immunology from Creighton University.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.