The Office of Public Health Practice and Community Engagement is home to the Terrapin Think Tank - a student-led policy incubator that empowers undergraduate students to engage with the needs of their local community through health policy research, advocacy, and implementation. Learn more about the Terrapin Think Tank below.
About the Terrapin Think Tank
The Terrapin Think Tank (TTT) is the University of Maryland's first student-led think tank that seeks to develop innovative, community-driven policy solutions to health challenges facing Prince George's County community members. TTT hopes to be a mechanism through which students from the University of Maryland, faculty from the School of Public Health, and the Prince George's County Health Department can work together to improve the health of the local Prince George's community.
TTT was founded by Daniel Fong, '23 and Isha Yardi, '23 in the Fall of 2021 over a cup of bubble tea. During that conversation, they discussed their vision to create an opportunity for students at UMD to research and advocate for solutions to important health policy issues that improve community members' well-being across Prince George's County. Since its inception, TTT has been working directly with the Prince George's County Health Department to create, advance, and critically evaluate county-wide policy initiatives to promote the health of county residents.
Terrapin Think Tank Students
The Terrapin Think Tank recruits new fellows via a Student Initiated Course (STIC) to learn the basics of local policy advocacy and community-centered policy design each Spring Semester. If you're interested in joining, email us at sph-terrapinthinktank@umd.edu. Current and former students are listed below.
Ethan Adler (Co-Director) is a Neuroscience major graduating in May 2025, and a member of Terrapin Think Tank. He is interested in studying clinical and community-based public health research to enhance the effectiveness of clinical care and outreach methods. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, he is a volunteer EMT at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department, a research assistant in a Neuroscience laboratory in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, and a Broadcast and Production intern for Maryland Athletics.
Yiting Lin (Co-Director) is a Physiology & Neurobiology major and Public Policy minor graduating in Fall 2023. She is passionate about developing and evaluating community-centered health policies and programs. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, Yiting is president of Engineering World Health, president of The Every Child Project, and is a research assistant in a bioengineering lab.
Esohe Owie is a Public Health Science major and French Studies minor graduating in May 2025, and a fellow of Terrapin Think Tank. She is interested in conducting community-engaged public health research, evaluating the impact of current health policies on populations, and proposing community-based interventions. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, she is the vice president of marketing and technology in the Sister to Sister Program and an honors ambassador for the Honors College.
Roshni Pallavajjala is a Bioengineering major and Nanoscale Science minor graduating in May 2026 and a fellow of Terrapin Think Tank. Roshni is interested in developing innovative public health policies that will positively impact the community. Outside of TTT, she is an ambassador for the School of Engineering and a research assistant in a bioengineering lab.
Sophia Thompson is Public Health Science major graduating in May 2025 and a fellow of Terrapin Think Tank. She is passionate about community-based public health research and interventions that promote equitable access to healthcare. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, Sophia is a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee through the University Health Center, where she is a member of the Women’s and Sexual Health Subcommittee.
Isha Yardi (Co-Founder and Previous Co-Director) was a Public Health Science student who graduated in May 2023 and was one of the co-founders and co-directors of Terrapin Think Tank. Isha is interested in the development, advocacy, and evaluation of community-centered health policies and programs. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, Isha was the co-director for health and wellness in the Student Government Association, a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee through the University Health Center, and a research assistant in a social epidemiology lab in the School of Public Health.
Daniel Fong (Co-Founder and Previous Co-Director) was a double major in Neurobiology & Physiology and Health Science, Computer Science, & Public Health Policy who graduated in May 2023, and was one of the co-founders and co-directors of Terrapin Think Tank. Daniel is passionate about creating partnerships with governments, healthcare institutions, and community stakeholders as a means to create innovative community-focused public health interventions and policy. Outside of Terrapin Think Tank, Daniel was president of Public Health Beyond Borders, a co-founder of the COVID-19 vaccine health literacy campaign VaccineSafe, and a research assistant in a health policy and management group in the School of Public Health.
Jerry Yang (Associate Director) was a Neurobiology and Physiology major and Astronomy minor who graduated in May 2023, and an associate director of Terrapin Think Tank. Jerry was been involved in basic science and clinical research for many years and is interested in applying clinical and public health research to developing health policy. Outside of the research and TTT, Jerry was also involved as president of the American Red Cross Club, vice president of Public Health Beyond Borders, and a volunteer EMT at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department.
Terrapin Think Tank Projects
Each year, the Terrapin Think Tank grows new partnerships and initiated projects based on current student interests. In the 2022-2023 school year, the Terrapin Think Tank worked on four major projects.
- Community Health Workers - TTT worked with the Prince George's County Department of Health to create an implementation framework for staffing Community Health Workers and telehealth hubs in non-traditional settings. These settings include low-income housing complexes, the Department of Motor Vehicles offices, libraries, and community centers. Access the white paper presented to the Department of Health here.
- Transportation Equity - Transportation is one of the greatest social determinants of health affecting people's ability to access healthcare. To address this challenge, TTT is advocating for the development of affordable transportation infrastructure that connects medical centers and clinics to under-resourced communities around the county. The fellows are currently meeting with FQHC and transportation leadership to identify possible solutions.
- Health Communications - The TTT is working with the Prince George's County Department of Health to identify ways in which health departments can leverage social media to improve health information dissemination. The fellows presented a white paper to the Prince George's County Department of Health and are currently working to create a communications workforce pipeline with the health department, starting with a Fall intern.
- Health Equity Champions - The TTT was invited by the Prince George's County Healthcare Action Coalition to assist in developing the curriculum to teach Prince George's County residents about the principles of health equity. The fellows have prepared modules and activities as well as facilitators guides and powerpoint presentations to be utilized in the future trainings.