Back to Success Stories - Keeping the Faith: Jaylin’s Commitment to Public Health

Jaylin began his journey at the CDC in 2017 as a Summer ORISE fellow while majoring in public health at Georgia Southern University. He joined the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP), where he gained valuable qualitative research experience studying how hypertension affects African American men and the barriers many face in accessing preventative care and health services. What started as a fellowship opportunity to gain experience quickly became a calling for serving communities through public health. In March 2020, he became a full-time ORISE fellow supporting DHDSP where he continued his research with studying the impacts of hypertension in African American men.  

In December 2020, he was deployed to the COVID-19 response for the State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Task Force, where he worked closely with tribes and tribal organizations to identify the needs of their communities and connect them with critical resources during the pandemic. Although it was his first time working directly with tribal communities, the experience left a lasting impact on him. “That was the first time I felt like I was directly touching the lives of the people we were working with,” Jaylin shared. “It made me feel like I was doing the right thing and fulfilling my mission of being a public health advocate.” It remains one of his proudest moments during his time at CDC.

As the pandemic evolved, so did Jaylin’s responsibilities. In 2021, he joined CDC-INFO to help launch the national COVID-19 vaccination assistance hotline, ensuring the public and healthcare providers had accurate, up-to-date guidance during a rapidly changing public health emergency. He later transitioned to the COVID-19 response Associate Director of Science Office, where he helped prepare and disseminate reports to the public and other audiences by coordinating reviews, edits, and approvals with report authors. In December 2022, he joined the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report as a health communication specialist, translating complex scientific findings into clear, accessible information for the public. He also supported the editor-in-chief as an executive assistant, coordinating meetings, preparing agendas, and assisting with reviews of high-priority reports related to COVID-19 and mpox. Through each role, Jaylin remained deeply committed to making public health information accessible and meaningful for communities across the country.

Despite years of dedicated service, Jaylin’s career was disrupted during the government shutdown that began in October. As a contractor, he faced financial uncertainty when back pay protections were unavailable, forcing him to use more than 100 hours of paid time off just to stay afloat. Once his leave was exhausted, he had no choice but to file for unemployment. The experience was emotionally devastating. “I was afraid that I would have to play catch-up on bills if I fell behind on them, and it put me in a really bad mental state,” he explained. “I had always been able to provide for myself, and suddenly I began to face a possible reality that I may not be able to.”

During that difficult time, Jaylin learned about the CDC Mutual Aid Fund and applied for support, though he did not expect to receive assistance. The funds ultimately helped him avoid falling behind on bills and regain a sense of stability. But beyond the financial relief, the support carried a much deeper emotional impact. “It gave me reassurance that I’m still part of CDC and that I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he said. Receiving support from the fund restored hope during one of the most uncertain moments of his career and reinforced his desire to continue serving in public health. “It gave me hope to keep trying and not give up on my dream of becoming a full-time employee with CDC,” he shared. 

Now nearly nine years into his journey toward becoming a full-time CDC employee, Jaylin continues to hold onto that dream with determination, faith, and an unwavering commitment to public health. Despite the challenges facing the field in recent years, he still believes deeply in the mission and the community behind the work. For Jaylin, the support he received was more than financial assistance, it was a powerful reminder that compassion, service, and hope still exist within the public health community and that people truly care about one another. He hopes others facing setbacks will remember that persistence matters, even when the road feels long and uncertain. “Just don’t give up,” he said. “Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t give up on trying. Know that there are people out there that care and that it won’t always be this way.” Through every challenge, Jaylin remains hopeful that his journey is leading him exactly where he is meant to be.