- Hometown: Westmont, Illinois
- Specialization: Health Promotion
Why URI?
As an 18 year old growing up outside of the city of Chicago, I wanted to experience a new environment and be put outside of my comfort zone. I had traveled to Rhode Island before and fell in love with the beauty of it, so I definitely wanted to consider it as my undergraduate home. When choosing a school, I decided to go to URI because of the friendly community, variety of opportunities offered to students, and the possibilities available to me within the Health Studies program.
Why did you major in Health Studies?
When I chose to major in health studies, I didn’t realize how passionate I would become about the field. I always knew I wanted to go into health and possibly be a physician, therefore, I wanted to choose a major that wasn’t hard science but still very closely associated with health. When I started learning about the determinants of health, preventative medicine, and health promotion, I was pleasantly surprised at how much this major had to offer.
What do you consider to be the greatest strength of Health Studies?
The program’s multidisciplinary nature. The program requirements really allow students to choose their own adventure in terms of choosing classes, which was very helpful for me. In four years, I was able to take classes ranging from infectious disease to counseling to substance abuse, and they all counted towards the major. In addition, we have some of the most helpful and supportive professors in our program. Especially as a graduating senior, they have done so much for me in terms of writing letters of recommendation, preparing me for interviews, and proofreading personal statements and cover letters. Having them available as mentors really helps when making big decisions about next steps after graduation.
Did you complete an internship?
The summer after my sophomore year I was given the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua with a group of 14 other interns and work with the nonprofit organization Global Brigades. This opportunity allowed me to actively apply what I was learning in my core classes to a real life situation. I completed needs assessments and wrote technical reports that I later presented to the program coordinators. Traveling to a new country not only taught me cultural competence but also let me improve my Spanish as well.
Any advice for majors?
Use all of the resources available to you through the program and through URI. There are so many people that are available to help make you successful whether it be through advising, mentoring, or advocating for you. As far as picking the right classes to take, don’t be afraid to explore an area you aren’t familiar with. If it wasn’t for my choice to take an infectious disease class, I would have never been inspired to travel to Nicaragua.
What surprised you the most about URI?
The overwhelming sense of community here. At first, I was far from home and didn’t know any other students attending here. It wasn’t until I broke out of my shell and joined many clubs and activities that I was realized the number of networks I quickly became a part of and opportunities available to me.
What’s next?
In a couple of years, I will be applying to MD/MPH dual degree programs. Ultimately, my dream is to work with children in primary care. Directly after graduation, I hope to find a position that pushes me to work hard and learn new things. Since I have a lot of experience in clinical medicine, I hope to find a position focusing on elements of public health or research.
Date: May 2017