University of Pennsylvania Masters of Public Health

My reflections from the Penn MPH program leave me with a sense of gratitude and appreciation. Following graduation in 2020, my public health career helped me flourish professionally. As a former researcher at the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, I became well-versed in research methods, scientific writing, implementation science, and cancer research. As an epidemiologist at the New Jersey Department of Health, I found innovative ways to put my public health and bioethics master’s degrees into action. I served dual roles as an infectious disease researcher and health educator. One of my health education projects included publishing as the lead author and illustrator of the public health children’s book “Eddie Goes to Daycare.” This book teaches young children about germs and staying healthy through interactive storytelling, a Find Gus the Germ activity, and a handwashing sing-along. “Eddie Goes to Daycare” is available in English and Spanish and as an e-book available on YouTube Kids. The e-book received the Health Education Technology Innovation Award at the 2025 National Society for Public Health Education conference. I also launched a public health education program in collaboration with local health departments and colleagues, where I utilized the print book and e-book as interactive learning tools for young children. My public health journey continues as a DrPH student at The George Washington University. For the next generation of MPH students, my recommendations are to keep pushing forward, learn from your challenges and failures, listen to your gut, and surround yourself with support and sincerity.

A first-generation, queer and non-binary student, I have become a strong advocate for the HIV community in Philadelphia through my work with the Penn Center for AIDS Research Community Advisory Board. During my time at Penn, I served on the boards of the Penn Public Health Society, the Global Health Society, and Service Corps, and worked as a Graduate Assistant at CHOP’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention. I took first place in the Healthcare Barriers Hackathon in 2023, hosted by Sidney Kimmel Medical College, and awarded the Shiriki Kumanyika Award for Public Health Leadership at my program commencement in 2023. I am currently a Research Program Coordinator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, managing several neurosurgery clinical device trials aimed at improving health outcomes following interhospital transfers of patients experiencing neuro-emergencies, and am also a NextGen Emerging Leaders Fellow through NMAC (formerly known as the National Minority AIDS Coalition). I have just been awarded the Fulbright ETA Taiwan award for the 2024-2025 school year, where I will be teaching English to students in Taiwan to help reach the country’s goal to become a bilingual nation by 2030. Upon returning to the U.S., I plan to pursue a PhD degree in Epidemiology where I focus on the intersection of social determinants of health and infectious diseases, and build a career in academia.