Professional philosophy 

Empathy is my core value. It’s like I have a built-in, multi-dimensional perspective of people and places around them. This allows me to think more deeply about complex issues and solutions in public health. The disparities I see in breastfeeding, healthy birth outcomes, and child obesity trouble me and call me to action. I see nutrition as a particular point for intervention because it is a critical indicator of health and development. Better nutrition improves maternal, infant, and child health and supports a safer pregnancy and childbirth, but this isn’t equitable across all people based on geographical location, gender/sexual identity, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. At my core, I care for people and empathize with their struggles which drives me to action to improve health outcomes for all women and children.

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I am committed to taking a comprehensive approach to women’s health, public health, and nutrition by drawing from the behavioral, social, and clinical science fields. Through my summer internship experience at the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, I collaborated with municipal government officials, school district representatives, hospital care workers, community members, parks and recreation staff, and transportation officials to evaluate how built environments facilitated active living and healthy eating in rural, under-resourced settings. This experience is empathy in action; showcasing my ability to think more deeply about how the built environment in which people are placed impacts their choices, behaviors, and attitudes.

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In my future career, I’d love to take this knowledge to design a population-based program, policy, or intervention that reduces disparities in the field of nutrition and women’s health. To do this, I am tailored my MPH to include courses in behavioral, social, and clinical science fields. In addition, I plan to further develop skills in health education and communication that will aid me in helping diverse populations through leadership roles. These steps allow me to uplift and empower others to enact sustainable change.