Advisor: Dr. Peter James | Program: SM | Concentration: Environmental Health Exposures
– Q & A –
What is your background/experience prior to entering the program?
Prior to entering this program, I completed my BS in Public Health at American University and my MPH in Health Policy and Management with a concentration in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. As part of my MPH program, I took various courses related to occupational health, and I developed a strong interest in the subject as a result.
Why/how did you become interested in Occupational Health?
I took my first Environmental Health course as an undergraduate public health student, and one section of the course focused on occupational health. I became very interested in work-related chemical and biological exposures, as well as the injustices that often surround these exposures. Because of my initial interest in occupational health during my undergraduate career, I also sought opportunities to learn more about it at the master’s level.
What is your current involvement in environmental health exposures?
I am currently working on a research study at Boston Children’s Hospital investigating the relationship between gut microbiota in children with OCD and tic disorder. Environmental exposures play a significant role in gut health and the microbiome, and I am looking forward to further exploring this connection from an environmental health perspective throughout the duration of my research.
What are your future career plans/goals?
I would like to work for a government agency, an international organization, or a large philanthropic organization that focuses on public health and safety at a global level, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I would like research to be involved in any career that I pursue.