My public health journey began by coaching Special Olympics swimmers in Denver, an experience that gave me an early understanding of what preventive care can accomplish. Watching athletes manage chronic diseases through community-level interventions taught me about the connection between community infrastructure and health.
This realization guided my subsequent public health experiences, which included health equity program evaluation, NIH-funded trauma research, congressional health policy, and direct clinical care. A defining experience at Yale School of Public Health was being selected as a Leadership in Global Health Fellow, which led me to UNICEF’s regional office in Amman, Jordan. There, I analyzed community health systems, contributed to maternal health reports, and presented at a World Health Organization intercountry meeting.
This work directly informed my decision to pursue a Fulbright grant to Hungary, where I became the first Yale-sponsored student recipient of a Hungarian Fulbright. Working with faculty at Semmelweis University, I will study the védőnő program, a unique Hungarian community health initiative for mothers and children, and how it is adapting to digital health innovations. I will share my findings with policymakers and practitioners in Hungary and the U.S.
After my year as a Fulbright Scholar, I plan to pursue a medical degree with the goal of practicing as a physician at the intersection of clinical care and global health policy. I am grateful to YSPH for the experiences that made this path possible and look forward to building on that foundation.