Global Health Institute

Tell us why you are interested in global health.

I find global health interesting because of its macro-level view of human health. While it is important to focus on the individual in medicine and health issues, it is just as crucial that we keep the big picture in mind. I especially find it fascinating that my contributions to research can affect the lives of so many people. It is not limited to a handful of individuals or to my geographic location. Of course, global health also comes with its own unique questions and problems—it is by no means simple. Rather it is a complex system that requires deep consideration and careful planning, but the work is extremely fulfilling and I welcome the challenge. 

 What are some global health events you have participated in on campus/in DC?

Last semester, I attended a talk given by Dr. Bruce Gellin of the Sabin Vaccine Institute on the topic of vaccines and the complex challenges surrounding vaccine development and distribution. Dr. Gellin’s talk gave a brief overview of the history of vaccines and some of the roadblocks to success in creating effective vaccines and ensuring distribution to populations in need. One of the most prominent concepts he discussed was the issue of slow vaccine development. Unfortunately, our normal timeline for vaccination development is extremely slow leading to a counterproductive cycle in which populations are ravaged by a disease while vaccine development can only occur at a stepwise pace. Thus, Dr. Gellin brought up the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), an organization that works to directly combat this issue of slow vaccine development. Interestingly, my current project as a Global Health Initiative fellow in the Bansal Lab is sponsored by CEPI and deals with vaccine stockpiling and readiness. Dr. Gellin’s talk gave an extremely candid view of the realities of scientific research that I think poses an important conversation about balancing timeliness and accuracy in research.

What activities are you involved with on campus?

Outside of classes and research, I am also part of Thirty Seventh GU, a student run fashion blog. I am enthusiastic about clothing, design, and the intersection of fashion and culture. I love learning about how garments are designed, constructed, and styled. I also find it very interesting how many of the fashion choices we make, though seemingly independent, are consequences of the influence of a few iconic designers. I suppose I also treat fashion as a type of non-verbal communication in that it is an important form of self-expression. Whether we are cognizant of it or not, what we wear says a lot about us and how we would like to be perceived by the world. But, at the end of the day, I think that it is most important to have fun with fashion and experiment with new ideas. Recently, I have become more mindful of the sustainability issues in the fashion industry and how large and small brands alike are trying to tackle these problems within their production and business practices. 

What is your favorite part about being at Georgetown?

My favorite aspect of Georgetown has been the people I have met. From professors who became my mentors, to the close friends I have met, I have truly been fortunate. What sticks out about these people is their deep interest in and dedication to their craft or field of research. Whatever it is, whether in the sciences, humanities, or beyond, they each invest endless energy and time to pursue their interests and go beyond the norm. They do things because they truly love it. At the same time, however, they remain grounded in the globally minded sphere that Georgetown has embedded itself in. They are driven to achieve lasting and practical solutions when problem solving. I think this is something especially important today, given the multitude of pressing issues we are faced with. We need problem solvers that employ pragmatic, results-based thinking rather than those who are largely aspirational. 

Tell us about your education and professional aspirations.

Currently, I hope to work at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and human health, whether in the public or private sector. With the rise of big data and machine learning techniques given our recent advances in computing power and hardware, there is plenty of promising work being conducted in utilizing cutting-edge machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to gather insights about disease diagnosis, personalized medicine, and epidemiology. I find it fascinating that the tools I learn about in the classroom can directly be applied to studying and solving real world problems, with the possibility of impacting thousands of lives. I am also considering pursuing a master’s degree in statistics or applied mathematics to garner additional skills and learn more about the most current research and techniques.