Student Spotlight: Hannah Elwell
Tell us about your interest in global health.
What inspired you to participate in the Conversations in Global Health course?
While my academic pursuits at Georgetown as a major in Neurobiology have allowed me to dive with great depth into a scientific field about which I’m passionate, I’ve always aspired to be someone who is also able to contextualize niche knowledge into the “bigger picture.” As a senior, my desire to broaden my scope of knowledge within the health and technology sectors has only strengthened, and the Conversations in Global Health course has served as an excellent capstone to that endeavour. Learning about and engaging with the diversity of roles and backgrounds of prominent figures in these fields through this course has been truly inspiring and has helped me shape my own views on important global causes.
Tell us about other global health events you may have participated in on campus/in D.C.
While my academic focus has been more on laboratory and clinical science, I was privileged in the second half of my time at Georgetown to begin pursuit of a minor through the School of Foreign Service in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. In doing so, I’ve been able to take a number of classes surrounding the interplay between security, emerging technology, and policy in the context of global health, taught by leaders in the field, and have found it to be one of the most rewarding choices I’ve made.
What activities are you involved with on campus?
Outside of class, I have spent the past few years conducting research on campus in a developmental neurobiology lab. My current project’s focus is on the role of nuclear architecture in regeneration following spinal cord injuries. Additionally, I have spent the last four years as a coxswain on the Georgetown Varsity Men’s Lightweight Rowing Team. As a part of the team, I’ve had the opportunity to compete at both the national and international level alongside some of my best friends.
What is your favorite part about being at Georgetown?
My favorite part about being at Georgetown has definitely been the faculty. While Georgetown’s own faculty are independently incredible, the university’s location in D.C. also facilitates a unique ability to enroll in classes taught by amazing adjunct faculty who live and work locally. Seminars with these professionals have definitely been some of the most interesting features of my Georgetown career.
Tell us about your educational and professional aspirations.
After graduation, I’ll be taking a gap year to apply to medical school with the hopes of pursuing a career as a surgeon. While I will be working during this brief time off, I am also hoping to find some ways to stay in touch with my interest in global health through involvement in global health advocacy work. As it stands today, I see that there appears to be a critical gap between medical and scientific professionals and policymakers that hinders the global ability to secure healthcare across populations. Later in my career, I hope that I will be able to find a way to use my passions for science, medicine, and global health to work towards bridging this gap and ensuring appropriate care for future generations.