Category: Global Health Students!

Mitchell Yep is a UO alumni who majored in International Studies and got a minor in Global Health. Mitchell answered a few questions about their current pursuits and some of the lessons they took away from the Global Health program.

What are you up to these days? Why and how did you decide to pursue what you’re currently doing? 

Currently, I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator for OHSU Early Detection and Advanced Research Center. On a daily basis, I am collaborating with industry sponsors to coordinate study start-up, enrollment, management, and follow-up. This may look like drafting consent forms, calling eligible participants, and conducting brief medical history reviews with patients. All of our research studies are investigating blood tests that can be used to detect cancer. Although many of these tests are in the early stages, I’m excited to share that one of them is pending FDA approval and may become a common screening test for people at a higher risk for cancer. You can read more about the Pathfinder 2 study here:

https://www.ohsu.edu/knight-cancer-institute/join-pathfinder-2-study-find-cancer-early

I am actively a part of this study’s daily operation and recruitment.

I decided to work as a clinical research coordinator because I have always been interested in post-graduate research. While at UO, I tried my best to get involved with faculty research as a research assistant. My undergraduate research experience planted the seed for my future, encouraging me to get involved with current public health research.

In the Fall I will be attending Johns Hopkins for a Masters of Science in Epidemiology. I am excited to attend the Bloomberg School of Public Health and aspire to work for the CDC as an environmental epidemiologist.

What was your biggest takeaway from the GH minor at UO? 

My biggest takeaway from the GH minor is that there are many aspects of Global Health. When working to improve health outcomes, you must be willing to collaborate with others – specifically the people you are trying to help.

How can you apply the topics you’ve learned about in GH classes to work outside the classroom? 

On a daily basis, our team is working to promote diversity within research and recruit non-white Oregon residents in Clinical Trials. Building this partnership is difficult because our research team did not have any preexisting connections or relationships. We had to network with different hospitals and clinics located in more racially diverse areas. After the logistics have been developed, our team has been focusing on recruitment methods and strategies. I think about my experience in GH classes when reflecting upon our recruitment strategies. We have worked with several community members and constantly use the feedback from our participants to better develop and create our recruitment strategies.

Within our own communities here in Oregon, there is diversity and generally a lack of understanding between each other if done without thinking. There is always a chance to be critical and reflective about the messages you share and the ones you receive.

How has the pandemic affected your feelings about working in heath promotion and disease prevention? 

The pandemic has highlighted income and class disparities within our own communities. It has motivated me to further focus on a career in public health. I am interested in studying how our built environment can impact our mental, physical, and social health. 

UPDATE: Myriah’s project was also featured by Oregon Quarterly – click here to read their article, “Fighting COVID-19 Misinformation, Global Health Student Tweets the Truth”

UO Global Health student Myriah Kunipo-Aguirre develops her analysis of California’s coronavirus response for Dr. Yarris’s “Global Health Crisis” Course this spring using a creative Twitter platform.

Global Health program staff corresponded with Global Health minor student Myriah Kunipo-Aguirre regarding their experience in the newly (and quickly!) developed Spring 2020 course by Global Health Program Director Kristin Yarris, “Experiential Learning: Global Health Crisis.” The course was developed in response to COVID-19 in part to help Global Health minors still needing to complete the Fieldwork Experience, an important requirement and capstone element to the Global Health minor at the University of Oregon. Myriah’s project for the course is on global/local responses to the pandemic.

Read on to learn more about Myriah’s experience in the Global Health program and their project for the “Global Health Crisis” course (see Myriah’s direct responses to our questions in italics).

What brought you to the University of Oregon, and specifically to the Global Health program?

I chose the University of Oregon to pursue the Human Physiology program and fell in love with the campus immediately during the campus tour. My interest in Global Health began when a guest lecturer spoke in my Physiology course and I realized that I wanted to learn beyond the health sciences. I decided to take Prof Yarris’ INTL 340 course and after completion knew that the Global Health perspective aligned with my interests. I heard of the new Global Health minor through classmates in the course and applied so I could learn more about the interdisciplinary efforts of Global Health.

Tell us a little bit about some of the Global Health program courses you have taken thus far, and what you have found most interesting.

I have taken Global Health & Development, Medical Ethics, and Human Growth & Development thus far. The Global Health & Development was eye-opening to view the aspects of our health care system from a broader, holistic approach. It highlighted the public health principles and the reconstruct needed to have health equality. The Medical Ethics course was also interesting and provided foundational learning on ethical issues that can occur in medicine, with proven tools and approaches for resolution.

What project are you working on for the “Global Health Crisis” course this term as your “field experience” in Global Health?

For my “field experience”, I am focusing on California’s response to COVID-19, with a focus on Los Angeles County. I have started a twitter page where I am curating together information/resources regarding COVID-19 in California and Los Angeles County, using data from the public health departments and the mayor’s office, as well as state official government sites. The twitter platform allows me to quickly link articles or videos and short blurbs on information and add my own analysis to certain news using curated threads and tweets. The main topics I focus on are overall state, county, and city response (health stats, policies, mandates), community resources (financial assistance, food programs), and impact on Southern California’s industry and economy (sports, tourism). My project aims to create an accessible, organized reference for others in my community or personal network to follow. Follow @Covid19_SoCal

What are your aspirations beyond UO?

I hope to pursue a dual degree program that will provide medical knowledge and core competencies that I can apply to studies on population or community health. This could allow opportunities such as a public health practitioner, but also to develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention programs locally or nationally. I would like to focus on shaping health systems and advocate for underserved populations.

Are you a Global Health minor, past or present, interested in sharing your experience in the UO program? Share your story with us! Submit online here.

Riley Shaffer graduated last spring with a double major in International Studies and Spanish and a minor in Global Health. She’s spent the last year in Los Angeles as a residential counselor at a treatment center for teens with mental health, behavioral, and substance use issues. She recently committed to Boston University to pursue a Master of Public Health degree. 

Riley answered a few questions about her takeaways from UO and what her future at Boston University and after holds. 

Why did you decide to pursue an MPH at Boston University and what do you hope to learn there? 

I decided to pursue my MPH/MSW at Boston University because their program encapsulates a social justice lens using a “think, teach, do” approach. I believe BU’s programs will allow me to simultaneously gain a broad foundation of public health thought and practice as well as specialize in learning to create appropriate interventions that resonate and align with community goals across various contexts and populations. I am looking forward to diving into the Mental Health and Substance Use track within the MPH and the clinical and Trauma and Violence track in the MSW. In a broader scope, Boston city has been and continues to be at the forefront of innovative public health delivery and service.  

What was your biggest takeaway from the GH minor? 

The Global Health program at UO inspired me to become curious about why health disparities such as education and access to mental health support and services exist and how different approaches function to be effective or ineffective.  

How can you apply the topics you’ve learned about in GH classes to work outside of the classroom? 

I have found that I am already utilizing my global health toolbox at the residential treatment facility I am working at.  I try to be mindful about the intersectional social determinants that may have contributed to a client’s experience with mental illness. Furthermore, I have found myself tuning into various pillars of explanatory models of distress within the clients I interact with: What language do they use to describe their experience? What cultural, familial, and personal factors contribute to how they perceive themselves?  

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your aspirations of working in health promotion and disease prevention? 

I have been inspired by the local, national, and global actors that have stepped up to respond innovatively to begin filling the many “need gaps” uncovered by COVID-19. I have been thinking about the role of social support as a protective factor in resilience and recovery from illness.  

Grant Klausen graduated from the University of Oregon with a minor in Global Health in 2019. Read on to find out more about their post-graduation plans.

After graduating from the U of O, I moved home to the Seattle area to begin working on the graduate school application and job search process.

[In Spring 2020], I committed to go to New York University’s School of Global Public Health to get my Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health.

During my time in the program, I hope to focus on the impacts of US imperialism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and single payer healthcare.

In the meantime, I will be working as a home health aide in the Seattle area.

Have questions about the Global Health Minor, the Students for Global Health Club, applying to MPH programs, or finding MPH programs with global health components? Email us at ocias@uoregon.edu!

Gabriella Farland knew from a young age that she had a love for language and travel, as well as an internal longing to help others and a nerdy fascination with science and health. That is why Farland originally came into the University of Oregon as a Biology major planning on pursing a pre-medical track in college. However, during Farland’s second term of college, a friend asked her to take a Global Health course with them, and since the course went with her general track, Farland decided to check it out. “I wasn’t aware of the International Studies major or that a subject area like Global Health existed. I had always loved science, but the STEM field was missing the elements of humanities and social sciences that I also loved. I was immediately drawn to the global health course material, and it felt like all of my academic interests were finally falling into place,” said Farland.

It was in that Global Health course where Farland discovered her true passions and made the decision to switch her studies to Global Health (GH) and International Studies (INTL) because the programs combined her passions for health and culture, showing how they intersect and impact how we view and approach health. “My area of study challenges me to approach health from a holistic point of view and problem solve from many different angles, which constantly brings something new and exciting in the process of trying to do some good,” said Farland.

Farland has since loved her experience in the program. Farland has taken courses ranging from Schizophrenia Across Cultures to Global Reproductive Health to UN Interventions and Conflict Resolution. The INTL program allowed Farland to study many different things and grow in her academic career, which she feels has prepared her to continue to grow. The INTL program has also helped Farland see the world in a different perspective. “I feel this is at the root of the International Studies program,” said Farland. “I now see the world through multiple cultural lenses and perspectives and hold the view that there is a beauty in the diversity of these perspectives.”

Farland’s experience in the program has been tremendous, but she could not have done it without the inspiration of her mother, who inspires Farland everyday with her patience, intelligence, tenacity, courage, and compassion. “Not only was my mother a first-generation college student, but she was also a pioneer businesswoman in an environment of mostly men and a loving mom who preserved at home and in the workplace after suffering two strokes,” said Farland. Farland’s mother’s ability to overcome challenges also helped Farland help her deal with her biggest challenge of living with a chronic illness of her own. “Each day that I am healthy is a small victory and learning to live with my chronic illness rather than let it define me and takeover my life is a win in my book,” said Farland.

Because of her integrity to fight her biggest battle, Farland knows that she isn’t afraid of challenging any obstacle that comes in her way, especially the time she climbed her first ever mountain in Patagonia, Argentina. “I am proud of accomplishing other academic and professional pursuits, yet this in particular, was an accomplishment that I am physically, mentally, and emotionally very proud of,” said Farland. It felt nearly impossible for Farland to climb the mountain at certain point, but it was a true testament that if she set her mind to something and believe in herself, then she could accomplish anything.

For these reasons, Gabriella Farland is a Future Global Leader!

She’s an avid gamer, a cat lover, and a Frisbee fanatic. She’s also an occasional explorer, who’s been to Vietnam, Mexico, France, England, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Dominican Republic. She is none other than Mekinsie Callahan.

The UO senior from Portland, Oregon is studying Global Health (GH), and is a passionate individual, especially when it comes to the health field. In fact, Callahan’s greatest inspiration in life is Jim Yong Kim, a pioneer in the world of health who has advocated bringing healthcare to places that need it the most. However, it wasn’t until joining the Students for Global Health Club here, at the University of Oregon, where Callahan got serious about pursuing a career in health. It was at this club where Callahan received the opportunity to hang out with like-minded peers, participate in fundraisers, and discuss ethically challenging matters regarding global health. This is also where Callahan discovered the Global Health minor. “The program seemed to align well with my interests, so I decided to apply,” said Callahan.

Since then, Callahan has enjoyed studying global health, as she finds it very informative and intellectually stimulating. “I have always enjoyed learning the material involved with global health as they often apply to my interests,” said Callahan. Global health has allowed Callahan to participate in exciting local health opportunities, such as volunteering with the HIV Alliance, where she serves as a testing technician, and volunteering at the Needle Exchange Program, which helps to reduce the transmission of HIV through harm reduction principles. The global health program has also taught Callahan important information on the current state health around the world. Callahan’s new knowledge on such topics has shaped the way she views health in different communities as well as change many misconceptions that she has held previously about the field.

Callahan believes that the global health minor has helped her academic growth improve significantly over the years, which has also helped her overcome her most significant challenge of anxiety involving academics. “I often feel as though I have to do correctly on every test or else I won’t have any chance for getting into graduate school. I overcame such stresses by coming to terms with the fact that whatever grade I get won’t really matter in the grand scheme of things,” said Callahan. That is why Callahan tries to enjoy what she is doing as much as possible and weed out anything that does not bring her joy. Regardless, Callahan believes in a strong work ethic.

Callahan wants to work as a physician’s assistant in the future and hopes to bring healthcare to places where it currently isn’t accessible. Callahan also has a passion for the HIV/AIDS community and wishes to use the knowledge in global health to better assimilate into the field later on. But for now, Callahan is in the process of applying and attending graduate school, where she hopes to deepen her passion and knowledge for the field of global health.

Challenges may get in Callahan’s way, but that doesn’t stop her from breaking them down. Despite the challenges along the way, Callahan is able to break down the root of the challenge and overcome the adversity. This capacity has given her the ability to follow her passion and pursue big dreams in her life, and the knowledge she has gained from the GH program will get her there.

For these reasons, Mekinsie Callahan is a Future Global Leader!

You might find her eating sushi in Japan or exploring the landscapes of England or even studying here, in Eugene. Regardless, you’ll always find Rachel McGill challenging herself with new experiences.

McGill, a Senior studying International Studies (INTL) with a minor in Global Health (GH), is a visionary student in her field and a driven individual, which has prepared her to soar high as a Duck and a leader. McGill is originally from Los Gatos, California, and she always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in public health. With most of her family living in England, she has always been interested in living and working abroad. However, McGill began to take this career choice seriously after taking an African Disease course in her freshman year. McGill found the material intriguing, which sparked her interest to continue taking other Global Health classes, participate in undergraduate research, and apply to the minor. McGill also applied to the International Studies major, which is where she launched her academic journey.

McGill appreciated a large number of classes available to take in the INTL department, and how easy it is to find courses she is interested in. McGill also likes how passionate the professors are about the content they are teaching, which makes the coursework feel important to her. McGill also credits the department for providing her with a variety of opportunities she finds intriguing. “International Studies and Global Health has not only shown me what I want to pursue in the future but has changed my perspective of the workings of different societies around the world specifically in terms of health,” said McGill.

Although her appreciation for the INTL and GH programs and their guidance in her career goals, McGill’s greatest inspiration is her mother. When McGill was 12, her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that attacks the nervous system. It has been challenging for her to witness, but also incredibly inspiring because of her mother’s perseverance. “Seeing her passion for physical therapy and desire to help people inspired me to find my career that I was interested in and passionate about while also being able to help others,” said McGill.

McGill’s mother always told her to do what she loves and to pursue a career in something that she is passionate about, which is precisely what she is doing. McGill is incredibly proud of all the places she has been able to travel and all the opportunities she has experienced while at the University of Oregon.

Aside from her academic studies, McGill is a leader in her sorority, Delta Gamma, and a student worker in the Division of Global Management, which manages international students and study abroad programs. McGill loves to travel, hike, cook, and try new recipes. Sushi has become by far McGill’s favorite food, especially after traveling to Japan this past summer, which furthered her love for the cuisine.

Travelling is deeply important to McGill as it has shaped many of her goals and decisions. McGill’s favorite memories growing up are of traveling and the times she spent in England with her family each summer. McGill has also traveled to Spain, France, and Mexico in the past, and she hopes to travel to Singapore and Japan again in the future.

McGill foresees challenges transitioning from college into a career. Nevertheless, McGill is confident that she will use her learnings from the INTL and GH programs to follow in her mother’s footsteps and find a job that she will love, and she is looking forward to living abroad in the future.

For these reasons, Rachel McGill is a Future Global Leader!