My name is Paulina and I’m a third year Global Disease Biology major. I’ve been a part of the Joan Viteri Memorial student-run clinic since I was a freshman and it’s been an incredibly impactful experience. Through the clinic I’ve also become a volunteer at the Stockton Harm Reduction Program where I’ve learned a lot about what makes a good public health intervention. For the past year, I worked as an interviewer for the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 case-control study that aimed to better understand vaccine and mask effectiveness, among other things. I interviewed over 350 people across California on their COVID-19 behaviors and exposures and the study published several papers while I worked there, including in the CDC’s MMWR. I’m currently working on my practicum project with Dr. Jake Pry as my mentor and, using data collected by the study, I’m researching the drivers of higher levels of COVID-19 anxiety in California’s monolingual Spanish speaking population. This summer I’ll be attending the UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program to learn more about public health and future career possibilities. 

The GDB major has really helped me expand my view of public health to look at issues on a global level. I really like the One Health component of the major because I’ve gotten to learn from professors of all different backgrounds about the interconnectedness of environment, animal, and human health. The GDB major has led me to consider working in public health in other countries outside of the U.S. I’m still unsure about what career I want to pursue but my current plans are to get an MPH and possibly work in the field of disease prevention and health education.