Hi everyone, my name is Michelle Esse, and I am graduating this spring as a Global Disease Biology major with minors in Medical Humanities & Public Health. Within my first quarter at UC Davis, I was already convinced to switch into the Global Disease Biology major. I loved how integrative the program was - I could imagine myself in many different career paths working towards the same goal of advancing healthcare. It provided a strong foundation in the sciences, which I loved, but also a holistic understanding of what shapes community health.
My name is Gio, I am a transfer student from CCSF and am currently in my third year at UC Davis. I was originally a Biotechnology Major, but after taking Disease and Society I decided to change my major to Global Disease Biology. I am currently working towards getting a minor in Public Health.
Hey everyone! My name is Arvind and I’m a fifth-year transfer student. I chose GDB as my major because it offered a unique, integrated way to look at healthcare. I’ve really enjoyed learning through that broader lens and seeing how human health connects with public health and the environment. The GDB faculty and advising team have made a huge impact on my time here, they’ve been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and have helped me find opportunities I never would’ve discovered on my own.
Hello! I'm Aninditha Keshavan, a third year GDB student from Loma Linda, California. I've always known that I want to pursue public health policy and research, as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic significantly shaped the way I see the world. Through my education at UCD, I've been able to learn about the different facets of public health, from policy to data to biology research. It has broadened my perspective and helped me understand how I can best contribute to the mitigation of infectious diseases.
Hi everyone! I'm Emily Wheeler, a 4th year GDB student and English minor.
I have always been fascinated with diseases and finding out that there was a way for me to focus my college experience on it was beyond perfect. I started at Davis as a different major but almost immediately switched to GDB after taking SAS 13 where my interest in diseases (whether it be of humans, plants, or animals) grew even more.
Hello! My name is Brianna Vargas, and I am currently a fourth-year Global Disease Biology student. My career goal is to become a physician, with particular interest in emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery. Last year, I earned my EMT license and began working in interfacility transport. After sustaining a knee injury that prevented me from working, I began volunteering for the UC Davis EMT program, where I help teach essential skills to EMTs in training.
Hey everyone!! My name is Peyton, a third-year GDB major from Fremont, CA. I originally came to UC Davis as an undeclared BioSci major, but after learning about GDB’s focus on the One Health model and how human, animal, and environmental health are all connected, I switched as soon as possible. I couldn’t decide which field I liked most, and GDB let me explore all of them. I’m currently an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Lisa Baik’s lab studying the sensory system of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and how that knowledge can be used in vector-borne disease prevention.
Hey Hey! I’m Shayla Campbell; a third-year GDB student from Beaumont, California. A core part of my identity comes from the strong Black Jamaican Women in my life, whose support and resilience inspire me daily. They are the reason I aspire to pursue medicine, specifically to advocate for and provide reproductive and sexual healthcare to underserved communities that are often overworked and overlooked.
Hello everyone! My name is Rama, and I’m a fourth-year Global Disease Biology (GDB) student on the pre-med track. When I transferred to UC Davis, I was immediately fascinated by the wide range of topics the GDB major explores. As a pre-med student, I initially focused solely on the human aspect of diseases and global issues. However, GDB helped me take a step back and see the bigger picture.
