Childhood challenges shape public health advocate’s inspiring journey
Isabelle Duong, BS ’24
Public Health Sciences
As a child—as young as 9—Isabelle Duong, BS ’24, was thrust into the complexities of healthcare systems.
Both of her parents are Vietnamese refugees who fled during the Vietnam War, and navigating the American and Canadian healthcare systems for her mother, who battles lupus, fell on Duong and her older sister, Lydia Duong.
“It was really hard, because as a young child you’re supposed to look up to your parents and have them protect you, but I was having to help my mom and advocate for her to get the healthcare that she needed,” said Duong, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in December and walked in the school’s graduation ceremony with her classmates May 1.
“English isn’t my parents’ first language. I had to help my mom a lot with just going to her doctor’s appointments and speaking on the phone to insurance providers.”
The experience not only had a great influence on her views of public health but also encouraged her to champion student voices on public health issues.
It was really hard, because as a young child you’re supposed to look up to your parents and have them protect you, but I was having to help my mom and advocate for her to get the healthcare that she needed. English isn’t my parents’ first language. I had to help my mom a lot with just going to her doctor’s appointments and speaking on the phone to insurance providers.”
Duong just completed a one-year stint as co-editor-in-chief of the Undergraduate Journal of Public Health at the University of Michigan, along with classmate Samantha Riordan, BS ’25. This leadership position combined her passion for writing and public health and gave her a platform to advocate for marginalized communities.
The path that brought her to this role is as diverse and intricate as the journal she helps to produce.
Duong, a native of Ontario, Canada, moved to Michigan halfway through high school. The transition was not only geographical but also emotional, with her family being a close-knit unit reliant on each other, especially because of her mother’s illness.
Her early advocacy experiences motivated Duong to pursue public health. After a year at Wayne State University, close to her family, she transferred to the University of Michigan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public health. The university offered her the opportunity to engage in meaningful research and be closer to Lydia, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Michigan in 2021.
The Public Health Sciences Program at Michigan Public Health was a natural choice for Isabelle. She saw it as a way to address the healthcare disparities faced by immigrant communities, particularly in navigating insurance and healthcare services.
“I wanted to help ‘the next girl,’ so she wouldn't have to go through what I had to go through,” she said.
While Duong’s journey into public health was driven by personal experiences, her role with the Undergraduate Journal of Public Health allowed her to merge her passion for writing and research. Duong joined the journal as a print writer during her junior year. She later took on the leadership role of co-editor-in-chief.
“I got involved with the journal when I first started the public health program,” she said. “I’ve always been very passionate about writing and reading and public health research.”
The journal, one of a few student-run public health publications in the country, offers a rare platform for undergraduates to publish their work.
I got involved with the journal when I first started the public health program. I’ve always been very passionate about writing and reading and public health research.”
“As an undergraduate, it’s very hard to get published unless you’ve been working in a research lab for years,” Duong said.
By offering this opportunity, the journal amplifies student voices on topics as significant and varied as HIV, anthropogenic disasters and the ethics of assisted suicide.
Under Duong’s leadership, the journal has expanded its reach, accepting submissions from esteemed institutions like Yale and Columbia, as well as international submissions from Switzerland and Nigeria. This global perspective enriches the journal and highlights its mission to elevate diverse voices in public health discourse.
Duong and Riordan launched an e-newsletter to further engage students. This new venture showcases work exclusively from Michigan’s student editors—articles discussing current public health events, interviews with faculty, and personal insights from members of the public health community.
Beyond the journal, Duong’s college years have been marked by numerous opportunities. She served on the Washtenaw Health Initiative committee for CURIS, contributing to health equity efforts at the local level. Her dedication to improving outcomes for minority youth was further demonstrated through her work with the American Association for Suicidology. Duong also interned at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she collaborated with nonprofits such as El Centro de la Raza to support immigrant communities.
These experiences informed her senior thesis and shaped her career aspirations. Currently a research assistant in a study on chronic pain management under Mary Janevic, research associate professor of Health Behavior & Health Equity, Duong applies her skills in both science and advocacy.
Duong plans to take some time to work before possibly pursuing a master’s degree in health management and policy.
I really want to give back to the community to help people like my parents.”
Throughout her academic journey, Duong remains committed to the ethos of public health: serving the community and advocating for those whose voices might otherwise go unheard. This dedication is evident in her editorial work and her aspirations to influence health policy.
Duong encourages other students to get involved and share their stories, advocating for the power of student voices in shaping the future of public health. In doing so, she continues to honor her family’s journey and her own transformation from a young advocate to a leader in public health communication.
“I really want to give back to the community to help people like my parents,” she said.
The Undergraduate Journal of Public Health is releasing its ninth volume this year, a collection of impressive research and stories that Duong hopes to inspire a new generation of public health leaders. Her work at the journal not only impacts her peers but also strengthens her resolve to change the public health landscape, one story at a time.