Socioeconomic status, overcrowding, institutional racism, political partisanship, and global economic inequality are all social factors that determine the disease risk for individuals and populations. And understanding those factors from all angles—from biology to sociology—can help us reduce that risk.
As a doctoral student, Lucie Kalousova knew she needed a dissertation topic that would make a meaningful contribution to improving population health and closing health disparities. The academic rigor and spirit of collaboration she found at Michigan helped her meld public health and social sciences into research that helps mitigate the adverse effects of smoking on minority and low-SES groups.
When Aubree Gordon quit a doctoral program in biology, she at first felt like she was going off the road. Looking back at her long path to field epidemiology and the value of her vaccine research to people around the world, these difficult transitions begin making a lot more sense.
As an undergraduate student, Jessica Yaser realized she had constructed a competition in her mind between the hard and social sciences. She has discovered in public health a beautiful balance between the two.
Amilcar Matos-Moreno’s interest in public health has led him from biostatistics to epidemiology. In the process, he has discovered a way to dedicate his life’s work to making a difference in his home island of Puerto Rico, including Hurricane Maria relief and more.