London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Educational/professional background

I very recently graduated from my undergrad this past May 2023 from the University of Virginia with a degree in Health Equity & Justice, an interdisciplinary program of public health, sociology, and African-American studies, with minors in Spanish and Biology. My undergraduate thesis focused on the history and social construction of medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia and its connections to contemporary health disparities.

Research interests or career goals

I aspire to reduce maternal fetal racial health disparities in the United States and help communities of colour achieve health equity. After finishing at LSHTM, I will be returning to the States to begin medical school as my goal is to integrate medical practice with population health interventions to advocate for health equity for the most marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Why I chose LSHTM/my programme

I wanted a school that would teach me both knowledge about public health and the necessary skills for public health in practice. LSHTM not only provided me this opportunity, but it also provided with me with the most unique and interesting class choices to achieve my goals. Even more, the School has research projects in every corner of the world so coming here provided me the chance to join any work I was interested in and meet some of the most brilliant people running the most incredible projects. Plus, it’s an opportunity to move to London and explore the UK for a year!

Any extra information

Just as I was moving to London and well into my course at LSHTM, I began my application cycle for admission to medical schools in the States. While it can seem daunting to be doing a master’s and the application cycle at the same time, it is definitely possible! If you are in a similar position of doing the master’s before attending medical school (particularly in the States) and want to chat about that process, please feel free to reach out!