Micaela Sandoval

1. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far?

The opportunity to design a global health dissertation that brought together all of my mentors and supporters has been incredible. My research tackles important questions around pediatric infectious disease, and I’ve been able to synthesize qualitative analysis, biostatistics, laboratory science and epidemiology to address the cascade of care through a systematic perspective.

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge that the public health field should be focusing on?

Diversity in public health education! Our profession is defined by our relationships with the populations we serve through research, education, and practice, so its vital that we look inwards at our own systems. How can we ensure that our students, faculty, and staff reflect our communities, and how can we support each others’ growth and success through diversity, equity, and inclusion?