Olamide Adebowale
Richmond, VA
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Olamide
Why I Chose Dornsife: It is one of the best programs I found, and it brought me my full circle moment.
Research Interests: Health improvement for vulnerable and immigrant populations.
Favorite Place on Campus: Not sure yet.
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: My kitchen :)
Alesha Amin
Dallas, Texas
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Alesha
Why I Chose Dornsife: I choose Dornsife because of all the hands on experience you get.
Research Interests: Maternal and Child Health
Favorite Place on Campus: Papadakis
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Goldie
Breanne Baez
Pomona, NY
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Breanne
Why I Chose Dornsife: The many opportunities offered and the location of Drexel itself.
Research Interests: Nutrition/Obesity
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am working with Spectrum health services, a non-profit in Philadelphia on their diabetes self-management project. I am creating a self-management education slide and implementing it to the 75 patients in the cohort.
Favorite Place on Campus: The Rec Center
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Johns Food Truck
Maura Boughter-Dornfeld
Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Health Management & Policy
About Maura
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because I saw immediately how engaged the whole community is and how much everyone cares about each individual's success and growth. Dornsife demonstrated their interest in having well-rounded students, understood my need for some financial support, and helped me with my hope to gain experience (in many forms) to further my career in public health.
Research Interests: Food Insecurity, Childhood Adversity/Trauma, Access to Health Care
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am performing a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) for St Christopher's Foundation For Children's Farm-to-Families initiative, helping them work to improve their program to better serve communities in Philadelphia and decrease the high rates of food insecurity in our city.
Favorite Place on Campus: 3rd floor (Health Management & Policy Department) of Nesbitt!
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Spurrito or Boba (Food Trucks) and Han Dynasty (Restaurant)
Breauna Branch
Bowie, MD
MPH, Epidemiology
About Breauna
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because I really enjoyed how welcoming everyone was when I visited the school during the admissions process. I value that we as students are required to gain more experience in the field as a graduation requirement compared to other institutions. Dornsife has many opportunities to be engaged with the campus and community as well as having numerous community partnerships.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, Maternal and Child Health, and Global Health
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am working with the Public Health Management Corporation, a leading nonprofit in public health, on a study that is geared towards young men of color. I will be analyzing data to see if there is an association between those who have STIs and the perceived attitudes of healthcare providers towards them.
Favorite Place on Campus: The Collaboratory in Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Landmark
Sarah Caldwell
Washington Crossing, PA
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
(minor in Global Health)
About Sarah
Why I Chose Dornsife: I found it really interesting that each professor had their own individual research. I thought that not only could Dornsife provide me with a sense of knowledge moving forward, but also insight into the field of public health which I hope to pursue.
Research Interests: Global Health
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: KC's Smoothie Truck
Mary Conroy
Manahawkin, NJ
MPH, Health Management & Policy
About Mary
Why I Chose Dornsife: The ILE experience & depths that help expose me to different aspects of public health.
Research Interests: Hospital management
Favorite Place on Campus: Daskalakis Athletic Center
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Georgio on Pine
Sierra Cuellar
Ocean View, DE
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Sierra
Why I Chose Dornsife: Dornsife was actually the only school I applied to, but it ended up being a great fit because of the emphasis on and opportunity to be involved in research specific to my area of study. Philadelphia is also so full of public health connections -- there are important relationships to be formed everywhere around the city.
Research Interests: Global Health, Vulnerable Populations, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, Reproductive Health/Rights, Gender Equality, WASH
Favorite Place on Campus: Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building because of all the natural light and the biowall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Food truck falafel (it's better and cheaper than falafel from any restaurant) or Sava's Pizza (because everyone needs a favorite pizza place)
Chelsi Defoe
Brooklyn, NY
MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health
About Chelsi
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the people. I couldn't attend the Accepted Students Day so I reached out to Phi and received a personal tour in return. The faculty and students that spoke to me were so down to earth and genuine. I immediately felt like I was supported here. I thought to myself that I wanted to be a part of a school that truly cares about its students and Dornsife embodied that. Also, I was sold by the on-campus Chick-fil-A!
Research Interests: I am interested in occupational health and hazard assessments. Right now, I am assisting Dr. Huynh with her project on developing an intervention program for nail salon workers.
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I will be looking at risk factors for pain and injury in hotel housekeepers. I will be analyzing a dataset to determine what puts a housekeeper at risk and discover which hotels are at higher risk and why.
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Collaboratory
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Mike's Food Stop
Adrian Diogo
Elizabeth, NJ
MPH, Epidemiology
About Adrian
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because it is the best School of Public Health in Philadelphia. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on building qualitative skills with real-world experience through strong community partnerships.
Research Interests: Healthy Aging, Injury Prevention, and Health Economics
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall Lobby
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Dos Hermanos Tacos (food truck) and Jamonera (restaurant)
Rozhan Ghanbari
Paso Robles, CA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Rozhan
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the welcoming environment and opportunities for research!
Research Interests: Mental Health, Global Health, and Infectious Disease
Favorite Place on Campus: 7th floor of Nesbitt
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: El Taco and ICI Macarons & Cafe
Sucharu Ghosh
Hooghly, West Bengal, India
MPH, Epidemiology
About Sucharu
Why I Chose Dornsife: The curriculum of Dornsife with extensive practical exposure attracts me the most. The practicum is divided into two sections: Breadth (10 monthly engagements) and Depth (a minimum 120-hour internship). Moreover, it has a campus of diverse cultures with students from different countries. Also, U.S. News ranks it in the top 19th position!!!
Research Interests: Infectious Diseases and Substance Abuse
Favorite Place on Campus: 7th floor Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Wendy's
Casey Gonzaga (Leech)
North Wales, PA
MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health
(minor in Infectious Disease and Prevention)
About Casey
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the vast opportunities that are present within the city of Philadelphia. You have to complete breadths monthly, and a depth over the summer, which can be in any area of interest to you. This has really helped me see public health from different perspectives, other than just EOH. I truly believe that this is what helped focus my interests.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease Outbreak Control / Surveillance; Opioid Epidemic Surveillance; Global Health
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am creating a Crisis and Emergency Risk Communications (CERC) Toolkit for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program. The toolkit will allow for the department to be better prepared for any emergencies that may occur, specifically bioterrorism attacks within the City.
Favorite Place on Campus: In the winter, 6th floor Nesbitt. In the warmer months, the quad.
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Valanni restaurant in Center City, Tran's Food Truck
Areej Idris
Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Areej
Why I Chose Dornsife: The courses offered by the school and the location.
Research Interests: Pharmacoepidemiology
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Chinese food truck
Thomas Jackson, MS
Stringer, Mississippi
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Thomas
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the community-centered emphasis and the focus on practical experiences, along with the availability of concentrations, the 5-quarter program design, and the excellent job placement statistics.
Research Interests: Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy Advocacy, Evaluation, and Analysis
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE):I am working as a Research Assistant in the Office of Research and Evaluation at the School District of Philadelphia on the Promoting Adolescent Student Health (PASH) Program. My primary project is monitoring internal and external referrals to sexual health services and evaluating implementation fidelity of comprehensive sex education. I also serve on the Materials Review Board to assess medical accuracy and age appropriateness of sex education materials prior to their implementation in Philadelphia's public schools.
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall, 3rd floor
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Food trucks: tied between Kami and Halal Trucks. Restaurant: Nom Wah Philadelphia
Nikki Johnson
Lumberton, NJ
MPH, Epidemiology
About Nikki
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife for the interdisciplinary curriculum, small school feel and the endless opportunities in public health Philadelphia has to offer!
Research Interests: Health Disparities, Maternal and Child Health, Chronic Disease, Cancer, Environmental Epidemiology
Favorite Place on Campus: Korman Center
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Honey's Sit N' Eat
Matthew Joy
Trenton, NJ
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
(minor in Public Health Emergency Preparedness)
About Matthew
Why I Chose Dornsife: Because of the many research opportunities the School has to offer.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, Nutrition, Health Disparities, Health Communication
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Starbucks
Jannie Kim
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
MPH, Epidemiology
(minor in Program Monitoring and Evaluation)
About Jannie
Why I Chose Dornsife: I really liked how the practical experiences were incorporated with the academic curriculum.
Research Interests: Global health, maternal/child health, obesity, diabetes
Favorite Place on Campus: Tech Lounge on the Square
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Taqueria La Veracruzana
Maureen Klopp
Willow Springs, IL
MPH, Epidemiology
About Maureen
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the expansive opportunities that are offered through different experiences. Also, I enjoy all the multitude of electives offered that allow me to explore my other interests and then have the opportunity to have a minor.
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, Global Health, and Emergency Preparedness and Response
Favorite Place on Campus: The lobby of Nesbitt
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Mac Mart
Celina Koh
New York, NY
MPH, Epidemiology
About Celina
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the emphasis on practical experiences along with the flexibility to incorporate a minor. Furthermore, the opportunities to network with professors, public health professionals, and students are endless!
Research Interests: Refugee Health, Immigrant Health, Infectious Disease, Chronic Disease, Aging, Environmental Exposure
Favorite Place on Campus: Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building has the tallest vertical biowall - it's beautiful!
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Amma's South Indian Cuisine in Center City
Kelly McLaughlin
Selinsgrove, PA
MS, Epidemiology
(minor in Biostatistics)
About Kelly
Why I Chose Dornsife: Drexel, as well as the city of Philadelphia, provide incredible resources and mentors that help shape your professional career in public health from the very first day. I enjoy the opportunities to collaborate with professors in other departments, as well as other public health professionals here in the city.
Research Interests: My research interests include physical activity, injury and chronic disease prevention, and disease outbreaks.
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am analyzing the factors associated with safety climate in US fire departments at the FIRST Center here at Dornsife.
Favorite Place on Campus: Starbucks
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Los Compadres food truck
Stephanie Miller
Phoenix, AZ
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Stephanie
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of the program values, research opportunities, and location.
Research Interests: Substance Abuse, Harm Reduction, Population Mental Health, Injury and Violence Prevention
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall (Off-Campus, but nearby: Cira Green)
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: New York Halal Truck or Franklin's Table
Gabrielle Mullin
Collegeville, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Gabrielle
Why I Chose Dornsife: It's located in a large city with many public health initiatives and organizations that I could join.
Research Interests: Cancer Epidemiology, Injury Prevention, Policy
Favorite Place on Campus: I love Nesbitt, there's always someone to talk to or an event going on there
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: There's a food truck on Market Street that sells cupcakes, so good!
Puja Patel
Edwardsville, IL
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Puja
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because it was the best fit for everything I wanted in my MPH program. Drexel is in a large city and Dornsife had many opportunities to get involved in the surrounding area through both education and engagement throughout the program.
Research Interests: Access to Care, Mental Health, Maternal and Child Health
Favorite Place on Campus: The walkway of Lancaster Ave behind the recreation center
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: White Dog Café
Rachel Seitz
Monkton, MD
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Rachel
Why I Chose Dornsife: The opportunity to participate in research and to promote health in all policies.
Research Interests: Policy affecting those with special health care needs.
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am interning at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Evaluations and Inspections. I am working on a report investigating the financial impact of health risk assessments on risk-adjusted payments in Medicare Advantage.
Favorite Place on Campus: Dornsife
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Hummus Grill
Isabelle Shumate
Hershey, PA
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Isabelle
Why I Chose Dornsife: I choose Dornsife because of the emphasis on the Philadelphia community and the opportunities the school provided. In addition, during a preview day I attended all of the students seemed so passionate about the school and their work which helped me make the final decision to attend Drexel.
Research Interests: Clinical Management, Healthcare Consulting
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Johns on 33rd St
Maya Stallings
Media, PA
MPH, Epidemiology
About Maya
Why I Chose Dornsife: I loved how it was in the center of Philadelphia. I wanted to go to a school that would give me the tools I needed to give back to my community.
Research Interests: Violence Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, Health Disparities, Health Equity, Health of People of Color
Favorite Place on Campus: Starbucks
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Sampan is my favorite restaurant
Laneisha Sullivan
Wayne, NJ
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Laneisha
Why I Chose Dornsife: As a Drexel University undergraduate alumna, I've always appreciated the resources this school offered both during and after graduation. After being named Philadelphia's #1 Public Health School, I immediately had to know why. Immediately, I knew the faculty, current students and academic resources provided on campus were going to propel my public health career journey farther than I imagined.
Research Interests: Women's Health, Vulnerable Populations, Hospital Management
Favorite Place on Campus: Drexel Park (Powelton Ave)
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Spurrito food truck (a more health conscious spin on a Vietnamese-style burrito wrapped in rice paper)
Samantha Trainor
Voorhees, NJ
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Samantha
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because everyone I met immediately during an open house made me feel like this was where I should be, and I thought the program was one of the best out of other schools I applied to! When first starting the program, I was introduced to so many people who I have been able to network with and other students who I have become close with!
Research Interests: ACA and access to care/ Areas of PH: Hospital Management and Patient Safety
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am a Patient Safety and Quality improvement intern at Wills Eye hospital in Philadelphia. I am currently running a quality improvement study based on PACU discharge times effecting the delivery of care!
Favorite Place on Campus: 3rd floor of Nesbitt: HMP floor because I can speak with my peers and get my studying done
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Grilly Cheese (grilled cheese) food truck or Fuel on 32 and Chestnut
Alex Trautman
Hollywood, FL
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Alex
Why I Chose Dornsife: I love that Dornsife believes in and fights for Health as a Human Right. I also felt really welcomed here by the entire CHP department when I came to tour and I think Philadelphia provides a really unique place to study public health.
Research Interests: Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women's Health
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am conducting a mixed methods analysis with data from women who inject drugs and their PrEP modality preferences. The goal is to better understand which modalities will best serve this population to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Favorite Place on Campus: 4th floor of Nesbitt
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Brunch at Jones
Lauren Trumbull
Center Valley, PA
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Lauren
Why I Chose Dornsife: I choose Drexel because of the many partnerships the school has with organizations in Philadelphia and I believed the professors research interests matched my own.
Research Interests: Health disparities, violence, human trafficking
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I work with Dr. Carroll-Scott to conduct qualitative interviews with youth who participated in the METWorks summer 2019 program. This program aims to teach youth in the Promise Neighborhood career-building skills in order to give them the tools to have successful futures after high school.
Favorite Place on Campus: Starbucks!
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Sabrina's Café
Danielle Uibel
Washington Township, NJ
MPH, Environmental and Occupational Health
About Danielle
Why I Chose Dornsife: Philadelphia has so much to offer and Dornsife takes advantage of the city and helps us gain so many opportunities!
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, Global Health, Medicine and Public Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): Investigating adverse health effects in the pediatric population that are associated with extreme heat in order to better inform emergency management and planning as well as better equip health care providers to manage children experiencing extreme heat.
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt 6th floor and the Starbucks in the LeBow Business Building
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Wawa and Grilly Cheese
Revathi Varanasi
Plainsboro, NJ
MPH, Epidemiology
(minor in Health Economics)
About Revathi
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because everyone in the school made it very clear that they were actively involved with helping each student achieve their goals. Also, Philly is an amazing city to live in!
Research Interests: Mental health and Substance Use
My Integrated Learning Experience (ILE): I am working with the EPA to determine the strength of association between soil lead levels and children's blood lead levels. From this, we hope to determine possible interventions that can be created in highly-impacted, higher-risk areas to reduce soil lead exposure.
Favorite Place on Campus: Nesbitt Hall, 7th floor lounge - where I go to study between classes!
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: El Rey near 20th and Chestnut
Alaisha Verdeflor
Sayreville, NJ
MPH, Health Management and Policy
About Alaisha
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of its commitment to partnering with the surrounding Philadelphia community.
Research Interests: Health Equity, Housing Equity, Oppression and Health, Policy Analysis and Evaluation
Favorite Place on Campus: Writer's Room Studio at MacAlister Hall
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia:Han Dynasty
Kenna Yadeta
Silver Spring, MD
MPH, Community Health and Prevention
About Kenna
Why I Chose Dornsife: I chose Dornsife because of its location in the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia has so much to offer and I couldn't wait to collaborate with the many partnerships Drexel had with the surrounding community.
Research Interests: Violence and Trauma, Maternal and Child Health,Women's Health, Substance Abuse, Health disparities, Health Equity, Social Justice
Favorite Place on Campus: Third floor kitchen....they have the best coffee :)
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: Jessie's Boys
Claudia Zumaeta Castillo
Lima, Peru
MPH, Community Health & Prevention
About Claudia
Why I Chose Dornsife: Because of its Community Engagement.
Research Interests: Infectious Diseases, Minorities & Underserved population
Favorite Place on Campus: The Recreational Center
Favorite Food Truck or Restaurant in Philadelphia: South Philly Barbacoa (Real Mexican Food, not TexMex)