February 3, 2026

This past November, approximately 11,000 members of the nation's public health community gathered in Washington, D.C. to attend the American Public Health Association (APHA)'s annual meeting and expo. Faculty, staff, and researchers from the Dornsife School of Public Health and the Urban Health Collaborative (UHC) were in attendance.

Included in Dornsife's delegation was Maggie Beverly, MPH, Project Manager at the UHC, presenting on her ongoing research into vacant lot greening in Philadelphia, and a medical student at the Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM), Taylor Young '26, MPH, working with Beverly on the UHC's "Food & Communities" Project. Specifically, Young presented on a second analysis being carried out of the study published inThe Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics used as the foundation for the project, Multilevel Factors Influencing Food Purchasing Decisions Among Families With Low Incomes During the COVID-19 Crisis. We had a chance to speak with Young about her experience presenting at APHA, working with the Food & Communities Project, and being a med student taking part in public health work: 

Could you tell us a little about your presentation at APHA and the work you were involved in?

It has been a privilege working on the Food and Communities project these past few years. I had the opportunity to give an oral presentation about our work comparing participants who are currently enrolled and not enrolled in WIC (USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). The presentation was a part of a larger panel of speakers at APHA on the topic of food assistance programs and health policy. My work in this has led to some interesting discussions around experiences and factors that either facilitate or pose barriers to WIC participation for caregivers. Following the presentation, we are hoping to write a manuscript on these findings.

What was your experience at APHA and presenting your work?

This was my first time at APHA, and it was an exciting and inspiring experience to be surrounded by other leaders in public health. Not only did I enjoy speaking about my work with the Food & Communities project and connecting with like-minded researchers and advocates working in this area, I also had the opportunity to listen to presentations on various other meaningful work, such as a panel discussion about the Healing Hurt People intervention program at Drexel’s Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice (CNSJ). Additionally, I attended several evening socials that allowed me to connect with UC Berkeley School of Public Health alumni – where I earned my MPH – and members of the APIC caucus.

Tell us a little more about you, your goals in your career, and what it’s like to be a Med student taking part in public health work. 

As a first-generation medical student with a public health background, one of my biggest goals is to bridge health advocacy with clinical medicine. I have especially grown an interest in food equity and nutrition, given that these are linked closely with overall health outcomes. I believe that good nutrition is the foundation for good health. My research with UHC has helped me refine my understanding of the issues surrounding food equity, as well as equipped me with many skills that I will continue to use in my career, health advocacy, and research. As I seek to graduate medical school and enter an internal medicine residency this year, I am grateful for all I have learned and look forward to integrating public health into my clinical practice to advance health equity for my patients.  

Taylor Young is a fourth-year medical student at DUCOM, and she is currently applying to internal medicine residency. Prior to medical school, she attended UC Berkeley for her undergraduate and MPH studies. Taylor is passionate about health equity and its integration with clinical medicine.