Why did you choose the Brown University School of Public Health?

I was drawn to Brown because of its excellence in methods training and its faculty who are dedicated to using research to advance policy. I was excited by the expectation at Brown for researchers to be actively engaged in disseminating research beyond academic settings to inform evidence-based public health interventions.

What makes Brown's program different from other programs you considered?

Compared to other programs I considered, Brown's collegial atmosphere is unmatched. Brown's program encourages close collaboration within and across departments, as well as with external institutions and state agencies.

What do you enjoy most about your program?

I feel valued, supported, and challenged by my peers and mentors. My program values student perspectives and is structured to allow for frequent contact between students, faculty, and program administration.

What is your academic area of interest and why?

My research interests focus on evaluating how housing and social policies shape overdose risk. My work at Brown supports collaborations between the People, Place & Health Collective and Rhode Island Department of Health to target overdose prevention efforts in the state to neighborhoods predicted to experience elevated overdose mortality. Prior to joining Brown's PhD program, I was a research fellow at Boston University School of Public Health, where my work focused on policy drivers of population health and health equity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in terms of access to HIV care for adolescents.

What are your postgraduate goals/plans?

I plan to pursue an academic career as a social epidemiologist and to lead interdisciplinary research that evaluates and intervenes on mechanisms of structural inequity that contribute to overdose risk.

Why Providence?

I actually live in Massachusetts, so for me, Providence is great for its commutability. Brown is easily accessible by car and train and is located near many excellent coffee shops and restaurants.

What advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

I encourage prospective applicants to speak to the interests and experiences that they are most passionate about. Although the application process can sometimes pressure applicants to cater themselves to what they think a program might be looking for, Brown appreciates authenticity and has opportunities for students with a wide range of skill sets and interests.