Why did you decide to pursue graduate education, and why did you ultimately decide a dual-degree program was right for you?
I studied public health in college and immediately fell in love with the values that the public health profession stood for – promoting and protecting the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play. During and after graduating from undergrad, I spent a lot of my time volunteering and working with various vulnerable populations, including building financial and career readiness for young teen mothers, designing programs for dementia-impacted families, and implementing cancer prevention programs for non-English speaking minorities. Alongside my clinical research and quality improvement work at a large health system, I saw the disconnect between my work in the community and at the health system, and how our healthcare system failed to serve the people who needed care the most. This frustration and my motivation to make a sustainable impact led me to pursue a dual-degree program, which would allow me to build tangible problem-solving skills and communicate across disciplines to continue to advocate for the unheard voices in our healthcare system.

What made you select UNC’s Kenan-Business School and Gillings School of Global Public Health?
The high caliber of professors, the sense of community, the power of the UNC network, and lastly, finding comfort in the discomfort of living on the East Coast for the first time and being able to understand and gain new perspectives on how people, especially in the South, view and interact with healthcare differently.

What is something you have gained from being in a leadership position in the MBA Healthcare Club?
I learned that intentionality is one of the most important traits when engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion work in healthcare and beyond, and I gained a network of very smart and passionate healthcare leaders and colleagues.

What is something you have learned during your time at Carolina that surprised you? How do you think you will apply it professionally?
I discovered the power of why – asking the right questions is a unique, powerful tool that fuels learning, innovation, and trust among teams and organizations. The way we frame questions and choose to answer can influence the outcome of conversations and negotiations. As I continue along my professional journey, I hope to keep a continuous learning and growth mindset, to stay curious and hungry for knowledge.

What are your top two bucket list items?
Backpacking and visiting different Costco locations in each new state and country I visit.