Congratulations to the students in the University of Washington School of Public Health who were honored with the annual Husky 100 award!
Each year, the University of Washington’s Husky 100 award recognizes 100 students across the Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell campuses who are making the most of their time at the UW.
In the School of Public Health, 16 students who are studying for doctorate and master’s degrees, or are majoring in undergraduate degrees, were honored. These students actively connect what happens inside and outside of the classroom and apply what they learn to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.
Natalie Koconis
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Vashon, WA
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Ph.D. Public Health Genetics; M.D. Medicine
I’ve been involved in teaching, learning and researching across diverse fields, from chemistry, biology, genetics, psychology — even creative writing and stand-up comedy, but the specifics are less important than the goals: destabilization of a cold, indifferent system that would see oppression and choose to ignore it, or even be complicit in it. I am proud of the reputation for assertive, unrelenting kindness that I have garnered, as someone unwilling to be a silent bystander to the ubiquitous, wasteful misery of the status quo. I am a mentor, a teacher, and a friend to anyone who has been hurt by the system because I acknowledge that without justice, there can be no peace.
Javier Silva
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Tieton, WA
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MPH Epidemiology; B.S, Public Health-Global Health
I am a proud son of Mexican immigrant parents who settled in the Yakima Valley in the late 1990s. Navigating higher education as a first-generation student coming from an agricultural background has been an empowering experience, yet the potential of opening the path for future generations of my community to pursue academia has been a greater investment. Through the knowledge and skills gained throughout my Husky experience, I aspire to influence societal change through legislation to build a more equitable and just society in which immigrants, farmworkers, and all communities are treated as the valuable members of society that they are.
Rachel Rinehart
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Coralville, IA
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M.D. Medicine; MPH Global Health
My unique experience studying and researching mental health in 12 countries has informed my work in medicine and global health. As I move towards a career in psychiatry, I will continue to learn from and collaborate with colleagues at home and abroad to better serve our communities and patients. Thank you to my family, mentors and friends for their support throughout this journey, and to the UW for fostering an exceptional learning environment.
Sabrina Lin
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Mukilteo, WA
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B.S. Informatics (Human-Computer Interaction); B.S. Public Health-Global Health
The interdisciplinary foundations offered by the iSchool and School of Public Health, combined with my intersectional identity and my values of DEI, have prepared me to pursue a career to promote social justice, encourage minority engagement in tech fields, increase health care access, and empower communities. My experiences at the UW as a leader, mentor and teammate have enabled me to be a more mindful designer and allow my passions for people and design to thrive. As I continue to grow throughout my college career and beyond, I hope to keep designing for inclusivity and combating injustice.
Nae Nhae Pasahahnunwut
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Pattaya, Thailand
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health, minor in French Language and Data Science
Public health became a complement of my passions and a field for potential; growing up in Thailand surrounded by communities lacking advanced health care access and conducting maternal mental health research in rural Rwanda has shifted my Husky journey to finding value in time for intentional actions rooted in considerations of one’s positionality, power and privilege. From purpose to practice, I aspire to be at the forefront of women and children’s health research, education and protection that stem from stigmatized ideologies and outdated traditions I have experienced firsthand through continuing my MPH in Epidemiology with a certificate in Global Health at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. At the heart of my future in learning is a newfound understanding of communal time and determination to push for a future where one is the pilot of their own time — a priceless yet valuable commodity within global health practice.
Tashmee Sarwar
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Bothell, WA
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health, minor in Bioethics
As an aspiring health care professional and social justice advocate, the UW has opened the doors to pursue my overlapping passions of health care, policy, epidemiology and neuroscience. The Public Health-Global Health major bridged my interests between medicine and equity through a population health lens which led me to pursue a multitude of leadership and research opportunities in neuroscience, tuberculosis and diverse forms of advocacy. My Husky experience taught me to be resilient in the face of uncertainty and to embrace intersectionality with community at the core.
Lily Zavala
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Mount Vernon, WA
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health, minor in Spanish
As a first-generation Latina and aspiring physician, I hope to bridge the gap between the field of public health and medicine. The UW has allowed me to obtain an education and help make a difference in communities of color. I have engaged with communities with limited access to health care and with underrepresented students in medicine through my position at the Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity, limited English proficiency patient research, and the Minority Association of Pre- Medical Students. My Husky experience has prepared me to become a culturally and socially conscious health care professional that aims to increase access to patients with limited English proficiency skills.
Kaila Red Bow
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Virginia Beach, VA
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B.A. Food Systems, Nutrition and Health; B.A. American Indian Studies
Haŋ mit̄ak̄uye oyas’iŋ, Kaila Red Bow emac̄iyap̄i kṡt̄o. It was the people I met and the places I went that taught me the most and created the foundation of the person I have become. I could not be where I am today without the strength from my ancestors/family/friends who supported me to excel in my accomplishments!
Danielle Bohonos
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Bainbridge Island, WA
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MPH Community Oriented Public Health Practice; M.D. Medicine
I am a wife, mother, public health practitioner and future physician who is passionate about improving youth mental health and wellness. I have been fortunate to study both public health and medicine at the UW, which has given me the opportunity to explore my interests, ask questions, grow as an individual, and identify how I can best contribute to improving the lives of youth. As a community-oriented physician, I will be able to leverage my medical expertise and public health practice to fill the gap in behavioral health services and find innovative solutions to the behavioral health challenges facing youth in my community.
Saeed Mahamood
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Kent, WA
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B.S Biology (Physiology); B.S Public Health-Global Health
My time at the UW was spent fostering a passion for biological sciences, public health, and mentorship so that I can create educational equity for not only my peers, but the future generation of huskies who come from my community. I forged a path towards success for myself with the sense of relief that I made it just a bit easier for not only my baby siblings, but for my beloved community as a whole. I hope to be the first doctor in my family, and one of the few Somali doctors practicing in primary care in the greater Seattle area, my home.
Ofir Horovitz
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Redmond, WA
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health, minor in Dance
As an aspiring physician and immigrant, my primary focus is on improving health care access and outcomes for underserved communities through upstream disease prevention and mitigation. At the UW, I have been fortunate to explore my passion for the intersection between preventative and diagnostic care and the importance of interprofessional education in health care. I am grateful for the inclusive and supportive communities that have surrounded me, modeling the importance of peer support in fostering an environment of growth and empowerment.
Lia Villaruz
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Lynnwood, WA
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health
Overnight, a childhood spent singing and dancing in musical theater transformed into one spent in doctor’s appointments and IV infusions. Inspired by the struggles of others with my autoimmune condition and having had a glimpse into the medical world, I channeled my experiences as a patient and woman of color into exploring public health and technology as a means to eliminate racial health inequities and address the accessibility and cultural humility of medical care. Empowered with the knowledge and experience from my public health studies and internships, as well as work with community-based organizations as a volunteer and intern, I am determined to work with underserved populations as a public health practitioner, applying to my practice the understanding that the intersection of power, privilege and identity affects how individuals experience illness and their ability to access health care.
Sarah Shaw
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Clayton, CA
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Ph.D. Global Health Metrics and Implementation Science
My experiences at the UW, whether taking on new teaching roles, coordinating a research project with three community-based organizations in Seattle, or as an NPGH Fogarty Research Scholar in Kenya — in addition to having incredibly supportive mentors — have helped shape my career and life in a way that provides me with joy, community and fulfillment, while also challenging me. I am interested in holistic service delivery models which address social determinants of health among communities who have been historically underserved and ensure individuals have access to affordable, culturally sensitive and high-quality support. In my research, I aim to demonstrate how community-based participatory approaches can be combined with implementation science to conduct pragmatic research activities to improve health inequities and establish evidence-based approaches supporting the scale-up and sustainability of locally-developed interventions.
Madeleine Clarke
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Seattle, WA
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health, minor in Data Science
During my time at the UW, I have transformed from an apprehensive student to an empowered leader. I’ve strengthened my sense of identity as a queer, female public health researcher who is guided by compassion and justice. From designing a new engineering course on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Ethics, to engaging in research at the UW and Fred Hutch — the non-linear path I’ve forged as an undergraduate has allowed me to make the most of my Husky experience.
Olivia Brandon
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Seattle, WA
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B.S. Neuroscience; B.S. Public Health-Global Health
My career goal is to become a physician, engaging in research to develop much-needed therapies for newborns while maintaining a clinical academic position that encompasses my interest in global health. With research, I can identify a gap in knowledge and work towards improving care; I want to be a physician who not only improves the delivery of care but creates more equitable interventions. Outside of academics, I am the President of the Equestrian Team at the UW which has a mission of increasing accessibility to horses and the equestrian sport, and this mission guides my leadership role and mindset.
Emily Gong
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Vancouver, Canada
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B.S. Public Health-Global Health; Interdisciplinary Honors
My Husky experience is like a puzzle, with each piece contributing diverse experiences that fit together to form my college journey. From interdisciplinary coursework to hands-on translational cancer research and crisis counseling, both academic and extracurricular aspects have shaped my identity; as a curious learner and empathetic listener, I am passionate about mental health and supporting under-represented groups. Each piece of my college puzzle has harmoniously equipped me with invaluable skills that will help me achieve my aspirations of becoming a physician.