Q: What inspired you to pursue a master's in public health (MPH) at UD?

Free: As a pre-medical student in undergrad, I initially focused on the clinical side of healthcare. However, after taking a course in field epidemiology, I became interested in public health. I was drawn to its upstream approach to addressing social determinants of health and healthcare disparities. I hope to apply this knowledge in my future work.

Q: What areas of public health are you most passionate about?

Free: I am most interested in infectious disease and pharmacoepidemiology; this involves tracking and mitigation efforts for infectious diseases and clinical trials for vaccine-preventable diseases.

Q: What are your post-graduation plans?

Free: I aim to join a state or federal health department to work on public health initiatives or obtain a position as a site manager at a pharmaceutical company.

Q: Can you share information about research projects or fieldwork you've done in your program?

Free: I contributed to the State Health Improvement Plan and State Health Assessment for Delaware in my graduate program. I have also conducted research on vulnerable populations, analyzing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities.

Q: What motivated you to attend the APHA conference, and what did you gain from the experience?
Free: I attended the APHA conference to present my approved abstract, "Disparities in cardiovascular screening and healthcare access among adults with disabilities amid COVID-19 phases in the United States," as an oral presentation. I also presented a poster on my research: "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Disability Community in Delaware.” I also looked forward to networking with other public health professionals. Additionally, attending APHA has improved my networking skills, expanded my professional network, and increased my understanding of current public health projects.

Q: Have you learned about any new public health trends or challenges at the conference that you think will shape the future of the field?

Free: Several sessions at the conference addressed emerging topics in public health, including the role of AI, community mistrust in public health initiatives, and current interventions for illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and long-term COVID. These discussions facilitated idea exchange and collaboration among public health professionals to address challenges faced in the U.S.

Q: What public health issues do you feel are most pressing today, and how do you hope to contribute to addressing them?

Free: Climate change and the increased risk of climate-related disasters are today's most pressing public health issues. The rising frequency of hurricanes and forest fires significantly impacts our health and safety. Through my future work, I hope to advocate for climate-related policy changes and contribute to post-disaster epidemiology work.

Q: Did the conference offer new research or career path ideas?

Free: Conversations with public health professionals at the conference sparked my interest in vector-borne and blood-borne infectious diseases. This has motivated me to explore state and federal infectious disease and One Health programs currently operating in the country.

Q: What advice would you give prospective or new students considering a career in public health?

Free: Get involved! Many professors welcome student participation in their research projects, providing valuable research experience and opportunities to attend events like APHA. The more you engage with the program and the field, the more experience you can bring to your future work.