Hello! My name is Kimberly, a first-year CDC Public Health Associate stationed at the Indiana State Department of Health in Indianapolis, IN. I majored in Biology and minored in Global Health and Latinx/Chicanx Studies. I am still exploring my career goals but I have always been passionate about improving the health outcomes of minority communities. Ultimately, I’d love to serve in Congress and influence the policies that affect play a role in social determinants of health and amplify the voices of my community members.
*all thoughts/opinions are my own.
How I Learned Science Was for Me
My father was the first person in my life to show me the endless opportunities science could hold. From children’s books about the human body and animals, to summer science camps, and home-made volcanoes, I knew I had to pursue science in the classroom as I got older. Despite receiving doubt from several educators along the road, I became determined to major in biology. I was lucky to receive scholarships and financial aid to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Known as a top public research university and a beautiful campus you simply can’t beat, it felt like the right fit.
I knew I loved science and helping others in high school. My journey to public health was a long winding road that I am glad has let me to this point. I went from thinking I wanted to wear a white lab coat surrounded by pipettes, to being a white lab coat seeing patients, to public health.
In college I learned about the obvious career that combines these two passions–medicine! At first I thought that being a scientist in the lab making experiments all day or looking through a microscope. I realized quickly that my science courses lacked the humanities aspect of science. My global health and latinx studies courses exposed me to the world of public health and health equity. I go into way more detail on the experiences I had outside the classroom that helped solidified my passion for public health.
There will be many people who will say you aren’t smart enough or aren’t good enough for a school/major. I have had my fair share of educators second guess my abilities. While in the moment it is crushing, it is a chance to prove them wrong. It was important for me to find like-minded people in college who supported me, uplifted my goals, and felt strongly about social justice. I owe many thanks and gratitude to my BioCommons boss because she asked the hard questions and made me reflect on what I wanted to accomplish in my career long-term. It’s important to think about the impact you are capable of making with the privileges, resources, and interests you hold. Every decision you make now will somehow influence your career trajectory. My boss in college also saw something in me that I don’t think I did. Maybe it was the self-doubt I had from over the years, but I’m glad she made me realize how capable I am. I also had a wonderful boyfriend who pushed me to apply to the CDC PHAP program. He told me not to cross myself off their list before they even got a chance to get to know me. I am grateful to have surrounded myself by people who just want to see me do my best and achieve my goals.
Finding my Passion
I grew up hearing stories of Ecuador my parents kept close to their hearts since they arrived to the United States in 1995. I learned how America has created a life for them and myself. This inspired me to learn more about what it means to be an immigrant under diverse circumstances. As a third-year student, I embarked on a service-learning trip to the border communities of the Rio Grande Valley, known as colonias. With currently over 200 colonias and 500,000 residents, these marginalized communities are a major public health concern. Translating Spanish to English for La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), I discovered how the organization strives to organize community leaders and help them target key issues to establish a stronger local infrastructure. Through mobile clinics and community-led public forums, the colonias are fighting toward an equitable future.
After witnessing the colonias, I felt that my desire to pursue a career in medicine was not enough to achieve systemic change in regard to healthcare access and delivery. I observed the complex roots of the issues and the scarce resources available to address the challenging circumstances of this community. Although my visit to the colonias was brief, it has profoundly impacted my decision to pursue a career in public health.
My biology curriculum has encouraged me to approach natural science problems analytically and has fostered my curiosity for science. However, when I’m not looking through a microscope, I find gratification in my experiences outside of the classroom that let me connect community members to resources. As a BioCommons Ambassador, I can target gaps in campus resources relevant to the success of students in STEM. A fellow Ambassador (Chloe!) and I noticed a lack of communication between undergraduate and graduate students. As a team of Ambassadors, we developed events such as “Ask a Grad Student” and “STEM Speed Mentoring” to help bridge that gap and help students develop mentor-mentee relationships. The gratitude students radiated after the events proved how collaboration across disciplines can create large, accessible initiatives.
I also had the opportunity to volunteer as a health coach at the Wingra Family Medical Center, which provides long-term care for low-income patients in Madison. I work with a team of healthcare providers to build supportive relationships with at-risk patients (diabetes, hypertension, etc.), and I encourage patients to set personal health goals which motivate them to become accountable for their diet, exercise, and preventative care. This position has taught me how factors such as income or gender create barriers for patients when seeking care.
Ultimately, the idea of “leaving” medicine was a difficult one to make because I had prepared to apply to medical school. I had the finished the required courses, participated and actively served in my community, and discovered my passion for health justice. Realizing that I wanted to change the system we practice in allowed me to pivot into public health. Don’t get me wrong–there is a shortage of providers and we see those consequences in the fight against COVID-19. However, I see myself growing into a role where I can make a systemic impact. I’m not sure where this career will take me, but I know I can break barriers in public health and hopefully politics someday. I want to become an agent of change on the Hill where I am fighting for a just future.
Steps to my Future Career
I plan on pursuing my MPH in Health Policy and Administration after my two year fellowship has concluded. I haven’t decided where I am applying, but I would love to attend school on the east coast. It is important for me to find programs that are just as passionate about social justice issues. Boston University recently declared they are opening a Center for Antiracist Research. It is important for me to attend a school that is as vocal as me on topics such as antiracism, health justice, and social determinants of health. I have my eye on BU and am excited to apply this upcoming Fall! However, I am happy to take my skills anywhere and grow with my future peers. I look forward to whatever opportunity comes after that. As mentioned earlier, I’d love to start my career in politics someday. I am proudly born and raised in inner-city Chicago. I can definitely see myself representing my district in the State Assembly or in the House someday.
Advice to Anyone Who wants to Get Involved in Public Health
I have three key pieces of advice for the field of public health
- Public health is all around you!
- Don’t be afraid to take a gap year
- It only takes one yes
I always thought public health needed to be taught as a partnership with medicine. However, it’s important to understand that you CAN pursue only public health. As you might’ve learned in your courses public health is literally everywhere–housing, education, nutrition and fitness, insurance, environment, agriculture, etc. It is your job to figure out how you fit in this massive jigsaw puzzle. I am here to tell you it is okay to not know where that is exactly. This is why I encourage many people to take a gap year and explore their interests. The only way you will be able to apply what you learn in the classroom in real life is by going out there and doing it! You can volunteer at a clinic, intern at a state/local health department, do public health research, work at a food pantry, etc. All of these opportunities will have something to teach you about the different facets of public health.
I remember applying to about 20 different post-grad programs or jobs. Senior year was very stressful–graduation, capstone, research, volunteering, working, mental health, relationships, the list goes on and on and on. On top of all of these different stressors I had to apply for jobs or post-bach programs. I compiled a huge list halfway through my senior year and had my heart set on 3 different programs out of the long list of 20. I got an interview with all three, and was waiting on one (PHAP). It was my final chance and I didn’t know I got into the PHAP program until June (way after i graduated). Do not be afraid to put yourself out there and take the rejections as a moment to self-reflect. Just remember something better is coming as long as you get back up after each rejection. Once you get that one yes show them why they’re lucky to have you in their program/job and don’t ever lose that momentum!
Feel free to email me at kimcrow2@gmail.com. Happy to answer any questions or chat over Skype. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn with my name, Kimberly Crow.
