Graduation is quickly approaching and we are so excited to watch our students walk across the stage! As we patiently wait, we tapped a few of our awardees to tell us about their GPH experience, things they learn and some priceless memories.
Omobolanle Ayo:
The 2023 Class Representative for GPH, Omobolanle is a practicing physician from Nigeria who will receive her MPH with a concentration in Global Health. She served as a teaching assistant and volunteered with the United Nations FPA Somalia.
- Think back to your first day as an NYU student; what advice would you give yourself?
- Girl, relax and chill; God's got you! You’ll make good friends, and everything will fall into place.
- If you could solve any public health challenge in the world, what would it be?
- There are too many! But in the spirit of being ambitious: food insecurity.
- Describe your favorite NYU memory.
- One time a friend dragged me to an NYU mixer, and I won the first raffle ticket (that felt so special)! Then to spice things up we all changed seats — and the next raffle winner was sitting in my previous spot!
- What skill was indispensable as you earned your degree?
- Time management! I’m still improving on this...
Lolayemi Olulola Charles:
A recipient of the GPH Social Justice Award, Lolayemi earned her BA while working at GPH’s Empower Lab and at NYC Health + Hospitals. She is moving to Thailand to continue her work in gender-based violence and health as a Luce Scholar.
- Think back to your first day as an NYU student; what advice would you give yourself?
- I would tell myself to enjoy the journey while I work toward my destination. Learning to experience the fullness and beauty of life was instrumental in finding my work-life balance. As COVID-19 disrupted my first year of college, I would encourage myself to take advantage of opportunities and appreciate the things around me, because you don’t know if you’ll have that chance again.
- If you could solve any public health challenge in the world, what would it be?
- I would solve climate change; it’s an incredibly important public health issue that forces people from their homes and affects mental health, food insecurity, water availability and air pollution. These issues disproportionately impact impoverished countries and much of the global south, subsequently exacerbating existing inequalities.
- Describe your favorite NYU memory.
- My favorite NYU memory is studying abroad as an RA in London! Even though I went without knowing anyone else who was studying away, I ended up meeting two of my closest friends whilst traveling throughout Europe together. I was very grateful to study away and experience the “global” part of my global public health major.
- What skill was indispensable as you earned your degree?
- Adaptability. Having my first year disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that I had to be flexible with change. Policies and protocols were changing every month, so I had to stay focused, while being open to change and adaptable to new situations.
- What's your favorite food or beverage spot in New York City?
- My favorite restaurant in New York City is Thep Thai, on Second Avenue off 75th Street. It’s hands-down the best Thai food I’ve had in New York to date.
Samantha Harris:
Samantha earned her MPH with a concentration in Public Health Nutrition and received a Public Health Research award. She plans to complete her internship program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and pursue certification as a Registered Dietitian.
- Think back to your first day as an NYU student; what advice would you give yourself?
- Be patient with yourself. At the start, you're surrounded by some of the most successful people you've ever worked with. Opportunities will come your way, but you don’t need to say yes to everything. Figure out what you’re passionate about and when those opportunities appear, take them.
- If you could solve any public health challenge in the world, what would it be?
- With my nutrition background, I would pick something related to food deserts or nutrition education. Sadly, there are so many challenges to pick from. Food should be used to fuel and heal us, not to make us sick.
- Describe your favorite NYU memory.
- It's hard to sum them all up. I would highlight all the little moments that have happened, and the friends and colleagues I've met along the way. NYU GPH feels like one large family, and I couldn’t be more thankful to have been a part of it.
- What skill was indispensable as you earned your degree?
- Time management skills. It sounds so basic, but honestly it’s so necessary. A huge part of this degree is networking and outside opportunities on top of the very heavy course load. Having good time management skills is necessary to thrive and make the most of the MPH experience.
- What's your favorite food or beverage spot in New York City?
- There are so many good spots! My favorite coffee shop near campus is Librea Bakery; they have French pastries crossed with Middle Eastern flavors. I've been several times and have loved everything on the menu! Plus they have delicious coffee.
Kaylee Lamarche:
A native New Yorker and the recipient of GPH’s Public Health Practice and Leadership Award, Kaylee earned her MPH with a concentration in Global Health. As a fellow at the CDC she conducted epidemiology research to study diseases in Puerto Rico.
- Think back to your first day as an NYU student; what advice would you give yourself?
- I was 17 years old on my first day as an NYU student. Now, almost two degrees later, I would have so much to say to my younger self. The most important advice is to never stop asking questions. Curiosity is a real strength, and I believe that sometimes the most important changes come from simply asking Why or Why not?
- If you could solve any public health challenge in the world, what would it be?
- I would want to tackle the ongoing infodemic. So many interventions hinge on successfully engaging the public, and to do that we have to ensure people have unimpeded access to the resources necessary to make informed decisions about their health.
- Describe your favorite NYU memory.
- One of my favorites is getting to take a course in London called Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: A Global Perspective. Not only did I feel inspired by the material we were learning, but being surrounded by other passionate peers in public health was a really amazing way to start off my last semester at GPH.
- What skill was indispensable as you earned your degree?
- I believe that the knowledge you hold really gains its value when you can share it with others, and communicating effectively is essential to that exchange. Being able to articulate my ideas, questions and concerns was vital to earning my degree and being able to define my path in public health.
- What's your favorite food or beverage spot in New York City?
- One of my favorite beverage spots in New York City is Lê Phin. It’s a cozy Vietnamese cafe in the East Village with the best pandan-flavored drinks.
Natalie Pinder:
Hailing from Australia, Natalie will receive her MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology and serve as GPH’s 2023 Banner Bearer. A former nursing assistant who has conducted research among cancer patients, she’ll pursue her MD in the fall.
- Think back to your first day as an NYU student; what advice would you give yourself?
- I would tell myself to not be apprehensive about putting myself out there, and to get involved in research labs early in my degree. There are so many great labs at GPH, and I wish I had looked into them sooner and put myself out there sooner.
- If you could solve any public health challenge in the world, what would it be?
- Maternal morbidity and mortality disparities among racial groups that have access to the same resources. This is something that is entirely preventable, yet it’s still a huge public health issue that affects so many people.
- Describe your favorite NYU memory.
- Attending the orientation cruise at the end of working as an Onboarding Ambassador over the summer. Seeing the Statue of Liberty as the sun was setting was just incredible!
- What skill was indispensable as you earned your degree?
- I’ve learned how to harness the research and interpersonal skills I’ve gained, and to communicate and translate them into other areas of my personal and professional life.
- What's your favorite food or beverage spot in New York City?
- The Flower Shop in the Lower East Side ... also, Banter in SoHo for a good Aussie brunch!