Current Students
News and Updates
-April 2016-
Congratulations to current CHPR students Megan Alexander and Lina Vadlamani, both of whom were selected to receive the 2015-2016 Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement, and to Vy Tran, who received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award and the Newman Civic Fellows Award.
The Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement to Megan and Lina recognizes “truly extraordinary students for their exceptional accomplishments in academic endeavors such as superb course-related work, unusual achievement in independent research, success in national competitions of an academic nature, or published writing or other presentations for a national audience.” Recipients are nominated by Stanford faculty and selected by the Dean’s Award Committee.
Vy was selected for a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Mexico. She will engage in community-based participatory research in Oaxaca, Mexico and represent the U.S. as a cultural ambassador while there, helping to enhance mutual understanding between Americans and the people in Mexico. Selection for the prestigious Fulbright is based on many factors, including academic record and the extent to which the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community.
Vy also received the Newman Civic Fellows Award, which honors inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Newman Civic Fellows are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge motivation and ability in public leadership.
Megan Alexander
My name is Megan Alexander and I am majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Preventive Medicine (anticipated graduation in Spring 2017). I am passionate about empowering others to attain long-term good health through optimizing everyday lifestyle choices. The knowledge and skills I gain from the CHPR M.S. Program will be extremely helpful to me in my future career as a prevention-focused medical doctor. In my free time, I love cooking and exploring new places!
Allison DeCastro
My name is Allison DeCastro and I am a Psychology major with a specialization in Health and Development, and a minor in Spanish (anticipated graduation in Spring 2016). I am excited about the CHPR M.S. program because of the opportunity to research and learn about community health, specifically community mental health, and to work with an organization in the community. One fun fact about me is that I still remember all of my locker combinations from middle and high school.
Onisha Etkins
My name is Onisha Etkins and I am a Science Technology & Society major with a concentration in Life Sciences and Biotechnology. I plan to complete my BA degree in the Spring of 2016. I am interested in a M.S. in CHPR because it will allow me to apply my interests in community health into a research-oriented mindset, focused on prevention and finding solutions that specifically cater to community needs. A fun fact is that in 2014 I traveled to 6 different countries (Mexico, India, Spain, Italy, England and France).
Luis Garcia
Hello! My name is Luis Garcia, and I am majoring in Human Biology ('16) with a concentration in Infectious Diseases and Global Health. Through the CHPR M.S. Program, I hope not only to develop robust quantitative research skills, but also to better understand the burden of chronic disease, particularly in communities of color and lower socioeconomic status. In the future, I hope to attend medical school and complement my medical training with upstream strategies for prevention and research to better serve vulnerable populations. Outside of health, I am passionate about educational equity, hiking, and writing short stories.
Jo Getz
My name is Jo Getz and I'm a Computer Science major on the information track (anticipated graduation in 2016). I'm excited for the CHPR program because it will help me gain the necessary tools to apply my CS background to varying issues within the healthcare industry, as well as study the effects public policy can play in healthcare. Fun fact: I was once stung by a bee on the inside of my left ear canal and couldn't hear for a week.
Nicole Giron
My name is Nicole Giron and I am majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Health and Health Policy in Underserved Communities, as well as minoring in Spanish. I will be graduating in the Spring of 2016 and am eager to continue my studies with the CHPR M.S. program. I am excited to be a part of this program because it will allow me to more deeply and technically develop my interest in community health, enabling me to provide better care for others in the future. A fun fact about me: I have travelled to more countries than I have states!
Tim Schurz
My name is Tim Schurz, a Human Biology major and a Classics minor with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2016. I am incredibly excited for the Community Health and Prevention Research M.S. program to help me gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make a significant and global impact in health care. Fun fact about me, I grew up in the country of Zambia and had a pet chameleon named Johnny.
Dylan Simmons
My name is Dylan Simmons, and I am a Sociology major in the Class of 2017. I am excited to integrate my education and experience in social sciences and intersectional feminist and gender studies with the CHPR program. Although I am eager to work on several facets of community health and prevention, I am particularly interested in minimizing queer and trans health disparities through community intervention. In my free time, I enjoy reading, yoga, tabletop gaming, and playing with my tuxedo cat Glenys.
Katie Toothman
My name is Katie Toothman. I'm currently studying Human Biology; my Area of Concentration is "Social and Environmental Determinants of Health". I am also set to have a minor in Classics. I anticipate to be done with this degree in Spring 2016. This CHPR Master's program appeals to me for a variety of reasons; it's fairly flexible, very hands on, and the internship component will give me a chance to wholeheartedly explore the variety of communities that surround Stanford University's campus. One day I hope to become a dentist; I love the idea of exploring dental health within certain community health contexts.
Vy Tran
I'm Vy (pronounced "VEE") Tran, and I am a Human Biology Major with a concentration in Equitable Care for Diverse, Underserved Communities (expected 2016). I grew up in a rural village in Vietnam – in a house built from dried mud and the only sources of light were the sun and man-made fire. I have an immense gratitude for life. My daily soul nourishments include embracing opportunities to learn from and to connect with others – discovering each person's unique story. I hope to make a difference in health care, immigration, and education. I am excited about the CHPR M.S. Program because I aspire to pursue a career in medicine as a community health advocate and as a family physician.
Lina Vadlamani
My name is Lina Vadlamani, and I am a Human Biology major concentrating in Global Health Policy (anticipated graduation in Spring 2016). I am particularly interested in preventive health and primary care access in disadvantaged populations. I'm incredibly excited to start the CHPR MS program this fall and learn more about how culturally-sensitive and cost effective programs can be designed to encourage better chronic disease prevention and management in low income communities. I enjoy volunteering with Pacific Free Clinic and Team HBV, and spend much of my free time pretending that my life is a Bollywood movie, complete with impromptu dance sequences.
Shannon Xue
My name is Shannon Xue and I am an Economics major, graduating in Spring 2016. I am interested in epidemiological modeling and quantifying the impact of generic entrants and pharmaceutical pricing on population health and access to treatments. I am especially looking forward to the CHPR program, as it will allow me to explore the intersection of healthcare and economics in more depth.