Spring 2023 Spotlights – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

July 4, 2023July 6, 2023

Student Spotlight: Joanna Horvath

Joanna Horvath is a Master of Public Health graduate in Social and Behavioral Science. Her public health experience so far has centered around projects related to the prevention of opioid overdoses, cancer, and women and children’s health issues.

Before coming to New York City to further her education, Joanna worked as a writer for various state public health campaigns. In addition to her MPH from NYU, she completed a Master’s Certificate in Conflict Transformation from St. Mary’s University and currently works as a Visitor Experience Seasonal Ambassador for The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

To learn more about Joanna, we spoke with the master’s student about conflict transformation, art therapy, her thesis presentation in Northern Ireland, and where her interest in public health began. Read our Q&A with Joanna below!

Interviewed by Selina Ma.

May 27, 2023September 23, 2023

Student Spotlight: Heather Yu

Heather Yu is pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at New York University’s School of Global Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. Heather is from St. Augustine, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in microbiology and a minor in mathematics.

At NYU, Heather is involved in the Applied Global Public Health Initiative. In her role as a student researcher, she assisted with data analysis and the development of data collection methods alongside researchers in maternal and neonate health in Queretaro, Mexico.

To learn more about Heather, we spoke with the master’s student about her experience and interest in public health. Read our Q&A with Heather below!

Interviewed by Selina Ma.

May 19, 2023September 23, 2023

Student Spotlight: Hyacinth Burrowes

Hyacinth Burrowes is pursuing her Master of Public Health at the New York University School of Global Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Public Health Sciences. As a William N. Rom Climate Fellow partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she is currently exploring research on the health effects of climate change. As part of the fellowship program, Hyacinth attended the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and works to support UNDP in various public health assessment projects.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Hyacinth volunteers her time as a Vice State Lead Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and works as a Mental Health Consultant for Manhattan Community Board 3. She also serves as the Outreach Committee Chair for the USF Black Alumni Society.

To learn more about Hyacinth, we spoke with the master’s student about the intersection of public health and climate change, mental health, and emergency preparedness. Read our Q&A with Hyacinth below!

Interviewed by Meryl Phair.

May 19, 2023May 19, 2023

Student Spotlight: Victoria Sevilla

Victoria Sevilla is a Master of Public Health student at the New York University School of Global Public Health and received her Bachelor’s degrees in Global Health and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). She works part-time at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) where she is the Co-Chair of the AME Publicity Committee and a member of the AME Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

To learn more about Victoria, we spoke with the master’s student about her interest in emergency response, wildfires, and the intersection of engineering and public health. Read our Q&A with Victoria below!

Interviewed by Meryl Phair.

May 19, 2023May 19, 2023

Student Spotlight: Thomas O’Neill

Thomas O’Neill is pursuing his Master’s of Public Health degree at the New York University School of Global Public Health with a concentration in Public Health Management. The Rutgers New Brunswick graduate has been an active member of the Glen Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Squad in New Jersey, being involved in all aspects of emergency response from the position of Operations Officer to an Emergency Medical Technician. In addition to his on-the-ground response training, Thomas has explored the operational and management side of public health such as through his role as a Government Affairs Intern for Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health.

To learn more about Thomas, we spoke with the master’s student about his interest in the field of public health and his experience as an EMT during the pandemic. Read our Q&A with Thomas below!

Interviewed by Meryl Phair.

May 19, 2023May 22, 2023

Student Spotlight: Morgan Roberts

Morgan Roberts recently graduated with a Master’s in Public Health from New York University School of Global Public Health. She currently works as an Occupational Health and Safety Consultant for Dr. Gershon on the NYU Transit Worker Study in creating resources for the NYC Transit Workers Union to respond to the next infectious disease pandemic.

At NYU, Morgan was a teaching assistant for two NYU courses: Global Health Foundations and Urban Health & Equity. She has been involved with the NYU Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI), working in multiple roles such as a French Translator, Emergency Context Policy Researcher, and currently as a Project Manager. She is also in the midst of a Climate Change Advocacy Specialist fellowship with the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), where she is exploring the public health implications of climate change.

To learn more about Morgan, we spoke with the master’s student about her passion for public health, her work through the AGPHI Lab with the Lebanon Ministry of Health, and her plans following graduation. Read our Q&A with Morgan below!

Interviewed by Meryl Phair.

April 10, 2023April 13, 2023

Student Spotlight: Hazal Kayalioglu

Hazal Kayalioglu is pursuing her graduate studies at NYU School of Global Public Health and works as a Grants Coordinator at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

She’s previously conducted population‐based surveillance for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Infections Program (EIP) at Yale University, working in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to provide surge capacity in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, and has conducted testing for infectious disease at the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory. Through her current role, she presented at the 2019 Northeast Epidemiology Conference on Candidemia Surveillance, and become a published author in the Clinical Infectious Disease Journal.

To learn more about Hazal Kayalioglu, we spoke with the master’s student about her interest in the field of public health and her experience in infectious disease surveillance. Read our Q&A with Hazal below!

Interviewed by Shelagh Herzog.

April 3, 2023April 13, 2023

Student Spotlight: Dunqing Li

Dunqing is a second-year MPH candidate at the NYU School of Global Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Public Health. He previously graduated with a BA in Public Health and a BE in Occupational Safety and Health from Muskingum University in Ohio.

He is interested in the intersection of environmental health with emergency preparedness and response in occupational settings. During the pandemic, he interned at the Chinese CDC and Emergency Management Department in Shenzhen, China.

To learn more about Dunqing Li, we spoke with the master’s student about his public health journey from coal mines to COVID-19. Read our Q&A with Dunqing below!

Interview by Shelagh Herzog.