Katie Seaman
Title/s: Preferred pronouns: she/her<br /> Area of study: Masters of Public Health (MPH) <br /> Year: 2nd year master’s student<br />
Title/s: Preferred pronouns: she/her<br /> Area of study: Masters of Public Health (MPH) <br /> Year: 2nd year master’s student<br />
What research topics are of greatest interest to you/what are your studies about?
I’ve had the benefit of working as a research assistant with Dr. Darnell for the past few years to explore the longevity of free and charitable clinics—this research is allowing us to track clinics that have remained open for long periods of time and determine what factors may help predict that these clinics stay open.
On top of that, as part of my MPH, I’m doing my Capstone about HPV vaccination and analyzing how physician recommendations play a part in the gender disparities see in HPV vaccination proportions.
Generally, I’m interested in exploring how physicians and the medical system can be used to promote health equity and improve access to and quality of care in the United States.
Why are you interested in leadership and social/environmental justice?
I’ve always had an interest in health care and still am in the process of applying to medical school so I can be a doctor. However, I’ve also been able to study in my Public Health classes the various factors that contribute to the health of individuals and communities. So many social factors make a huge impact on health. Down the line in my career, I hope to become a physician to fight to improve health equity and the social determinants of health. I want to be a leader in this field so I can help promote individual health. Everyone has the right to high-quality health care and to live in environments that support and promote well-being, and I hope to use my voice and position to support and advocate for these conditions.
What do you hope to gain from the Gannon Graduate Leader program?
I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how to use my strengths and personal experiences to become a better leader down the line. Being able to understand myself and gain confidence in my passions will help me be a better leader down the line. Also, being able to connect with women in other fields and learn from their journeys and leadership styles will be a fantastic way to build a support system for the duration of my graduate school journey!