Public Health

Garima Sharma is a member of the Class of 2028 and is majoring in Public Health and Biology at St. Lawrence University, with a growing interest in global health and health equity. Growing up in a rural community in Uttarakhand, India, she became interested in how social and structural factors influence people’s access to healthcare. Her interest in HIV research developed through her coursework on the Global HIV Epidemic and her exploration of stigma, healthcare systems, and treatment access.

Emma LaBelle, Class of 2028, is a neuroscience and public health double major planning to apply to medical school in Summer 2027. 

She hopes to pursue rural medicine and serve communities like Chateaugay, NY, where she grew up. Her interest in public health stems from seeing how geographically isolated, underserved communities face barriers to care beyond physical health. Growing up in a rural community showed her that healthcare access is just as important as treating illness and inspired her commitment to helping rural communities overcome those barriers. 

My name is Mutanu, a Public Health major with double minors in Asian Studies and Chinese Studies. My interest in public health stems from growing up in a community where I witnessed firsthand how, despite global technological advancements, many countries continue to be left behind by systems that do not serve them or by policies that restrict access to essential resources. I was also drawn to explore the intersections of culture and policy, particularly how trade and governance influence the well-being of nations and citizens in the Global South.

My name is Tafadzwa Monalisa Musasa, a Zimbabwean student and UWC Davis Scholar. I came to SLU aspiring to take up the Biomedical Sciences major under the Pre-med track. However, after exploring Public Health classes, I have developed an understanding of the different facets of health and health improvement initiatives beyond clinical care. Now majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, I am privileged to be able to view health from different angles.

I’m Aurore Mihigo, a proud daughter of Bukavu in the DR Congo and a Junior at St. Lawrence University majoring in Public Health. My path is shaped by a love for people and a belief that real change begins in our own communities. I aim to use my studies to address public health challenges and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions worldwide, drawing on experiences in diverse contexts.

My name is Leah Squadrito, I am a Global Studies Public health double major class of 2024. I am from Syracuse New York were I completed my work with PEACE inc. as well as remote research with Haneefa Saleem for Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. In the future I hope to pursue a career in the Public Health field focusing on global public health. 

Ellison (Ellie) Stannard, Class of 2025, is a Public Health and Biomedical Science double major on a pre-medical track. She is interested in the complex relationships between the biological and social factors that shape the practice of health care and contribute to health outcomes on the individual and community levels. These interests led her to research at Dartmouth Health intended to improve the care of female patients and destigmatize women's health issues.