A young woman with long dark brown wavy hair, blue eyes, and a warm smile, wearing a white blouse against a plain white background.

Katelyn Hickey
UAID National Board Intern (2023-2024)

“I joined UAID because of its unwavering commitment to addressing inequities in diseases. UAID's mission aligns with my passion for making a meaningful impact on public health and addressing the root causes of health disparities. UAID stands out to me due to its holistic approach to tackling health inequities. Unlike some organizations that focus solely on specific diseases or regions, UAID takes a comprehensive approach, addressing the interconnected factors contributing to disparities. The emphasis on community engagement, cultural sensitivity, and sustainable solutions makes UAID unique in its dedication to creating lasting change.”

Smiling young man with glasses in professional attire.

Jonah Tripp
Yeshiva University UAID Chapter Co-President (2022-2023)
Yeshiva University UAID Chapter Vice-President (2021-2022)

“I began my undergraduate studies in Yeshiva University at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. At a time when “Public Health” was a phrase commonly uttered by anyone and everyone, I felt a need to dive within the depths of this vitally important topic and educational sphere. Yeshiva University’s chapter of UAID was immediately present to answer that call. With an array of speakers and volunteering opportunities, Yeshiva’s chapter was able to guide students towards an active role in public health. This notion of action is at the center of each and every chapter of UAID, making the entire organization a vital component of the national concern for Public Health. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to implement and further develop an active attitude towards the importance of health equity both within my university’s chapter of UAID and the surrounding community of Washington Heights at large.”

Smiling young woman with long dark hair wearing an off-the-shoulder navy dress, standing outdoors with trees and a wooden fence in the background.

Urvi Chowdhury
UAID National Board Director (2022-2023)
UAID National Board Intern (2021-2022)

“Because of UAID, I have grown tremendously as an advocate for my peers, members of my community, and my loved ones. I learned how to effectively mobilize and empower students in my own college community. Most significantly, UAID has taught me that getting involved on a smaller, student-run scale within local communities can significantly bolster the efforts of attaining health equity. For me personally, my involvement with UAID has inspired me to incorporate public health and advocacy into my education and career as a future physician so that I can effectively combat health inequities locally, domestically, and globally.”

Young woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a black top and a red and gold stole, in front of a wooden wall.

Aditi Tuli
UAID National Board Director (2022-2023)
UAID National Board Intern (2021-2022)

“I joined UAID as a rising senior with a deep passion for public health and healthcare initiatives. As an aspiring physician, UAID allowed me to learn about the connection between healthcare and community health and how the interplay between the two is crucial in alleviating health disparities amongst communities. As I got involved with my project and learned from my other peers and their projects, I was provided with the right resources to develop leadership and project management skills, as well as the different elements and initiatives it takes to make a positive difference in diverse communities. I ended my first year with UAID with new skill sets, but more importantly, great friendships and mentors that have contributed immensely to my development.

One distinctive aspect of UAID that stands out is its commitment to empowering students to lead and implement public health interventions within their school communities. Unlike many other organizations, UAID provides a unique platform for students to initiate, plan, and see through public health projects tailored to the specific needs of their schools and communities. By allowing students to take charge of these initiatives, UAID catalyzes a transformative experience that goes beyond theoretical knowledge. Students are not only learning about public health but actively contributing to the well-being of their communities.”

Portrait of a smiling woman with short black hair, wearing a light blue uniform with dark blue accents and a necklace, indoors with blurred background.

Silicia Lomax
UAID National Board Executive Director (2021-2022)
UAID National Board Vice-President (2020-2021)
UAID National Board Director (2019-2020)
UAID National Board Intern (2018-2019)

“When I first heard of UAID, I was just beginning my Masters of Public Health program. I was thrilled to be able to use that internship at the time to turn some of the theories that I was learning in the classroom into practice with developing health projects in real communities. I enjoyed it so much that I've been with UAID for almost 5 years now! It is rare to find an organization and people that are truly passionate about health equity. It's not just a term that is mentioned on the website of the organization but a value that UAID actively works toward.”

A young woman with long brown hair, light skin, and wearing a black shirt, smiling at the camera, sitting in front of a pink wall with a patterned yellow cushion behind her.

Grace Suh
UAID National Board Vice-President (2021-2022)
UAID National Board Director (2020-2021)
UAID National Board Intern (2019-2020)

“I came to UAID unaware of the nuances of health equity and public health and, now, I feel as though I truly understand not only what community health is but also my role as an aspiring public health professional and physician in this movement. The lessons I learned from UAID have allowed me to expand my passions in social justice and medicine and witness just how intimately these two disciplines are connected. Above all, UAID has taught me the impact a student can make and how powerful we can be when addressing health inequities at the community-level.”

A young man with dark hair, glasses, and a beard, smiling, wearing a navy button-up shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

Yaacov Schneider
Yeshiva University UAID Chapter Co-President (2018-2019)

“UAID has helped us make connections with leaders of several community organizations, as well as with the congresswoman of our district. We conduct preliminary research, interview individuals, meet with local government officials, and hold events in schools, shelters, the streets, and on our own campus. Through these connections and our Chapter’s contributions, my understanding and awareness of the public health issues and community needs surrounding our campus has deepened. It’s evident to anyone exposed to UAID that we’re not just about the talk, nor are we about trying to look impressive. Rather, our primary focus is plainly and entirely public health.”

Young woman with long black hair, glasses, smiling, wearing a blue cable knit sweater and white collared shirt, standing in front of a historic building with columns and a monument.

Helena Bui
Yale University UAID Chapter President (2018-2019)

“Because of UAID, Yale students have been able to act as true participants of the New Haven community. The interactions with local organizations and leaders have humbled students and made them deeply aware of their community. I think the focus on New Haven makes UAID unique, in the sense that you’re working with and for the community instead of working above it or dictating it. We don’t come in ready to execute our idea, but instead foster collaboration that allows us to explore what the community needs and help members achieve solutions.”

A young man with dark hair and glasses wearing a white shirt and dark blazer, standing in front of a brick wall.

Youngjae Cha
John Hopkins University UAID Chapter Co-President (2018-2019)

“As a Baltimore, MD resident, I’ve been able to realize that not everyone has equal opportunity to access healthcare or obtain healthcare that’s of quality. The training modules offered through UAID helped me associate this with specific public health terms such as inequity and disparity, so that I can better communicate my experiences and knowledge with others.”

Young man with glasses and a patterned shirt smiling at a podium at Boston University School of Public Health.

Rory Moore
UAID National Board Director (2016-2018)

“UAID gave me the foundational skills that were pivotal to my success in my Master of Public Health program. I’ve been inspired by UAID to continue being a community health activist for LGBTQIA+ individuals and to be an advocate for reducing racial health disparities and inequities. UAID has also given me the inspiration to one day be an executive director of a public health nonprofit.”

Young man in a gray suit and black bow tie standing outdoors next to a brick sign with partially visible text.

Stephen Kane
UAID National Board Director (2014-2017)

“UAID strengthened my understanding of population health, the healthcare system that I work in, and the daily social factors that shape my patients’ lives. Without this space for growth and being able to challenge my understanding of health, I don’t believe I’d have the same perspective and drive to work with the population that I’m currently working with. For example, the community project model that UAID developed is the foundation that I use to understand impact in the correctional health outreach group for which I’m involved.”

A young woman with long dark brown hair, smiling at the camera, wearing a gray top against a light-colored background.

Nicole Mair
UAID National Board Director (2016-2017)
University of Maryland College Park UAID Chapter President (2014-2016)

“Through UAID, I was exposed to the idea that community service should be directly informed by community needs, and enacted in partnership with the community itself. I also really appreciated the emphasis on sustainable and socially responsible work, so that the efforts would have a much stronger impact and be more meaningful than the one-and-done, checkbox type of activities that many other student organizations participate in. Now, I've carried these same public health ideas and principles with me as I work with new groups in medical school to enact programs that aim to improve health outcomes in the local community.”