Zuleyma Ruiz

1.       In one sentence, what is public health to you?

Public health means that every person has the right to a level of health. It is the safety net that prevents negative health outcomes of communities and individuals.

2.       What inspired you to study public health?

As a Latina I discovered how important public health is to my community and wish to work towards increasing the health of undeserved and minority populations.

3.       What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far?

As a first-generation college student graduating from an institution of higher education and continuing my academic career as a graduate student has been the most rewarding experience thus far.

4.       What is the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were starting out in public health?

I wish someone would have told me that public health is everywhere and affects everyone but is rarely acknowledged or appreciated.

5.       What do you think is the biggest challenge that the public health field should be focusing on?

The biggest challenge public health should be focusing on are health disparities.