Advice for first year public health students: A public health degree provides a strong foundation for a plethora of careers whether it is in research, healthcare administration, global health and beyond. Sound advice from current fourth-year and public health policy undergraduate student, Gabriel Loza, who navigated new terrain as a first-generation college student. His past three-plus years at UCI have given him newfound experiences that he wants to pay forward by pursuing a career in healthcare management.
The faculty at UCI Public Health are aspirational and I’d love to follow in their footsteps and push toward completing a Master’s degree. It would make my family proud and give me the knowledge and tools I need to help my community.”
– Gabriel Loza, Public Health Policy, Undergraduate, Class of 2023
Loza is the 2022 recipient of the UCI Public Health Alumni Board Scholarship Award, and was chosen for his passion to serve and give back to his community coupled with strong academic records aligned with the award’s mission to support and retain the best and brightest students at UCI.
This year was especially stressful for me because it was difficult to find housing. This scholarship helped me get grounded financially and focus on my studies,” Loza said. “It’s hard to focus on studying when you don’t know what you’re going to eat or where you’re going to stay.”
Economic stability is a social determinant of health, which has a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. And this exact challenge is a strong motivator for Loza who plans to pursue a career with the World Health Organization in their effort to build stronger public health infrastructure in under-developed countries. His career aspirations are a true reflection of his lived experiences at UCI.
Following the completion of his BA degree, Loza plans to pursue a master’s degree, and will apply to the Master of Public Health program at UCI, with an emphasis in Sociocultural Diversity and Health.
The faculty at UCI Public Health are aspirational and I’d love to follow in their footsteps and push toward completing a Master’s degree. It would make my family proud and give me the knowledge and tools I need to help my community.”
