A MESSAGE FROM A COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY STUDENT
Rigoberto Perez Hernandez | Human Biology, Health, and Society | California The College of Human Ecology encompasses everything I want to do — advocating for global health and practicing medicine. More importantly, I chose to be a Human Biology, Health, and Society major because it examines health through the social, psychological, economic, political, and cultural dimensions. My major is designed to effectively prepare students for the challenge of health disparities that continue to plague our communities. I have worked with my academic advisors to plan my years at Cornell. I will be able to complete my premedical core requirements while exploring courses from the different colleges within the university. My experiences in Human Ecology have solidified my interests and passions for the health field by exposing me to opportunities on campus and across the globe. Furthermore, the College of Human Ecology has exposed me to faculty involved in research that align with my interests and that drives my general curiosity to explore the unknown. The College of Human Ecology has allowed me to assess global health through many dimensions. Instead of approaching a problem with one perspective, I am able to evaluate and tackle the problems with different solutions. I attribute this skill to the faculty of the College of Human Ecology. I had the privilege of conducting biomedical research in Santiago de Chile through the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program this past summer. I spent most of my time analyzing the associations between migraines and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a cohort of pregnant Peruvian women and drafting a research manuscript to submit for publication. I also helped my physician mentors treat patients at the Rehabilitation and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery departments at the Hospital del Trabajador.
This experience instilled in me the belief that research has no borders. My time in a foreign country has allowed me to better understand the many dimensions of health that would help reduce the risk of disease in communities. Coming back from my time in Chile, I am now more confident in my decision to continue pursuing an MD/MPH. I intend to translate individual records into aggregate data that could be used to create health models to fit the needs of underrepresented communities. I have been involved with various campus organizations including the Science Organization of Latinos (SOL); La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.; ALANA Intercultural Board; New York State Latino Leadership Summit; Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS); Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A. de Cornell) One of my favorite courses was NS 1150: Nutrition, Health, and Society, as the course sharpened my understanding of the impacts of nutrition on the global scale. I also enjoyed taking NS 3200: Human Biochemistry because it allows you to analyze and solve a broad range of human diseases through an interdisciplinary approach. My career goals do not only involve my personal interests, but also the future directions of my community and heritage. I plan to pursue an MD/ MPH and serve my people and act as a role model. More importantly, I plan to eliminate societal stereotypes that follow underrepresented minority groups. As a first-generation Latino college student, I never thought that I would have the opportunities that I have had thus far. From shadowing physicians across various health organizations to presenting my research project at national conferences, the College of Human Ecology has provided me with the tools necessary to thrive at an Ivy League Institution.