Human Health and the Metropolis: Tensions and Transformations in Southeast Asia

Alexus Lizardi is an Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior major and an upcoming senior. She spends most of her days reading and occasionally writing, in efforts to learn as much as she can about the world around her. Although when she’s not being an academic, she is mostly lounging around with her dog.

My name is Erica, and I am a junior double majoring in Public Health and Nutritional Sciences. This summer I will be traveling to Bangkok, Thailand as part of a service learning program where I will be volunteering and learning about the Thai healthcare system. I am looking forward to discovering Thai culture and having a hands-on impact on global health.

Hello, my name is Joseph Dallmeyer and I am a rising junior at Rutgers University. I am majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Environmental Geomatics. I chose to go abroad because of the thrill traveling gives me and also because of my interest in the English culture. An intriguing fact about me is that my dream job would be to work for the EPA and I plan on living on a farm later in my life.

Hi my name is Karina and I am a senior studying Nutritional Sciences. I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, and have lived in the U.S. for 13 years now. My last year here at Rutgers has been the most fulfilling because I was always interested in healthcare and recently decided to learn more about Public Health. I discovered the importance of research, disease prevention, health education, epidemiology, and community work. This summer I am very excited to participate in the Tensions and Transformations in Southeast Asia Program in Bangkok, Thailand. This program will provide me with the knowledge and experience I need to learn about public healthcare systems, community outreach, volunteer work, and culture appreciation. I cannot wait to embark on this journey and jump start on my studies and understanding of Public Health.

Hi everyone, my name is Sarah Malarkey and I am a rising senior in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. After I graduate, I hope to attend graduate school to receive my MPH degree. My ultimate goal is to become a doctor; I aspire to combine my passion for social justice and healthcare inequalities with my medical career and work with underserved and underrepresented populations. I am super excited to be traveling to Thailand this summer to learn about their healthcare system! I have had the opportunity to learn about health disparities in the United States, and how our culture influences our health and well-being. However, I would love to see how Thai culture influences the populations health, and how healthcare is delivered. Though it is important to learn about public health issues in the classroom, it is more important to be to apply my knowledge outside of the classroom in order to enhance my understanding of the material.