Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Andrea Cabrera (she/her) who will culminate our student fellow spotlight series.
Andrea, who was born and raised in San Diego, California, is a first-year PhD student in Nursing Science. As an undergraduate student, she began to volunteer at the local hospital, and the nurses around her sparked her interest in the field. “My nurse mentors inspired me in the way they came alongside their patients and embodied a holistic approach to care,” she says.
Eventually, Andrea’s interest in nursing shifted towards population health as she broadened her understanding of health inequities experienced by historically marginalized communities. “While working as a community health nurse and learning some of the challenges of working within the US health system, I decided that earning a PhD in nursing was the next step in equipping myself to fight for systemic change,” she explains.
The influence of her nursing years is evident in Andrea’s approach to fighting for systemic change in the context of academia—an approach rooted in care, community, and interconnectedness. “My plan post-graduation is to pursue a career that combines listening, advocacy, teaching, and research. My research areas of interest include the integration of context and culture in community health implementation and evaluation methods, with a focus on mental health, quality of life, and social cohesion,” she adds.
So where does Latinx health fit?
“My commitment to promoting Latinx health is, in part, personal as I have seen family and friends meet challenges in receiving timely, affordable, and culturally responsive care,” she says. “I admire the solidarity found in Latinx communities, and I hope to highlight and support these strengths in my research.”
Starting this fall, Andrea will be pursing an MPH in Health Metrics and Evaluation alongside her PhD. Good luck in your concurrent doctoral and masters studies Andrea!
Read more about Andrea’s story here!