[Part 1 of 2]
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 Gabino Abarca and Magali Blanco, students at the UW School of Public Health.
Gabino (he/him) graduated this spring with a Masters of Public Health in Health Services. Congratulations Gabino! ¡Felicidades!
Gabino is from a small agricultural town in Eastern Washington called Mattawa. As a son of agriculture workers and having experienced agriculture work himself, he began to notice the occupational exposures and illness related to fieldwork. “I decided early on after seeing coworkers sick with heat stress, asthma, and chronic diseases that I wanted to better understand the health of Latinos engaged in agriculture work,” he says.
Now that he’s graduated, Gabino will be attending UCLA as a PhD student in Community Health Sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health. “I hope to build on my research skills and continue to be involved in research that promotes the health of Latino communities,” he adds.
Why Latino health, you ask? Gabino says it’s because of his upbringing and being Latino himself.
“While working [alongside my parents in the fields], I realized that workers had to deal with pesticides, dust, heat, and extraneous work to earn money to provide for their families. I noticed the limited protections, and the injuries that coworkers faced. Seeing this reality, I knew that it was important for me to advocate for those who have been forgotten.”
Read more about Gabino’s story here!
We wish you the best of luck in your doctoral studies Gabino!