Name: Mackenzie Phan
Year of Study: Sophomore
Major: Biology (Physiology)
Hometown: Lacey, WA
Why did you choose to pursue the Minor in Global Health?
I choose to pursue a minor in global health because as a premed student who strives to one day work in the medical field, I wanted to take courses that could give me a more holistic view of medicine that my STEM courses could not give me.
What has been most valuable about your global health coursework/learning thus far?
The most valuable thing that I have learned so far in my global health courses is that not all countries need our “saving”. Sometimes these Western organizations that come to other foreign countries with the intent of helping can be doing more harm than helping.
What experiences at the UW have been most influential?
Joining my RSO groups at UW has been the most influential thing that has happened to me because I now have a sense of belonging and a community of people that I can depend on for the rest of my undergraduate career here.
What are your professional goals?
My professional goals are to one day become a pediatric physician, with my practice specifically focused on serving the underserved Vietnamese immigrant families and removing the language barrier of quality healthcare.
Please share your recommendations for prospective and/or current undergraduates on ways in which they may maximize their experience in Global Health (i.e.: events, classes, GH faculty/staff to connect with, etc.)
My advice would be to take as many global health classes as you can fit into your schedule because they tend to be the most interesting and fun classes in your workload. Also try your best to talk and familiarize your face to the global health staff because they can sometime help connect you to amazing opportunities.
As a member of the Global Health Undergraduate Advisory Board, how do you envision building community within the student body?
I would like to bridge the gap between global health opportunities and faculty to the global health students. All in all, building a sense of community within our department where we can all learn and grow together as future contributors to the global health field.