EMPH student develops a public health approach to gun violence

In 2013, I was the victim of gun violence as I was shot in two arteries and came within 30 minutes of losing my life. Since that tragic moment, I have dedicated my life to preventing others from experiencing the tragedy and trauma that I went through—first as a survivor and then as an advocate fighting for a public health approach to violence that led to the first federal law on gun violence in 30 years, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

My leadership and policy experience then led to me being appointed the deputy director of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, where I advanced a public health strategy to reduce gun violence. I quickly discovered how little knowledge there was in the halls of the White House about public health, and the public health approaches embraced historically. When my tenure at the White House ended in 2025, I made it a priority to get my master's in public health, and what better place to attend than the Yale School of Public Health, established by C. E.-A. Winslow, the founder of modern public health in the United States.

Prior to enrollment, I served as the deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. I oversaw the national response to mass shootings and gun violence prevention efforts, managing over $17 billion in resources. I also led our public engagement efforts and supported the implementation of major policies through the first law on gun violence in 30 years, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

I’ve established deep relationships amongst my classmates and am part of a team that is working through this program together. Within our cohort there are doctors, librarians, health executives, nurses, teachers, parents, and policy leaders committed to making our communities healthier. It has been remarkable to take on this program as a group, especially when juggling and maintaining full-time jobs, as well as our personal lives.

The dynamic professors. They are extremely passionate, brilliant, but also understand the challenges of balancing our EMPH program with work and life. I’ve learned so much from each of them already and am excited about maintaining these relationships for years to come.

I hope to become versed in public health approaches used throughout history and use this wisdom to develop a public health approach to the crisis of gun violence. Six months into the program, I have already learned a tremendous amount about statistics, epidemiology, public health crises, and most importantly, the plethora of solutions applied to address unique public health challenges. I’m excited to put this knowledge into work, alongside my dynamic cohort, professors, staff, and alumni.