Initially, I was excited by the comprehensive curriculum and the cutting-edge research taking place in the Environmental Health Sciences department. When I attended the Yale School of Public Health Open House, I was struck by the level of esteem with which both students and faculty regarded their colleagues. What excites me now is that I will soon become a part of that profound community of teachers and scholars. I think the presence of such meaningful connections will make the already amazing classes and research even more special.
Student chooses YSPH for its flexible curriculum, environmental research
Meet the Class of 2027: Sami Popol, MPH ’27, Environmental Health Sciences
What excites you about attending the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH)?
What do you feel sets YSPH apart from other public health schools?
Besides the pizza in New Haven, I think what distinguishes YSPH the most is the ease with which students can take courses from all of the other graduate schools at Yale. The opportunity to earn such an interdisciplinary education in public health was unique to Yale among the schools I considered. YSPH’s curricular flexibility allows students to develop into intersectionality-minded public health professionals. Taking advantage of that flexibility will make us more prepared to create enduring positive changes to our increasingly complex public health landscape.
What would you like people to know about you?
I served as a Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow within the FDA’s Human Foods Program under the guidance of several incredible mentors. During my time there, I helped to develop a novel liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the detection of PFAS compounds in food. I also contributed to a project that analyzed a survey of molluscan shellfish samples for PFAS contamination. My wonderful mentors encouraged me to try new hobbies such as running, and I am proud to say that I ran the Cherry Blossom 10-mile run in Washington, D.C. this spring.
What are your long-term goals ?
Working on PFAS at the FDA exposed me to the real impacts that environmental contaminants can have on communities, particularly on small family farmers who have lost their livelihoods (and in some cases, their lives) due to PFAS contamination. My goal is to have a career that allows me to help mitigate those impacts. I am interested in exploring environmental epidemiology, the toxicological effects of exposures, and ways to both address root causes of and remediate contamination. I hope to find a path where I can help to make communities healthier and contribute to environmental justice.
Meet the Class of 2027 is an ongoing series showcasing incoming students at the Yale School of Public Health.