FHPLA Student Ambassadors

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2024 Student Ambassador	Alayna Dean was the first ambassador for FHPLA.

2024 Student Ambassador	Micah Bowen is a fourth-year Health Science Major on the Pre-Medical track. She is striving to become a Pediatric General Surgeon while advocating for underrepresented communities. In my free time, she enjoys singing and spending time with family and friends. In her hometown of Tampa, FL she is passionate about volunteering with a clinic that provides free services to the ... Read more↑ Read Less uninsured. She is eager to experience more about health policy and taking intentional action to improve the lives of those around us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact her at micahbowen@ufl.edu.
2024 Student Ambassador	Grace Carreno is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Health Science with a minor in Sociology at the University of Florida. Post-graduate, she plans to continue her education by going to medical school with the future goal of becoming a pediatric physician. This past summer, she participated in a public health internship in Cape Town, South Africa conducting research on the role of... Read more↑ Read Less nutrition in Type 2 diabetes and childhood stunting in under-resourced areas. She hopes to integrate my passions for global health and service into her future career, working with under-represented international populations to improve health equity. She is from Miami, Florida, but having grown up in Mount Desert, Maine, enjoy the pleasures of small town life and the outdoors. Some of her hobbies include photography, art, travel, and trying new foods! Please feel free to reach out to her with any questions you may have at gracecarreno@ufl.edu
2024 Student Ambassador	Claire Weitz was a second-year student ambassador for the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy! She just graduated with her Health Science major on a Pre-PA track. She was involved in Project Makeover, the Pre-PA Association, and Dance Marathon. This year she was on the Family Relations team where I work directly with children being treated at UF Health Shands Childrens Hospital,... Read more↑ Read Less as well as volunteer in the hospital monthly. She is from Ponte Vedra, Florida and currently is employed at Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville as a CNA. In her free time, she enjoys reading, the beach, and spending time with her family and dog. She is eager to start her career as a Physician Assistant so she can make an impact on those around her. Feel free to reach out with any questions at claireweitz@ufl.edu.
2024 Student Ambassador	Brianna Handley is a fourth-year undergraduate dual degree student majoring in Public Health and English with a minor in Health Disparities in Society. Post-graduation, she plans to attend law school, with hopes of pursuing health and disability policy. Her career goals include understanding current policies and creating policies that improve access, affordability, and overall quality of our ... Read more↑ Read Less healthcare system. She is from St. Augustine, Florida and love going back home to go to the beach, visit family, and visit my favorite coffee shop! Please reach out to her if you have any questions at briannahandley@ufl.edu
2024 Student Ambassador	Kelsie Young is a fourth-year Health Science student minoring in Health Disparities in Society at the University of Florida. Post-graduation, she hopes to continue my education and become a Physician Assistant. Her career goals include reducing the burden of chronic disease on the healthcare system, improving care coordination and hospital organization, and improving ... Read more↑ Read Less health equity for underrepresented communities. She is from Atlanta, Georgia, and enjoy going back for Hawk’s basketball games and good hikes. She dedicates most of her free time to volunteering for Right Foot Florida, Special Olympics, and Shands Hospital. She also enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, staying active, and exploring new places. Please feel free to reach out to her at any time at kelsie.young@ufl.edu
2024 Student Ambassador	Amanda Joseph Amanda Joseph is a second-year Master of Public Health Student who plans to attend medical school next year. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2023 with a B.S. in psychology. During her time at UF, Amanda has been chair of the Future of Florida Summit, worked at the UF College of Pharmacy, served as Vice President for ESOL Achievers, ... Read more↑ Read Less and volunteered at UF HealthStreet. Feel free to contact her if you would like to at amandajoseph@ufl.edu