Anaya Iglesias is a junior at the University of Miami, majoring in Nursing. Upon completing her BSN-RN, she plans to work in a hospital on a Med-Surg floor, serving as an advocate for patients whose voices have historically been silenced. In the years following graduation, she aims to pursue a nursing graduate program with a focus on public health and research. As a nurse researcher, she aspires to create and
implement programs aimed at reducing health disparities among minorities.
One of her favorite memories was traveling to the CDC Headquarters in Atlanta, GA. She says it was a surreal moment, as she never imagined having an opportunity to present her work in this capacity. She enjoyed meeting the other interns and witnessing everyone dressed to impress!
Anaya mentions that she valued the speakers and presenters who delivered engaging lectures and showed vulnerability in sharing their own journeys in public health. She enjoyed exploring Tribal Health
and the Indian Health Services, as she realized the importance of understanding the history of these topics to comprehend current health disparities among the Native American population.
She advises future interns to seek answers to public health questions that have always sparked their curiosity. She says, “There is a great deal of creative freedom in choosing the topic for your research and
presentation, and you have access to incredible mentors who can guide you. While it may seem overwhelming to decide on a specific topic, I encourage you to pursue something you are passionate about!