The 2022 Professional Excellence Award Winner in Public and Community Health was Miguel Sanchez. Miguel writes about the flexibility of his Public and Community Health major and how it enabled him to pursue his passions:
"Growing up as a first-generation American in South Central Los Angeles to a Mexican-born mother I gained a natural interest in economic conditions and their effects on health. In my second year at IC, I switched into a double major in Economics and Public and Community Health from Biochemistry. After a course in Economics of Healthcare, my interest in the field of Health Economics/ Health Services Research was solidified. Since then, my interests have primarily lied at the intersection of tax policy, preventative health, healthcare markets, health insurance, physician behavior, and ways to improve patient outcomes.
One of the most memorable experiences I had while at IC was the rigor and usefulness I gained from a Health Research and Analysis class with Dr. Raj Subramaniam. The ease I had in drafting my senior economics thesis was largely attributed to this course. Additionally, this course laid a strong foundation for skills I’d require in my quest to pursue a PhD in Economics. I owe a special thanks to the entire Economics department and the department for Health Promotion and Physical Education, with special recognition for Dr. Elia Kacapyr, Dr. Jennifer Tennant, and Dr. Stewart Auyash."
Miguel, after working as a healthcare analyst for AmeriHealth Carita, is now pursuing his doctorate in health policy at Johns Hopkins University.