Social Inequality, Health, & Policy BDP Student Shriya Swamy conducted research on cardiovascular disease mortality with the University of Houston’s Tilman J Fertitta Family College of Medicine.
"The foundation I gained will be invaluable on my journey since it has broadened my understanding of health disparities, barriers to healthcare, disease prevention, health systems and policies, and evidence-based medicine.”
What is the name of the lab and/or title of the research project?
Homelessness Mortality Epidemiology, University of Houston, Tilman J Fertitta Family College of Medicine
How did you find this research assistantship?
I was matched with this project through the PBH 341R, my major’s research internship course. I was particularly drawn to this opportunity since I was able to work on a project which centered around epidemiology, population health, and understanding social determinants of health among medically underserved groups.
What kind of work did you do as a research assistant and what did you learn through this experience?
During this experience, I applied the knowledge I gained from my Public Health and BDP courses to research mortality trends, manners of death, and causes of death with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease mortality. This immersive research experience gave me valuable insight into health inequities between housed and unhoused individuals by utilizing quantitative and statistical analysis. I also gained a deeper understanding of how to improve our healthcare systems.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your Connecting Experience?
Investigating how housing status, living conditions, and other factors affect health dimensions gave me a sense of purpose and meaning. I am motivated by the potential of this research to bring about positive change for others. Under Dr. King's guidance, I developed several skills, continuously expanded my knowledge, and deepened my understanding. I'm grateful to have the privilege of working alongside this wonderful team on impactful research beyond my BDP Connecting Experience semester.
In what ways has this Connecting Experience shaped your plans for the future?
This experience reinforced my commitment to furthering my education in medicine, public health, and research. The foundation I gained will be invaluable on my journey since it has broadened my understanding of health disparities, barriers to healthcare, disease prevention, health systems and policies, and evidence-based medicine. In the future, I aspire to become a compassionate physician dedicated to bringing quality healthcare to medically underserved communities. This closely aligns with the goals of the homelessness mortality research. I hope to continue conducting research that results in compassionate and effective healthcare, which positively impacts others so that individuals can achieve and maintain good health.
Please discuss the relationship that you had with your faculty mentor(s), and how they helped you during this Connecting Experience.
Dr. King is a phenomenal mentor! He has a strong passion for improving the health of vulnerable populations, extensive expertise, and depth of knowledge. With each interaction, I gained new insights and perspectives. The valuable guidance and mentorship I had the opportunity to learn from has played a significant role in my academic journey. Dr. King has been incredibly supportive of my goals in research and beyond. I am more than grateful to have a wonderful and kind mentor like Dr. King!