The dedicated mentors, all graduate students and members of SCPH, work with 11th grade advisory classes every two weeks to guide students through public health focused projects.  The themes chosen for this year include: infectious diseases (John Snow and cholera), toxicology, vaccines (controversy over autism connection), health policy (tobacco settlement and lessons learned), obesity (debate over school lunches), LGBT health, asthma, built environment (health impact assessments), and ethics (Tuskegee Syphilis Study).  

The program, now in its third year, has been a terrific experience for students and mentors alike.  "I get great satisfaction from passing on my knowledge to other students, especially when it concerns my passion for public health," offers mentor Sophia Hocini.  Fellow mentor Evelyn Alvarez also shares her enthusiasm, "I love my students!  They are so engaged in the presentations, and they ask very thoughtful questions.  They also know the answers to many questions I ask, which shows me that they are dedicated to learning.  I think they all have very promising future careers in public health if they decide to pursue this field!"

In addition to helping the students learn more about critical topics related to public health, they also act as strong role models for our juniors as they prepare for college and careers.

"I have worked really hard and struggled to get to where I am today," shared fourth year medical student and first year master's student Christyn Beal.  "I would not have made it without the help and guidance of people who were already where I wanted to be. I feel it imperative to pay it forward.  If just one student can learn one thing from me to help them get to where they want to be, I have succeeded!"

Mentorship Program Coordinator Mona AuYoung hopes that their presence "helps to demystify college, grad school, and professional health careers."  But she also aims for the program to impact students in their every day life. "I look forward to the students getting more interested in public health, whether it’s thinking twice about what they eat, or considering the ethical implications of research," she says.

Mentor Alexander Martos is keeping on eye on the future with a message to students, "In the long run, I Iook forward to bumping into some of the students from HSA at UCLA.  Don't forget to apply next year!"

Our sincere thanks to all of our wonderful mentors and to Mona AuYoung for her leadership.  We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to UCLA School of Public Health's Assistant Dean for Student Affairs David Clark and Career Advisor Arlecia Powell-Halley for making this invaluable program possible.

Go Bruins!