Public health in action — Award highlights student’s public health commitment

Growing up in Texas near the border of Mexico, Gabriela Torre Puckett’s family couldn’t afford health insurance.

“When we did get check-ups, it was a seven-hour drive across the border,” she said. “Otherwise, my dad, who had one year of medical school training, took care of most of our health needs.”

A defining moment

It wasn’t until a college discussion about the state of health care that she made the connection between her experience and a system in which health care disparities are too common.

Gabriela Torre Puckett

Puckett, who from an early age had an interest in medicine, thought about ways to effect change in health care. Conversations with a mentor led her to consider a career in public health.

“I began to think about the struggles of disadvantaged groups and how most of their health care visits are reactive instead of preventive and about how our health care system supports that pattern,” she said.

Getting down to business

She dove head first into her public health education at UNMC as well as into volunteer and student work with domestic violence organizations and with the medical center’s Haiti relief efforts.

Her work recently was awarded as she was named to the Mount Sinai International Exchange Program for Minority Students at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

A prestigious honor

One of 10 students nationally to receive this internship — Puckett will head to South Africa this June for a summer of work.

“While I’m not sure about our assignment, I know it will give me an opportunity to apply the concepts I’m learning in the classroom with public health and other health professionals,” Puckett said. “I can’t wait to see how this experience will shape the rest of my journey.”

College pride

Alice Schumaker, Ph.D., associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Public Health, is excited about Puckett’s selection.

“Gabby is an outstanding student and is passionate about public health issues, particularly those that involve health disparities,” Dr. Schumaker said. “We know that Gabby will not only learn a great deal but will make wholehearted contributions to public health in South Africa.”