Meet Amy Ozinsky
- Name: Amy Ozinsky
- Degree Program: MSPH
- Area of Interest: Women’s, Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Program Entry Year: 2023
- Hometown: Seattle, WA
- Previous Degree(s) Earned: BS in Public Health from the George Washington University (2023)
- Fun fact: I love the ocean. Pacific is best.
What sparked your interest in public health?
A culmination of my experiences growing up brought me to public health. My sex education in school, my mother’s care work, and navigating everyday with my father’s disabilities were some of the continuing experiences that led me to public health. Together, these experiences taught me the value in caring for the health of your communities, the importance of access, and the transformative power of centering joy. My public health will always be grounded in these values.
What led you to join the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health?
My journey to joining the department was driven by my work with abortion funds. I knew I wanted to focus strongly on sexual and reproductive health in my graduate studies. PFRH allows me to center my education around sexual and reproductive health while building my skills in research and practice. Being surrounded by those based in similar values but with an array of interests, the ability to focus my education in the SRH field brings so much passion and joint learning into my courses.
What is one experience in PFRH that stands out as a favorite or most memorable?
I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from a number of department faculty early on in the year at the "Stories of our Faculty" seminar sessions. To be able to learn about their journeys to public health and what continues to motivate them in their work in the beginning of the program was a very welcoming introduction to the department. These sessions set the tone of the warm, open community of PFRH.
Outside of public health, what are some of your hobbies, interests, and personal passions?
I love to read and cook. Both allow me some valuable time to set aside the things I need to do and focus on someone else’s story or using my hands.
What are some of your favorite places or aspects of living in Baltimore?
My favorite part of Baltimore is Patterson Park. To walk, to sit, to read, to get ice cream—I could live my whole life in Patterson Park.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the PFRH community?
One of my first impressions of PFRH was that there is as much space in the department for as many people that are passionate about a particular area. Embrace the opportunities while at Hopkins to be a part of the PFRH community and make those connections.
