Student Spotlight: Yang Pei
Meet Yang Pei
- Degree Program: MSPH
- Area of Interest: Maternal, Fetal, and Perinatal Health
- Program Entry year: 2023
- Hometown: Changzhou, China
- Previous Degree(s) Earned: Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts in Global Health, Duke Kunshan University
- Fun fact: I love to go out and take pictures of any beautiful things I see or details of my life, using my phone or my camera, and share them afterwards.
What sparked your interest in public health?
Emphasizing the cultivation of global citizens, studying at Duke Kunshan University (DKU) developed my interest in real-world global health problems.
Why did you choose Bloomberg School of Public Health?
I was inspired by my undergraduate courses and mentor to explore public health that solves real-life health problems, such as maternal and child health issues, chronic diseases, and the lack of sufficient health education. The Bloomberg School was my first choice, not only because of its rich academic resources, such as the opportunity to work with the world-renowned faculty and researchers, and the diverse courses in the MSPH program, but also because of the continuous commitment to improve people’s health, regardless of their race/ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, etc. It aligns with my personal values: staying healthy is a basic right for everyone.
What led you to join the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health?
The MSPH program in Population, Family and Reproductive Health offered me state-of-the-art educational and research opportunities in promoting maternal and child health, and hands-on field experience at professional organizations.
What is one experience in PFRH that stands out as a favorite or most memorable?
I received warm welcome from our program manager Kristen McCormick, Sally Safi, my advisor Marycatherine Augustyn, PhD ’91, and many of my program peers and colleagues. We share important events or interesting things during our weekly seminars and on our group chat, which makes us more united.
Tell us about your field placement:
I took the role of Health Equity Intern in Living Well Black, which is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to advancing health equity in the Black community through information, outreach, empowerment and advocacy. I participated in activities including blogging, editorial, and social media content development and contributions, research, site analytics, proposal preparations, newsletter development, press releases, and other writing assignments.
What do you hope to do or accomplish after graduation?
Upon graduation, I plan to work as a Program Officer in an NGO or a country- or state-level disease control center, specializing in the prevention and management of maternal issues such as postpartum depression, or chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. My long-term goal is to become a Public Health Advisor, using my knowledge to improve the efficiency of the health system and save more people in this fast-paced society.
What are some of your favorite places or aspects of living in Baltimore?
I live near Baltimore's Inner Harbor. I love walking along the water, when I can totally relax and enjoy the view. I also enjoy shopping in malls or supermarkets with my friends during weekends.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the PFRH community?
My advice to incoming PFRH students is to regularly have a talk or a meal with PFRH peers and professors, during which not only can they learn more about their interests and majors, but also build and expand their social network. Also, I highly recommend the parks and other spots with natural views in Baltimore, where they can forget any concern or pressures, and enjoy themselves.