Major: Health Sciences
Major: Social Policy Analysis
Minor: Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Jennifer Ho is an undergraduate student double majoring in Health Sciences and Social Policy Analysis, and minoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Coming into Rice, Jennifer knew that she wanted to pursue a career that would allow for her to positively impact people’s lives, but had not been aware of professions outside of teaching and medicine. Her first exposure to the world of public health was through the Baylor College of Medicine’s SMART Program. As Jennifer started to shift her perspective from individual wellbeing to population-based wellbeing, she felt increasingly excited about the idea of making the kind of change in people’s lives that could be widespread and sustainable. From then on, Jennifer continued to pursue public health work at MD Anderson Cancer Center, YMCA Community Health, and Hope Clinic.

One of Jennifer’s favorite aspects of the Health Sciences program is its clear applicability to real life. She expresses gratitude to have seen class curriculum being actualized in intervention design and implementation throughout her internships. In class, Health Sciences students learn about the importance of cultural humility when it comes to working alongside underserved populations. This includes not taking a paternalistic approach to health programming, but instead deeply listening to community members about what matters they think should be prioritized. “And I saw the words off the textbook put into practice, when conducting fieldwork at my interventions. Steering committees had community members sitting on the decision-making board. Research coordinators worked on weekends and evenings to accommodate study participants' work schedules. Staff interacted with community members with so much genuine compassion and care --- as if they were family.”

At one point in an internship, Jennifer was tasked with translating and transcribing the feedback that intervention participants gave to researchers. As she sifted through the pages, she saw comments like “You guys have changed my life.” “I feel so different from when I first enrolled in this program.” “I now have the energy to play with my children.” Seeing the explicit impact that could be achieved made Jennifer truly understand the significance of public health work. These comments have since stayed with her and serve as a pillar of purpose in Jennifer’s life.

Jennifer believes that the kind of work that health promotion and public health professionals do is incredibly important, yet often undervalued. “Public health is risk-mitigating work, and so it is hard to see the impact that it makes on individuals and society. Had we not had any sort of Public Health infrastructure at all, it is alarming to think how much worse the COVID-19 pandemic would have played out.” Jennifer is hopeful that more people will come to recognize the utility in proactive and preventative care.