Delegation to the World Health Assembly

Hello everyone!

I am a 25 year old, public health doctoral student with a focus in Preventive Care at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. I have been selected by the Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve as a private sector advisor on the U.S. Delegation to the 67th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland (Learn More). The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). I will be meeting with delegations from all WHO Member States to discuss a number of public health issues such as access to medicine, violence, regulatory systems strengthening, smallpox, hepatitis, global health security, and polio eradication, among others. I will also be aiding in the review of the program budget, administration, and management matters of WHO. Coming from the small, rural town of Edgard, Louisiana, I understand the needs of underserved communities in all areas of healthcare. As a member of the delegation, I plan to advocate for strategies to address worldwide issues of chronic disease prevention, violence, and access to adequate healthcare in underserved populations. The experience that I stand to gain at this meeting will greatly enhance my ablitiy to work with underserved communities here in the US. My goal is to be sure that they are able to get the resources neccesary to become healthy, thriving communities. This is truly an AMAZING opportunity for me and will to boost my career in ways that I can not imagine. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this career changing opportunity!! God bless!