Zoe Ward
Title of Program: Global Health Security
Minor:OneHealth
E-mail Address: zward5@vols.utk.edu
Hometown: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Year: Junior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2023
Description of Program: My program of study emphasizes a holistic and interdisciplinary study of the world as we know it. It specifically looks at how to prevent and respond to global health emergencies, particularly infectious disease outbreaks. Effective policy and government action are vital for infectious disease outbreak management in the wake of global disease, such as the with the HIV/AIDs epidemic, the Ebola epidemic, and recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Broken healthcare systems plague the world, and policy solutions and reforms are needed to form sustainable health systems. I believe one must learn history, political science, sociology, patterns of globalization, anthropology, and public health in order to have multiple perspectives in global health policy and what current issues are evolving in international development.
Departmental Emphases: Political Science, Public Health, History, OneHealth, and Globalization
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Susan Lawrence and Dr. Katie Cahill
Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.): After graduation I intend to pursue a graduate degree program in health policy and epidemiology. My ideal graduate program extends my study of global health policy while also preparing me for foreign service. Post graduate work, I intend to work in data and health policy analytics and emergency preparedness for an international organization, such as the World Health Organization.
Other Academic Interests: French, Sociology, Anthropology, and Economics
Study Abroad: I am studying abroad Summer 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland with SIT’s Global Health and Development Policy Program, which provides the opportunity to live, engage, and study in the world capital for global health. I will be able to connect with leaders in global health at organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization while analyzing and research global health issues and solutions.
Research Experiences or Internships: Student Research Assistant at Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy working on projects for the Coronavirus Outbreak Response Experts (CORE-19), Remote Area Medical (RAM), and Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee (SMART) Policy Network
Part-time employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities: 1794 Honors and Scholars Program, Howard Baker Ambassadors, Student Advocates for Medicine in Politics (SAMP), VolsVote Initiative, Hiking, Chicken farmer