i-Health's First Graduates
The Interdisciplinary Health degree program, launched in 2009, will proudly graduate five students in May. These pioneering students have completed an interdisciplinary curriculum that addresses the complexity of human health through course offerings in applied health sciences, food science and human nutrition, psychology, social work, anthropology, communications, education, history, and sociology. Students can focus their studies on health and aging, health behavior change, or health diversity.
Our first i-Health graduates amassed an amazing array of hands-on experiences during their undergraduate career, and they have ambitious professional goals. We have no doubt they'll reach them! The i-Health Class of 2011 includes:
Joanna Arellano
Joanna's immediate goal is to join the Peace Corps. Ultimately, she would like to be an art therapist who works with adults with mental disabilities. She has worked with the service and justice outreach of St. John's Catholic Newman Center, and has volunteered in El Valor Center in Chicago, Amber Glen Alzheimer's center in Urbana, and Circle of Friends Adult Day Care in Champaign.
Sivali Boddu
Sivali plans to pursue both a medical degree and a master's degree in public health. She hopes to focus her career on improving people's health through preventive medicine. She has served as a clinic volunteer at both the Champaign County Christian Health Center and Avicenna Community Health Center, and has worked with recovering addicts at The Pavilion in Champaign.
Lezlee Gaither
After completing her undergraduate degree in i-Health, Lezlee plans to pursue a master's degree in health administration. She hopes to focus her career on improving the quality of patient care in hospitals. She completed an internship in the Department of Medical Affairs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and has also interned with the American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association.
Emily Meyer
After graduation, Emily plans to attend graduate school or nursing school in the Chicago metropolitan area and hopes eventually to become either a school nurse or a pediatric nurse. She has volunteered locally with the Champaign County Christian Health Center, and is currently shadowing the lead nurse within Champaign Community Unit School District 4 to gain experience in nursing in a school setting.
Taylor Rafool
Taylor plans to attend the Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Missouri, and hopes to have a chiropractic practice in Central Illinois. He has been an intern at the University of Illinois Wellness Center and has shadowed practitioners at Central State Chiropractic in Champaign.