Hiela Manely

Since a very young age, it was engraved in Hiela’s mind that, as an Afghan woman, she should have no desire to pursue higher education. However, the first-generation college student and daughter of immigrant parents plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health in order to create a new path to follow. “Educating the general population on important social matters using lay terminology will help raise public awareness and help eradicate oppression of all forms.”

As the Thurgood Marshall College and Public Health/Epidemiology major has progressed through her college career, she has realized that she wants to determine ways to limit the health disparities impacting low-income households. “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased my fascination with public policy and how the implementation of specific mandates can lead to reducing the number of individuals affected by this disease.” She also has heard patients or their families worrying about the financial aspect of their hospital stay and treatment. “I feel my stomach drop and my heart ache every time I hear loved ones worrying about whether or not they can afford an emergency room visit or if they need to take out another loan to afford another round of treatment.” Hearing these patients’ experiences is one reason Hiela plans to major in public health. “I want to use my education and experiences to determine ways to limit the health disparities impacting low-income households and ensure everyone has access to affordable healthcare.”

Hiela wants to utilize the knowledge she has learned about cancer disparities in her epidemiology courses, and the effects of different forms of treatment, to enable her to provide extra help towards non-profit organizations focusing on cancer research, like The Oral Cancer Foundation in Newport Beach. “I hope to one day get my Master’s in Public Health and work for the CDC as an epidemiologist.”