Throughout their academic journeys, College of Health students explore society’s most pressing health challenges alongside renowned faculty. Learning extends beyond the classroom, as experiential learning is embedded into the curriculum. Internships, study abroad and research opportunities further enhance learning by experience. Even as undergraduates, students are empowered to engage in high-impact research that advances public health and drives meaningful change.
Helen Keetley ’25
Bethlehem native Helen Keetley ’25, a population health major with a minor in applied mathematics, transferred to the COH as a sophomore to pursue her interests in biostatistics and epidemiology. For her Honors Capstone project, completed under the guidance of John Hughes, associate professor and chair, department of biostatistics and health data science, she created a tutorial on implementing Bayesian spatial filtering, a method to better account for data that has spatial clustering — for example, mapping the presence of a specific bird species within Pennsylvania counties. Keetley is pursuing a Master of Science in Biostatistics at Harvard University, funded by a full tuition grant.
“I definitely have the College of Health to thank for preparing me for the next stage of my education at Harvard,” she said. “Over my years in the COH I have grown into a better student, researcher, leader and peer. The COH is so unique in that it offers so many opportunities to make your education your own and truly take ownership of your experience. I have been able to be involved in multiple extensive research projects with faculty, which is something I am so lucky for.”
Katie Blomkvist G’25
MPH student Katie Blomkvist G’25 came to the College of Health with two goals: to engage in research and participate in Lehigh’s United Nations Youth Representative Program. As a graduate research assistant, she worked on three qualitative research projects with Rochelle Frounfelker, assistant professor in the department of population health. One project explored how WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) experts understand the relationship between WASH insecurity and mental health, in partnership with Gabrielle String, assistant professor, departments of population health in the COH and civil and environmental engineering, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. She also contributed to a project examining substance use among youth and young adults in the Harrisburg Bhutanese immigrant community.
She served as the COH’s first graduate United Nations Youth Representative for Caring & Living As Neighbours (CLAN), an Australian NGO, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children living with non-communicable diseases in resource-poor settings. She authored an 18-month report for CLAN’s social network, highlighting the progress made by CLAN and its global partners in improving access to essential medicines, strengthening community support networks and scaling up newborn screening initiatives. Blomkvist found it deeply meaningful to integrate her advocacy work with her academic training, developing a strong passion for equitable access to life-saving treatments.
In recognition of her achievements, Blomkvist received the COH’s Outstanding MPH Student Award. She landed a job with Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company.
“The College of Health has prepared me for a career in health not only through classroom learning, but especially in my experiences out of the classroom,” she said. “The roles I’m pursuing require strong problem-solving and relationship-building skills — two areas in which I’ve grown significantly during my time at Lehigh.”
COH students actively engage in real-world learning experiences that integrate healthcare and education, thanks to opportunities like the Linda M. and D. Brooks Zug ’67 Community Health Student Internship Fund. This $1 million endowed fund provides support to students who take on unpaid internships in the health field in the Lehigh Valley or Greater Boston areas.
Taylor Crompton ’25
As a recipient of the Zug fellowship, Taylor Crompton ’25, a community and global health major, interned with Camelot for Children, an Allentown-based nonprofit for children with special needs. Crompton supported children and their families by planning summer camp activities, conducting a parental needs assessment, assisting with grant writing and leading weekly life skills sessions.
“Receiving a fellowship from the Zug Fund was a huge relief for me personally,” she said. “It was an amazing way for College of Health students to have the opportunity to do an internship during the school year in place of a job. The Zug Fellowship was a gift as well as an opportunity for the future.”
Further, Crompton shared that the hands-on experience directly complemented her coursework, and helped clarify her professional values and strengthen her identity as a future global and community health advocate: “I grew in confidence, leadership and organization — qualities that will guide my next steps after graduation.”
Carson Snyder ’23
The first recipient of a Zug fellowship was Carson Snyder ’23, a population health major with minors in communications and entrepreneurship. She gained new professional skills through her internship with the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) in Philadelphia, a non-profit provider of public health resources including funding, real estate and staffing.
“The Zug’s generosity opened an internship door that I likely wouldn’t have chosen without their fellowship,” she explained. “Unfortunately, a whole summer working without payment is unrealistic for so many of us. The Zug fellowship helped to eliminate that barrier and explore a valuable opportunity in the non-profit public healthcare space.”
Today, Snyder works as an offer development analyst at Johnson & Johnson. She credits her College of Health education for providing a broad understanding of the U.S. healthcare industry and its complexities.
“The knowledge I gained from my COH degree made me a better decision maker in my job search and deciding how to best spend a career in healthcare,” she said. “With almost two years under my belt at J&J, I continue to be grateful for my unique college curriculum and the informed healthcare perspective I have as a result.”
Luis Cáceres ’24, G’26
A study abroad experience in the Dominican Republic during his junior year sparked an interest in health for Luis Cáceres ’24, G’26. He first encountered the COH as a junior when he studied abroad in the Dominican Republic through the College, and the program focuses on the social determinants of health in a global context. Cáceres felt connected to the program in part because his family is from the Dominican Republic.
As he pursues his MPH degree, he appreciates how the COH allows him to advocate for the right to essential healthcare for all. “I look forward to using my MPH degree to influence policy, health promotion and health education for communities that have been historically overlooked,” Cáceres said.
He is grateful for the opportunity to network and attend two Dean’s Advisory Council meetings this past year. Cáceres secured a 10-week internship at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico, working directly with Latino patients to address disparities in cancer screening and cancer care. After graduation, Cáceres plans to work in public health, with the goal of increasing quality and access to care for Spanish-speaking patients. He ultimately plans to pursue a doctoral degree as a clinician or public health specialist.
