Amanda Farrell
Amanda is a second-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. She was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and moved to New York when she was 9 years old. She attended middle school and high school in New York City. She was fortunate enough to spend four wonderful years at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., for her undergrad education, where she received a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. After graduating in 2016, she worked for the Yale University Vice President of Student Life for one year. She said it was a great way to learn about a fast-pace office and about a number of very important life skills. Her current medical interests are broad and include internal medicine, OB-GYN and pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, traveling and spending time with her family and chosen family.
Assessing the prevalence of Influenza D virus in swine environments and among swine workers in Northern Vietnam
10/01/2019 - 7/01/2020
Vietnam
What does the Kean Fellowship mean to you?
I feel honored to be a recipient of the Kean fellowship! It has long been my goal to engage in global health research. The Kean Fellowship means having a worry-free introduction to tropical medicine. Specifically, it will assist with the cost of traveling to and living in Hanoi, Vietnam. This fellowship means feeling supported in my pursuit to learn from new perspectives on healthcare and infectious diseases in Hanoi. I cannot overstate how excited I am for the hands-on field experience I will have thanks to the Kean Fellowship!
What do you anticipate learning?
My year in Hanoi, Vietnam, will be my first experience conducting infectious disease research. I anticipate learning concrete research skills in the lab and in the field. There are a number of basic techniques that, once I hone, I will be able to take with me wherever I go next. I hope to improve my data analytical skills and to bring my third-year thesis to fruition. Beyond my scientific goals, I am excited to build lasting connections with our international partners. I believe cultural exchange and awareness is the most impactful part of global health partnerships. I hope that all my experiences in Hanoi will provide a rich cultural understanding that will guide me as a future healthcare provider.
What interests you about tropical medicine and what problems are you interested in solving?
Tropical medicine is the intersection of my personal and professional motivations. As an immigrant from the Caribbean islands, I have long been aware of the unique issues faced in nations with less than robust health systems. Tropical medicine provides the opportunity to impact populations that I feel are often the most disadvantaged and that often have reduced access to care. I am interested in malaria, HIV/AIDs and other diseases that, while more controlled in the U.S., continue to affect broader populations. Infectious diseases are entirely linked to economic status and access to care and, to me, that is the draw.