Biography

Paola Munkel is a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Medical Sociology. She is planning on taking a growth year after graduation to pursue research and then apply to medical school. She is passionate about investigating the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors that influence public health. 

Aside from research, Paola enjoys volunteering with the Shepherds Hope free clinic and Crisis Text line to support her underserved communities. Ultimately as a physician, Paola’s long-term goal is to volunteer for organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières to provide humanitarian aid for vulnerable populations. 

Her research interests include: substance abuse and mental health among immigrants, the impact of patient centered care for women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and how access to healthcare or the lack thereof affects Latino communities.