Hello everyone!
My name is Emma Mahally, and I am a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh and am part of the Honors College. I am a Biological Sciences major on the Pre-Med track, and also am pursuing the Global Health certificate.
Some of my favorite hobbies that I pursue throughout my semesters include being a choreographer and board member of Ballet Club at Pitt, as I love to continue my passion for dance since the age of 7. I also enjoy my position as a student researcher at UPMC Children’s Hospital in the ophthalmology department, focusing on the Retinal Pigmented Epithelial cells at the back of the eye. Additionally, I volunteer at the Children’s hospital, helping transport services and interact with patients on the units. I also have been an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the Foundations of Biology labs and enjoy helping students become more comfortable in the lab. Some other clubs I am involved in include the American Medical Student Association, Women in Healthcare, and Project Sunshine, where we serve breakfast to patients and families undergoing long term living at Family House.
A few fun facts about me is that I love cats, and my family has 8 cats at home! I also enjoy going kayaking with my family and going to the beach. My favorite foods are chocolate and pasta.
I am very excited to learn on my Comparative Healthcare study abroad program in Graz, Austria. It is a 5 week program, spending 4 weeks in Austria and 1 week in Slovenia. I also currently plan to travel to Milan, Italy during our free weekend. The program includes 2 courses (6 credits) about the history of medicine and healthcare, as well as comparing world healthcare systems. I have selected this program because I am a Pre-Med student whose goal is to go to medical school and become a physician. As a future physician, I want to be well-rounded in my knowledge of not only science, but also global health, the history of healthcare systems/ delivery, pros and cons of different types of healthcare systems, and healthcare disparities, as all of these fields of study are significant and affect public health. I believe this specific program will be a rewarding experience where I will learn much and witness in real time the comparison of European models of healthcare systems such as their insurance and healthcare delivery and contrast it to the American healthcare system. I also am interested in exploring Austria and experiencing their culture, such as learning more about their history and traditional cuisine.
I hope that by exploring and immersing myself in a new culture and environment that I will broaden my perspective as a human. I believe that experiencing another culture and country/society outside of the one I am part of is very valuable to strengthen my knowledge and awareness of other cultures and to understand that people can have different beliefs, mannerisms, traditions, and actions. Discovering places that are new to me will enhance my appreciation of the world and the value of global experiences, as well as increase my sense of adventure.
