Gabriela Soto, BS

I'm currently pursuing a Master's in Public Health Policy and Management at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health after studying Biological Sciences as an undergraduate. During my four years of undergraduate education at UCLA, I was able to immerse myself in the public health community and tackle pressing issues in our community. I worked on a prospective study that looked at the transmission rates of pediatric index cases with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, to inform educated decisions on how and when schools should reopen during the pandemic. In addition, I helped pilot the newly funded Healthy Tomorrows Park project, a community-based initiative that works to improve the mental, physical, and environmental health and education of children and adolescents in underserved communities who are more vulnerable to the pandemic, climate change, racial inequalities, etc. Currently, I work as a graduate student researcher for UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity on a preschool and early care setting obesity prevention project. I have enjoyed working with and learning from community-based initiatives and look forward to learning how to drive policy changes to ensure equitable health and educational outcomes in maternal and child populations.