Hi! My name is Emma Gacek and I am a senior Sociology and Health, Medicine, Society (HMS) double major at Quinnipiac. I also have a minor in Healthcare Management. I transferred to QU in the Spring of 2023 to be closer to home and my doctors as I have a few chronic illnesses. Although Quinnipiac wasn’t my first choice, I couldn’t be happier with where I ended up. I entered QU as a major in Public Relations however, I switched to Sociology after taking Intro to Sociology. I loved learning about how greater systems and social happenings influence individuals and society. I later added on the HMS major and Healthcare Management minor after speaking with my advisor and taking an interest in the field of public health. Post graduation from QU, I plan to enter graduate school and pursue my Master’s in Public Health. My career goal is to work specifically in the field of humanitarian public health. Personally, I believe the sociology program has provided me with a perfect foundation to continue my education in graduate school. My passion for public health stemmed from the internships I completed while at Quinnipiac.
The first internship I completed was with IRIS – Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, as their Health Department Intern. I predominantly helped incoming refugees establish and navigate their healthcare in our US system. Through this experience, I gained so much knowledge, grew professionally, and most importantly discovered I loved working within the field of humanitarian public health. The second internship I completed was through the City of New Haven. While there, I was their Environmental Health Department Intern. This was an amazing experience that exposed me to the field of environmental public health. I am now preparing for the start of my third internship through the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Overall, it was my experiences as an intern that shaped my career goals and uncovered my passions.
Quinnipiac has provided me with the opportunities needed to pursue my passions and continue my education. My time at QU has been fruitful and I couldn’t imagine graduating without a degree in Sociology. The QU Sociology Department specifically is like a tight knit family that is always willing to help or chit chat. To any student considering a major in Sociology…definitely do it. Sociology provides students with an increased awareness of social issues and functions which can then be applied to almost any career. I am beyond grateful for the Sociology professors and community here at QU.
