Bruk Molla

“I’m originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but currently live in Tukwila, WA. I first discovered Environmental Health after talking with DEOHS advisors during a UW event for community college transfer students. After doing more research about the field, I discovered that environmental health aligns with my interest in addressing health care disparities in our communities and improving clinical outcomes for individuals. As a student, I hope to gain the skills I’ll need to address occupational and environmental hazards in marginalized communities, particularly immigrants and their families. My ultimate career goal is to work in an academic setting as a physician where I can do research, teach, and treat people who are disproportionately impacted in our communities.

As an intern with the SURE-EH program, I worked in Dr. Julia Cui’s lab. Doing hands-on research while taking classes in the same subject area made me appreciate the value and relevance of what I was learning in class and sparked my interest in doing more research in the future. Being part of a team and working alongside the other lab members also helped me develop my teamwork skills and appreciate the value of developing good relationships in a professional setting.

For students who are transferring to UW from a community college, I would definitely recommend joining a Transfer First-Year Interest Group (T-FIG). Doing so made my transition to UW much smoother and more enjoyable by providing resources and support that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

After graduation, I plan on working in a research lab and/or a health care setting and ultimately attending medical school to become an academic physician.”