Jacqueline Perez, a graduate of (COPH), was born and raised in Palmetto, Fla, where she attended high school before leaving the state for college in North Carolina.
Eventually drawn back to Florida, Perez continued her education at the COPH, where she pursued her passion for public health. Her journey helped shape the perspective she brings to her research today as a recipient of a Bloomberg Fellowship under the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
鈥淚 first had the opportunity to do volunteer work during high school in my local hospital, so I was already involved in emergency medicine and was initially thinking about going into medical school,鈥 Perez said.
For her undergraduate degree at Duke University, Perez said they didn鈥檛 have a public health degree, so she chose their global health program instead.
鈥淏ecause of how the program was set up to only be offered as a double major, I ended up also majoring in international comparative studies focusing on the Latin American region,鈥 she said.
As soon as she stepped on campus, Perez already had a work study job lined up.
鈥淚 worked all four years of my undergrad in the Student Wellness Center, which had just opened,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 led student programming, mindfulness events, a lot of arts-based activities and events that promoted mental health and mindfulness.鈥
Jackie Perez delivered a mental health and social media presentation to a group of high school students in Manatee County. This activity was part of a youth development subcommittee that she co-chairs. (Photo courtesy of Perez)
It was through that work that Perez said she began to consider choosing public health for her master鈥檚 degree after graduation instead of pursuing medical school. The next nudge towards public health was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淢y first true introduction to public health was during the shutdown,鈥 Perez said. 鈥淚 ended up helping the local health department with their PPE distribution to different non-profits and faith-based organizations. I realized that the patient care side was not where I was meant to be and instead, I could take my knowledge and that foundation from my undergrad and move it into what I would eventually do now, which is health communication research.鈥
Perez graduated from Duke University in 2021, along with an Emergency Medical Service certification.
After talking with a few mentors who had their , Perez said she realized she could take her trajectory in a whole different direction and put all the pieces she loves together into one place in public health at the COPH.
During her first year she got involved in opportunities through the COPH, became more aware of the communications aspect of public health and the work being done with marketing for behavior change.
鈥淚 had the chance to be a research assistant for the , and got to be involved in hosting Conference in Pinellas County, as well as 同性恋色情 Health鈥檚 Center for Wellness, Engagement, Leadership and Learning,鈥 she said.
One opportunity that particularly stood out to her was her time involved in 同性恋色情 Health鈥檚 (ESLB). According to their website, the ESLB is a group of current 同性恋色情 Health students from all academic disciplines selected to serve as official student representatives.
鈥淲e had student representatives from colleges that make up 同性恋色情 Health, including of course the COPH. We had the chance to sit down with staff and speak about our experiences, hear what was going on at the different colleges and even bring up concerns. I really loved that. I felt like it was a great opportunity for me to network and meet students outside of the COPH.
After landing a graduate assistantship at the conclusion of her first year, Perez capitalized on research opportunities as well.
鈥淩esearch was something that I was not heavily involved in during my undergrad because I found it intimidating at times, so I appreciated the opportunities at the COPH to get experience,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y second year I was so lucky to have Professor as my mentor. She was very open to me helping with some of the research she was doing.鈥
Nearing the end of her final semester, Perez said she began applying to fellowships.
鈥淚 applied to several fellowships and jobs and kept getting those letters of rejection,鈥 she admitted. 鈥淔or the Bloomberg Fellowship specifically, there was a certain amount of work experience required and I hadn鈥檛 yet met that threshold, so I kept it in the back of my mind for the future. I had great mentors along the way that I could lean on for support from high school and in college that helped me to realize it is okay if something I wanted wasn鈥檛 the particular opportunity meant for me at the time.鈥
Perez graduated from the COPH in 2023 with her MPH, concentration in .
鈥淚 have the COPH to thank for where I am today, because of that social marketing conference from my first semester, it ended up having presenters from Force Marsh, which is where I work now,鈥 she said.
After graduation, Perez started remote work as a research associate on a health communication research team at Force Marsh, with headquarters based in Arlington, Va.
鈥淢y work focuses primarily on qualitative research,鈥 she said. 鈥淚n my role I help design and carry out studies that explore how people understand and respond to health information, develop research materials such as focus group and interview guides, moderate conversations with participants and gather insights both virtually and during occasional in-person visits. Through these discussions, we learn what people know and believe about specific health topics, what questions they still have and how they prefer to receive health information.鈥
Recently, she was able to put the final pieces of the puzzle together. Tapping into her earlier experience with teaching mental health techniques, she decided to apply to the Bloomberg Fellowship specifically in one of their focus areas of substance use and persistence paid off. Perez was awarded a Bloomberg Fellowship under the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and started her DrPH program.
鈥淭his fellowship is a full scholarship to earn a doctor of public health at the Bloomberg School and it is for individuals who are tackling one of the key health challenges in the U.S.,鈥 Perez said.
Within the fellowship there are five focus areas and Perez is within the addiction and overdose focus area.
鈥淚鈥檓 able to be in a custom concentration within the DrPH program, so that means I can continue some of the health communication research and behavior change that I do at my current job but through the lens of addiction and overdose,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o far I have done a lot of research projects and health campaigns around opioid overdose, substance use prevention and education with different audiences, including with veterans and young adults, as well as campaigns for Spanish speakers.鈥
Jackie Perez gave a presentation at NatCon 2024 about her health communication research. She presented on what she heard when interviewing Spanish-speaking young adults who use drugs and Spanish-speaking adults who have a loved one who uses drugs. (Photo courtesy of Perez)
As for the future, Perez said she hopes to continue working on projects that involve research, helping people share their stories in focus groups and interviews, as well as projects that continue to help the Spanish speaking community.
鈥淓very now and then I get reminders of the work I鈥檓 doing is important,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o, I find my work very fulfilling and something I want to continue to do. In the distant future, I might be interested in teaching.鈥
Fast Five
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
A doctor.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
Probably at the gym, hanging out with friends and grabbing a cup of coffee somewhere.
What is the last book you read?
鈥淣ot Quite Dead Yet鈥 by Holly Jackson. It was like a murder mystery.
What superpower would you like to have?
Teleportation
What鈥檚 your all-time favorite movie?
Infinity War and Endgame