Nice to Meet You!

My name is Angela Zhang and I come from good ol’ Houston, Texas! I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in biomedical sciences as well as a research certificate in biomedical research. As someone who has never experienced true seasons (looking at you winter and fall) and has only known what it’s like being a student, moving to Chicago to work with NHC Chicago was a big and exciting decision. What was even crazier was doing all of this during a full-blown pandemic…

Serving at my host site Erie Family Health Centers has been more than I could have imagined. In broad view, I’ve seen and experienced so much already when it comes to the side of public health and its role in healthcare and service. With the pandemic, barriers have never been more apparent and people around the world are in more need than ever. With days filled with online meetings and teleservice appointments, this year has been unlike any other year. NHC Chicago and Erie have enabled me to provide COVID support, listen and help those in need, and I have even learned more about sexual health education than I ever knew before as I teach high school sex ed. To also play a role in helping patients enroll in insurance or payment programs, I’m tremendously grateful for how these experiences have all continued opening my eyes to what it’s like living in a world where many fight for the healthcare they SHOULD have a right to… and I’m more than proud to say that I fight alongside them against this injustice. With even more time and unknown experiences ahead of me, I look forward with eager eyes and open arms. After all, who knows what it’s going to be like week after week as our world continues to change, fight and aim to recover from COVID-19. There has never been such uncertainty and I look forward to how I can impact and play a role in it all. Here’s to a service year filled with unique opportunities, uncertainty, and teleservice that’ll keep us all on our toes. 

Outside of my responsibilities, you can find me biking outdoors with my kitty, playing video games with friends and family- my all-time favorite outlet, cross-stitching, or grueling away at the MCAT books.