Parisi, Valentina (SocioMedical Sciences-Hist)

Prior to Columbia, Valentina studied anthropology and immunobiology at Brown University where she received her BA and MS degrees. While at Brown University, she worked in the Rhode Island Hospital Surgical Research Department for several years studying the immune response and the role of cell surface receptors in combating fungal pathogens. This research experience and her continued interest in anthropology led her to the field of public health. In May 2017, she graduated from Mailman with her MPH degree in Sociomedical Sciences and a certificate in health and human rights. She became increasingly interested in historical methods and the intersection of health, gender, and the environment during her time at Mailman and this past year, she worked as a Program Officer in the Population and Family Health Department where she engaged in collaborative research projects concerning environmental and gender justice, forced migration and health, and plural legal systems. Her doctoral research interests broadly include health social movements, gender justice, and environmental health and policy. She hopes to continue work related to gender justice and equity in the context of environmental threats such as toxic exposures and climate change.