Maira Quiñones, SDSU Public Health Graduate to CDC Research Fellow

Maira Quiñones pursued and completed an Associate degree at Grossmont College, and later, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from San Diego State University. She is a first-generation college graduate who postponed the start of her Masters of Public Health program after being nominated to become a research fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. She now conducts research with tuberculosis patients within migrant populations in the United States who are returning to their home countries. Ms. Quinoñes works towards ensuring that each patient is connected to healthcare in their home countries where they may continue to receive tuberculosis treatment, free of charge. Concurrently, she also evaluates health risks and access to services to assess mobility dynamics and their relationship with risk factors and overall health conditions in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Quiñones’ interests and aspirations do not stop there as she would like to eventually lead research on sexually transmitted infections and how they disproportionately affect minority youth. Ms. Quiñones credits her academic achievement in part to the support she has received throughout her educational career, including the Aztec Mentorship program available to students at SDSU. She also credits the support of her immediate family and the staff and faculty of the School of Public Health who helped foster her interest in public health and more specifically, communicable diseases.