2023-2024 Scholars

MEET OUR SCHOLARS 

Bianca Shipp, B.S.
bshipp1@toromail.csudh.edu

At the moment, Bianca Shipp is dedicated to earning her Masters of Public Health. Her aspirations involve teaching or engaging in environmental health work, concentrating on the disproportionate impact on communities of color. As part of her involvement in the STAR program, she aims to investigate the specific impact of cigarette smoking on individuals infected with HIV/AIDS, assessing its effects on their health condition and its impact on smoking cessation efforts. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending sports games, eating out, and reading. 

Janet De Santiago
jdesantiago@ucsd.edu

Janet De Santiago is a current undergraduate at UC San Diego and pursuing a major in Human Biology with a minor in Global Health. She is first generation Mexican-American. She hopes the STAR program will allow her to explore the unequal allocation of health resources within Latinx communities and the disproportionate effects of targeting by tobacco companies. Her goal is to investigate these disparities and discover evidence-based solutions to address them effectively. She is trained in long distance running and has completed the LA marathon three times. 

Patricia Fischer Morales, B.S.
pfischermorales1@toromail.csudh.edu

Patricia Fischer Morales is from Downey, CA. She has a Bachelor's in Health Science and is presently dedicated to furthering her education with a Master's in Sociology. She joined the STAR program to be more involved in research and understanding the links between tobacco use and cannabis use in youth populations. She is interested in becoming a Professor and Researcher, contributing to the advancement of public health and equity. Patricia loves playing soccer with her family and has started her own youth soccer club dedicated to lower-income communities. 

Paulina Munoz, B.S.
pamunoz@ucsd.edu

Paulina Munoz is a recent graduate of Arizona State University (ASU). She earned her Associate's degree from a community college and then transferred over to ASU to complete her Bachelor's in Public Health. She's currently enrolled in the Master's of Public Health program at UC San Diego. Her passion lies in advocating for tobacco and e-cigarette awareness. Her research interests through the STAR program center around understanding how vaping has affected high school teenagers, with a particular focus on her own community in National City. She hopes to work as an Epidemiologist at a national agency. Her hobbies include reading, drawing, painting, and embarking on exciting adventures with her rescued Catahoula Leopard Dog mix named Azula.