Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Major/Minor: Sociology

Campus Organization(s): Health, Safety, & Emergency co-chair of the University of Michigan's Red Cross Club, Co-President of Michigan Refugee Assistance Program

Let's get to know Soneida...

What inspired you to major in Sociology?

Throughout my undergraduate career I have viewed chronic disease as not just the product of a breakdown in the human body but a symptom of a breakdown in American society. Majoring in sociology has given me the opportunity to fully explore the connections between individual circumstance and social inequality. I look forward to bringing this unique perspective to my career at the intersection of law and medicine.


What classes have you most enjoyed? Why?

Project Community SOC 225 was the first sociology course I took here during fall of my freshman year. Without out a doubt it fueled my interest in sociology and continues to shape my extracurricular involvement. Learning to view and establish community partnerships as a two way street is a skill I continue to practice while I work on a biomedical project team in partnership with Peruvian Amazonian communities. If SOC 225 was the fuel than SOC 495, Topics in Sociology: Labor Movements, Inequality, and Democracy, was the flame that fully sparked my commitment to a major in sociology. Learning about the historical impact of the U.S labor movement from Professor Bob King, revolutionized my understanding of labor movements and social change. It inspired me want to practice medicine as a social movement and work to revive the power of U.S labor unions to in the future.


What do you hope to do after graduating from Michigan?

After graduating from Michigan I plan to apply to a duel degree program that will allow me to enroll in medicine and law school. As both an M.D. and J.D. I plan to transform primary healthcare into a social movement. I firmly believe that primary care should be a collaborative effort between patients, healthcare professionals, social workers, public interest lawyers, policy makers, and local non-profits. Fostering this collaboration will require building networks of human and technological infrastructure that can help facilitate communication and transparency. At the end of the day all of these stakeholders are invested in improving community health. I look forward to breaking down the silos that currently inhibit them from greater communication and transparency. In the future, I aim to build healthcare systems that defend human rights, empower marginalized communities, and foster public health innovation.

Have you participated in an internship or research experience?

For the last two years I have worked in basic science cardiovascular research labs. In summer 2018, I was a Charles Ross Fellow where I worked on an independent research project and presented my findings on cardiac fibrosis. In summer 2019, I served as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow affiliated with Michigan Medicine's physiology department and studied atherosclerosis. Currently, I work as a volunteer laboratory assistant in Dr. Marshall Runge’s, the dean of Michigan Medicine, cardiovascular research lab.

 

What advice would you give to students considering a major in Sociology at U-M?

Regardless of your career aspirations, a sociological lens can empower you to bring a new perspective to your professional field. One thing I encourage all students considering a major in sociology is to reflect on their future career goals think deeply on how a sociological lens could be applied to their future career. Many fields of study silo themselves into examining questions from only an individual or broader social perspective. A sociological lens can give you a unique perspective because it enables you to make connections between the problems that individuals face and how they connect to broader social trends and inequality. Having the ability to examine the world from both the individual and social perspective can enable you to recognize gaps in knowledge or understanding amongst almost any other field of study. 

 

Where is the best place in Ann Arbor to get late-night study food?

The best place in Ann Arbor to get late night study food is anywhere with guacamole. Avocado is all I need to get me through a late night study session.