Spring 2026 Graduating Student Profile
Juliana Panhorst
BS in Public Health, Global Health
Public Health undergraduate excels in research and community health service, both locally and globally
Juliana Panhorst graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with an emphasis in Global Health and a minor in Spanish. She excelled in the classroom and beyond, showing her dedication to public health as a Global Health Institute scholar, working with the SAFER program in Arizona to stop infectious disease, and promoting health equity through her leadership with the Partners in Health program. Juliana won the Spring 2026 Outstanding Senior Award.
Juliana Panhorst
BS in Public Health with an emphasis in Global Health and a minor in Spanish
Juliana Panhorst graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with an emphasis in Global Health and a minor Spanish. She excelled in the classroom and beyond, pursuing both research and service opportunities in Arizona and internationally.
Here in Arizona, Juliana worked with the Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER) team that works to stop the spread of infectious disease in our state. She also participated as an undergraduate the Global Health Institute Scholars program and worked at North-West University in South Africa where she completed a community nutrition practice internship in Dietetics. Her selection as a GHI Scholar reflects outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to community-led global health initiatives.
In addition, Juliana showed persistent focus on the college’s public health mission through her advocacy for health equity, including leadership in Partners in Health and her work advancing global health policy.
During her undergraduate journey, she showed a deep dedication to service, working with cross-border clinics, mobile health outreach, and refugee mentorship to expand access to care for underserved communities in Arizona.
Juliana won the Spring 2026 Outstanding Senior Award.
Congratulations Juliana on your degree, your award, and thank you for your dedication to public health!
For this profile, we asked Juliana about what shaped her experience in the college.
Q: In addition to your classes, what projects or programs (often internships) did you work on while earning your degree?
A: During my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to participate in several research, community health, and global health initiatives that shaped my perspective on public health. As an NIH-funded PHIRE Scholar, I explored the intersection of transportation equity and public health through interdisciplinary research with civil engineering faculty. Through this work, I co-authored several peer-reviewed publications, including serving as first author on multiple papers, and presented my research at conferences across the country.
I also served as a supervisor on the SAFER Team at the University of Arizona, where I investigated infectious diseases across Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa counties, including salmonella, shigella, campylobacter, COVID-19, pertussis, and valley fever. In this role, I helped update investigation criteria for vaccine-preventable diseases while mentoring case investigators. Speaking directly with individuals affected by these illnesses gave me valuable insight into the human side of disease investigation and public health response.
My global health experiences also played a major role in my education. As a Global Health Institute Scholar at North-West University in South Africa, I worked in local clinics in Potchefstroom and Ikageng to assess food insecurity, malnutrition, and infant feeding practices while collaborating on research examining the accessibility of healthy foods. I also studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, through an immersive Spanish-language program, which strengthened both my language skills and my appreciation for culturally competent approaches to health and community engagement.
In addition, I served as team coordinator for Partners In Health Engage, where I organized advocacy and fundraising efforts focused on global health equity, including maternal health and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis funding. I also led advocacy trips to Washington, DC, with students from across the Southwest. Alongside this work, I conducted blood pressure, glucose, and HIV screenings through the university’s mobile health unit and participated in outreach related to border health initiatives.
Q: What inspired you about the projects and/or programs you worked on? What did you learn?
A: I was inspired to see how public health directly impacts people’s everyday lives, both locally and globally. Through speaking with individuals during infectious disease investigations, conducting health screenings in underserved communities, and working in clinics abroad, I witnessed how factors like transportation, food access, language, and healthcare accessibility have the potential to shape health outcomes. These experiences reinforced for me that public health work is most effective when it’s maintained and supported by those it aims to serve, and examines social determinants to deliver holistic care.
Through this work, I also learned the importance of interdisciplinary and community-centered approaches to health. My research experiences in the field of transportation equity taught me how collaboration across fields can help address complex public health challenges. In compliment, my work in advocacy and in support of global health efforts showed me the value of cultural humility, fostering open communication, and listening to the communities most affected by health inequities. These experiences strengthened my commitment to advancing health equity and pursuing work across research, service, and advocacy.
Q: What are some challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome in the process of your education in the college, or in the projects/programs in which you worked?
A: One of the biggest challenges I faced during my undergraduate career was realizing that the path I originally chose was not the right fit for me. I began college studying engineering, where I was academically successful, but I felt increasingly disconnected from the work I was doing, and uncertain about my future. After difficult reflection, I made the decision to withdraw from school and reconsider what I truly wanted to pursue. At the time, it felt like a major setback, but ultimately, it became one of the most important decisions I’ve made.
After transferring to the University of Arizona and entering the College of Public Health, I found a field that aligned with both my interests and my values. Still, rebuilding confidence while adapting to a new university environment was challenging, especially while balancing research, work, leadership roles, and a demanding course load. I also pushed myself far outside my comfort zone through experiences like studying abroad in Buenos Aires, learning Spanish through immersion, and traveling internationally independently for research and global health programs.
These experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of being willing to change direction when something no longer aligns with your goals or purpose. They also showed me that growth often comes from uncertainty and discomfort, and that some of the most meaningful opportunities come from taking risks.