Meet the Inaugural Cohort of the New Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health

As the academic year kicks off, UC San Diego is buzzing with the energy of thousands of students navigating new schedules and spaces. But among the new and returning students, six individuals stand out. They are the first to enter a trailblazing chapter in public health education.

This fall, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego unveils its newest doctoral offering: a 21st-century Doctor in Philosophy in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science. Designed to reflect the university’s deeply interdisciplinary ethos, the program equips future public health leaders to tackle complex health challenges with innovation, rigor and community-centered solutions.

Let’s meet the inaugural cohort of the school’s new doctoral program.

Isaac Bouchard, M.A.

Isaac Bouchard grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Applied Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. Prior to joining UC San Diego, he received his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Research from California State University, Northridge. During his master’s program, he served as a dissemination and implementation science intern at the UC San Diego Dissemination and Implementation Science Center. His research interests lie in the areas of dissemination and implementation science, digital health tools and community-based participatory research. Aside from research, Bouchard loves to rock climb, read fiction and hike.

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

My experience as a crisis line operator during the COVID-19 pandemic and background in clinical psychology opened my eyes to how flawed the mental health care system is. There are far too many barriers to accessing mental health care and far too little mental health providers available. I chose the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health program with a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science because it aligns with my goal to increase access to evidence-based interventions through innovative solutions. As someone who seeks to drive population-level and policy-level change, the program’s focus on community-engaged research and implementation science are especially important to me.

How do you see this program helping you reach your career goals? What do you hope to do when you complete the degree?

I hope to become a professor at an R1 university, collaborating with health care providers and community members to address health disparities. I plan on pursuing a postdoc fellowship after the program.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you?

Addressing the mental health crisis requires systems-level change. We must look toward health services research and implementation science to explore innovative mechanisms that promote equitable access to and engagement with mental health services.

Are there any personal associations you with modern day health challenges that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

My decision to pursue this degree stems from a core belief — while adversity is an unavoidable part of life, no one should face challenges on their own. My perspective has been shaped by experiences that reinforced my dedication to health equity, and I want to play a role in ensuring that everyone receives the care they deserve.

Cassidy Boyd, M.P.H.

Cassidy Boyd is originally from Conway, New Hampshire. She studied environmental science at Green Mountain College in Vermont and earned her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from National University in San Diego, where she completed her thesis project on the implementation of a screening tool with the San Diego juvenile justice system clinic. She currently serves as a manager in the population health department at Rady Children’s Health, overseeing initiatives to expand access to preventative care, improve childhood and adolescent immunization adherence, advance quality improvement and address social drivers of health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked on drive-through testing operations and the Moderna Kid-COVE pediatric vaccine trial.

Her research focuses on strategies to improve pediatric vaccine confidence and adherence. Drawing on her experience in applied public health practice, health equity and implementation science, she aims to design interventions that reduce disparities and build trust in and utilization of pediatric immunizations. Outside of academics and work, she enjoys skiing, rock climbing and spending time outdoors. 

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

I chose the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health program with a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science because I’m deeply committed to advancing pediatric health services. My goal is to learn evidence-based strategies for designing and implementing programs that make a measurable impact on children’s health outcomes. After spending the past decade working at Rady Children’s Health and living in San Diego, I’ve developed a strong connection to UC San Diego and have long admired its contributions to public health. Joining the inaugural cohort is especially exciting, and I look forward to collaborating with inspiring peers and faculty, while expanding my skill set in an innovative academic and research environment.

How do you see this program helping you reach your career goals? What do you hope to do when you complete the degree?

This program will provide me with invaluable access to a diverse network of experts and cutting-edge methodologies in health services research and implementation science. I’m eager to deepen my understanding through hands-on learning and collaborative exploration with my cohort, which will strengthen my ability to design and evaluate impactful interventions. Upon completing this degree, I plan to continue advancing pediatric health outcomes here in Southern California and expanding nationally, or globally, with a particular focus on improving vaccine adherence and access for children. I see this program as a launchpad for driving meaningful, evidence-based change in pediatric public health.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you?

This concentration aligns directly with my experience and long-term goals. While working at Rady Children’s Health during the pandemic, I saw firsthand that scientific innovation, including vaccine development, is only part of the solution. Equally important is ensuring access, fostering understanding, and rebuilding trust in health systems. The concentration offers the tools to address these types of challenges head-on. As social drivers of health continue to reshape our care delivery, I believe it’s essential to understand how health services operate and how they can be improved to promote equity and better outcomes for generations to come.

Are there any personal associations you might have with modern day health challenges; any inciting incident(s) that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

Growing up in a rural town with limited access to care, I stayed healthy thanks to my single mother’s determination and support from programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and Medicaid. That experience shaped my belief in the power of public health systems. Today, with rising discussion around childhood vaccines and health decisions, it’s more important than ever to ensure families have access to accurate information and equitable care. These challenges, and my personal journey, are what drive me to pursue this degree.

Wenxin Chen, M.S.

Wenxin was born and raised in Chengdu, China. She received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Sichuan University and her master’s degree in public policy from UC San Diego. Before starting her doctoral program, she spent a year working as a research assistant with Alexandra Heaney, Ph.D., assistant professor, focusing on environmental health research. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, watercolor painting and exploring local coffee roasters.

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

I chose to join this program because it perfectly aligns with my interest in transdisciplinary research and my commitment to ensuring that public health decisions are grounded in rigorous science. In our current era of rapid change and political polarization, I believe it's more crucial than ever that evidence-based research directly informs practices that affect community health and well-being.

What excites me most is the opportunity to collaborate with faculty across diverse research areas within the school, which will help broaden my analytical framework and develop innovative approaches that integrate insights from multiple fields.

How do you see this program helping you reach your career goals? What do you hope to do when you complete the degree?

I believe this program will provide the ideal foundation for my growth as a researcher through its collaborative and resource-rich environment. After completing the degree, I hope to pursue a career as a research scientist, where I can leverage scientific tools to improve population health outcomes.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you?

Health Services Research and Implementation Science is essential to me because it bridges the critical gap between evidence generation and real-world impact. I'm passionate about contributing not only to theoretical knowledge, but also to developing practical solutions.

Are there any personal associations you might have with modern day health challenges; any inciting incident(s) that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

My motivation to pursue this degree is deeply rooted in personal experience with the gaps in our health care system. My family and I struggled to navigate the complex process of caring for an elderly family member with Alzheimer's disease, with limited access to systematic support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all witnessed how health care systems faced significant challenges to respond effectively to a public health emergency. These experiences have driven my commitment to being part of the change to make our health systems more accessible, responsive and efficient.

Thet Nwe Myo Khin, M.P.H.

Thet Nwe Myo Khin was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2017 and earned her bachelor’s degree in global disease biology from UC Davis, and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy from UC San Diego. She currently serves as a policy analyst at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, where she is involved in analyzing and evaluating tobacco-related policies, as well as state fertility preservation benefit mandates. Thet also serves as a task force member for the California Health Benefits Review Program. Her research interests include exploring the impacts of health benefit mandates as well as the implementation and dissemination of health policies. She hopes to advance equitable access to health care by tackling structural and systemic barriers.

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

I am most excited about the opportunity to learn from our distinguished faculty and to be back in an academic environment. I am also looking forward to engaging in invigorating discussions with my classmates, who I know will bring diverse perspectives and expertise to our shared learning. I chose this program for this reason – a collaborative learning environment that offers rigorous academic training and community-based real-world experience, which I believe will allow me to further hone my research and professional skills and prepare me to address important public health challenges.

How do you see this program helping you reach your career goals? What do you hope to do when you complete the degree?

My goal is to address important but underexplored issues in public health policy. Specifically, I am interested in how benefit mandates are implemented across states and how these processes influence utilization, equity and other health outcomes. With the training, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration that this program offers, I hope to bridge the gap between policy research and practice and develop implementation strategies that maximize the population health benefits.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you? Are there any personal associations you might have with modern day health challenges; any inciting incident(s) that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

Through my work in health policy, I have seen the challenges and gaps that exist in our health care system. I believe that this program will provide me with the training and expertise I need to investigate those gaps and translate findings into effective solutions. My research interests in health policy and their impact on population health align with the concentration’s focus on understanding such policies such as health benefit mandates and how they are implemented. I believe that this program will allow me to put into practice both my personal and professional experiences into research that addresses barriers and challenges in the health system.

Aryana Sepassi, Pharm.D., M.A.S.

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

Having been a student at UC San Diego multiple times over, I can say that the faculty are top tier. I chose this program because of the faculty and mentorship opportunities and because of the welcoming, supportive and energetic environment that I've always experienced at UC San Diego. I think the thing that excites me the most is this being a new program. There's a lot of room for growth and creativity when programs are new, and I'm excited to be a student once again in an area that I feel very strongly about.

I'm actually faculty at UC San Diego already, but in a different program. I think this program would be invaluable in helping me to become a more independent scientist capable of standing up my own research one day. I hope to continue my current career in academia once I complete this degree, but this time equipped with a more complex and advanced toolbox at my disposal.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you?

I have a very deep-seated interest in understanding the effects that health policies at the national scale can have on medication affordability. Having this program offer a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science was reassuring to me because I know that I can master the tools related to health services research to help me pursue my research interests even further. Moreover, having a concentration in implementation science means that I can also master the analytic tools I'd need to make sure that implementation of new policies are also effective. Implementation science and health services research go hand-in-hand to me, and isn't something that I see other doctoral programs readily offering.

Are there any personal associations you might have with modern day health challenges; any inciting incident(s) that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

I practiced pharmacy in a previous life, and time after time again I saw patients who suffered from not being able to afford their medications as a direct result of health policy, an area of public health. My mom, for example, is a Medicare beneficiary who once upon a time couldn't afford to pay for some of her prescriptions under Medicare Part D. Being able to understand the underlying policies that drive why people like my mom couldn't afford her medications and the ways in which they can be improved became an important long-term goal for me to tackle as a scientist.

Kera Swanson, M.P.H.

Kera was born in Bakersfield, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University and her master of public health from the University of San Francisco. In 2024, she also received an Implementation Support Specialist Certification from The Center for Implementation. She has worked in the dissemination and implementation science field since 2015 and currently serves as program manager for the UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute’s Population Science and Community Engagement Unit and its Dissemination and Implementation Science Center.

Her research interests include identifying and addressing barriers to improving health care quality and access, particularly in women’s health and advancing pragmatic, community-driven approaches to expand the reach of clinical and translational research. She is especially committed to disseminating research impact in ways that are meaningful and responsive to community needs. In her spare time, Kera enjoys being out in nature, gardening, playing “cozy” games with her friends and spending time with her Australian shepherd, Luna.

Why did you choose to join this program and what excites you most about it?

I chose to join this program because it offers the ideal environment to deepen my expertise in dissemination and implementation science while expanding my skills in partnering with communities to design, implement and sustain evidence-based practices that address their unique needs. I am especially excited to pursue research that identifies and addresses barriers to improving health care quality and access, particularly in women’s health and to advance pragmatic, community-driven approaches that expand the reach of clinical and translational research in ways that are meaningful and responsive to community needs. I am also excited to work with my mentors in a different capacity, building on the strong collaborations we already have while challenging myself to grow as a scholar under their guidance.

How do you see this program helping you reach your career goals? What do you hope to do when you complete the degree?

This program encourages applying the skills you learn to careers both within and beyond academia, which is very important to me. It provides rigorous training and mentorship, along with a strong emphasis on community-engaged research, that will prepare me to grow as both an implementation scientist and practitioner. I envision working within a learning health system to design, scale, adapt and sustain evidence-based interventions and system processes in women’s health care, developed in close collaboration with communities. By grounding my work in community-driven partnerships, I hope to ensure these interventions are responsive to real-world needs and ultimately expand their reach to rural and underserved areas to improve health care equity and access.

Why is a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science needed/important to you?

For me, health services research and implementation science go hand in hand. Health services research helps us understand how care is organized, financed and delivered, including who gets care, when they receive it and with what outcomes. This allows us to identify ways to improve access, quality and equity. Implementation science is the other piece, focusing on putting effective solutions into practice, adapting them to different contexts and sustaining them. Equally important is the dissemination of these solutions so they can inform change and lead to meaningful impact. By focusing on pragmatic, team-based and community-driven approaches, I want to help close the gap between research and practice so that people have equitable access to the highest-quality care.

Are there any personal associations you might have with modern day health challenges; any inciting incident(s) that made you want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health?

My personal journey with endometriosis has been a major influence in pursuing this degree. Living with a chronic and often misunderstood condition showed me how barriers in our health system have delayed diagnosis, which can take six-to-twelve years from the onset of pain to receiving a diagnosis and limited treatment options. I want to identify those barriers, as well as the facilitators that can improve care, so people don’t have to wait years for answers or struggle to find appropriate care. Experiencing these challenges firsthand has motivated me to focus my research on women’s health by strengthening access to comprehensive treatment for endometriosis and similar conditions through multidisciplinary, team-based care. I am also deeply committed to effectively disseminating the impact of this work to clinicians, health systems, policymakers and those seeking answers for similar health challenges so it can inform change and lead to meaningful impact, ensuring that individuals affected by these conditions have equitable access to timely, high-quality care.