Mia Yen, a junior from Burr Ridge, Illinois, studies Public Health at the University of Michigan. She plans to enter dentistry and believes understanding systemic healthcare inequities is crucial before entering the field. With a background in journalism, Mia is especially interested in the intersectionality of public health correspondence and scientific breakthroughs in healthcare. Besides her passion for public health, Mia’s identity as the daughter of Mexican and Taiwanese immigrants is important to her. Her unique perspective on combined cultures has helped her gain multiple perspectives on different communities and values. These intercultural experiences have especially come in handy when exploring her cultures' cuisines and those she’s never tried. Driven by flavor and curiosity, Mia embraces any opportunity to try new foods. One of her life goals is to have at least one dish from every culture in the US. Besides food, Mia enjoys bonding with friends and family, reading outside (when the weather is nice), and playing with her dog, Willow. Her goal in life is to not only make a lasting impact in dentistry and public health but also better the lives of those she loves.