Transforming Mentorship Frameworks to Support Aspiring Graduate Students in Public Health: A Pilot Program

Bryce Takenaka earned a Bachelor’s of Science in public health in 2020 and is currently a second-year Master of Public Health student with a concentration in epidemiology and pursuing a certificate in geospatial health at Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice. Currently, he is a graduate research assistant for the college and the GeoSLU Health Lab with research interests surrounding sexual health, infectious and chronic disease spatial and epidemiological modeling, neighborhood health disparities, and community and spatial health determinants. Bryce is the founder and director of the Mentorship Enriching your Rising Graduate Education in Public Health (MERGE) program.

Janja Kovacic holds a Bachelor’s of Science in public health and biological sciences. Currently, she is a Research Technician in the Ophthalmology Department at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Her research interests intersect with public health and biology regarding infectious diseases, epidemiological modeling, and social determinants of health. Janja is the Program Manager and Lead Research Coordinator of the Mentorship Enriching your Rising Graduate Education in Public Health (MERGE).