Championing Global Health Equity: A Conversation with Soverno Chen

As an active student member of The Quito Project, a U-M student organization co-sponsored by CGHE and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Soverno Chen is deeply committed to enhancing health and education outcomes for underserved communities worldwide. Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Nutrition-Dietetics & Global Health Epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health, she has harnessed her classroom knowledge and skills to tackle real-world challenges in the realm of global health equity.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Chen and delve into her impactful work during her fieldwork in Quito, Ecuador during the summer of 2023. We discussed her experiences, the influence she's had on the communities she serves, and the invaluable insights she's acquired along the way.

Tell us a little about yourself and why you are interested in global health. 

My name is Soverno Chen. I’m currently a graduate student at the School of Public Health where I am deeply passionate about global health equity. My journey into this field began during my undergraduate years when I studied abroad in the Dominican Republic in 2018. I saw firsthand how social determinants of health like racism, socioeconomic status, built environment, and other factors intertwined to influence health outcomes. It really made me see health through a different lens. This experience is the driving force behind my pursuit of a master's degree and my work with The Quito Project.

How has your academic training prepared you for global health equity work? 

While I am currently studying Public Health, I found that my interdisciplinary background in Latin American and Caribbean Studies has been really important. It provided me with really important cultural insights needed to interact effectively with the people and health systems in Latin America. This background, along with my current coursework in public health, has also helped me to more sensitively work with global health partners.

Why does global health equity matter? How does your work with The Quito Project address issues related to global health equity? 

Global health equity is a basic human right. Health disparities exist due to geographic location and socioeconomic status but by addressing these disparities we can prevent unnecessary suffering and improve lives. We live in an interconnected world as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, and global health is essential to preventing the next pandemic.

The long-term impact of TQP is improved and sustained educational and health literacy outcomes for some of the most marginalized communities in the country.

Could you speak more about how approaching global health work through an equity lens changes your approach to partnership? 

Coming from Michigan and working in Ecuador has political and social implications that require extra caution. Recognizing the image of global north partners typically having more resources, I took power dynamics into consideration by humbling myself in a new context where I was not as familiar. Doing more listening, being patient, and having a culturally sensitive lens were all skills the global health MPH instilled in me to work with the local partners of TQP. I approached the partnership with TQP with respect and sensitivity and focused on the shared commitment to improve the educational and health literacy of the communities we worked with in Ecuador.

Why did you join The Quito Project and how do you think you will use the skills you gained?

I joined The Quito Project because it was the perfect opportunity to apply my public health knowledge from the classroom into practice. I was able to address gaps in health literacy by developing a culturally-tailored public health curriculum on topics such as kitchen and food safety, nutrition, and infectious/chronic diseases to teach to children. An important part of public health work is being able to effectively communicate to diverse audiences, especially to the general public who may have limited science background, so this opportunity was one I did not want to pass up.

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About Soverno Chen

MPH Student in Nutrition-Dietetics & Global Health Epidemiology, School of Public Health BS, Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience; Evolutionary Anthropology; and Microbiology, U-M, 2020 Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor, U-M, 2020

About The Quito Project The Quito Project (TQP) is a University of Michigan Sponsored Student Organization that aims to improve health and education outcomes of under-resourced communities of Quito, Ecuador. The organization works with Ecuadorian partners at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Cáritas la Primavera, and Hospital de los Valles to administer an annual summer Health and Education program for children aged 5-12. TQP is deeply committed to building meaningful community partnerships and promoting social justice for the diverse communities of Quito, all while enabling students to develop as global citizens. TQP is co-sponsored by the Center for Global Health Equity and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

About the Center for Global Health Equity 
The U-M Center for Global Health Equity advances interdisciplinary engagement across our university and with global partners to equitably prevent disease and improve health in low- and middle- income countries. Based at the University of Michigan, CGHE brings together U-M faculty, staff, and students with external partners in pursuit of novel global health solutions that can positively impact individuals and communities in low- and middle-income settings. Since our founding in 2020, we have partnered with over 45 institutions in 17 different countries to realize our global vision of a world where health is not an obstacle to education, employment, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

About the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies 
The U-M Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) is committed to promoting a broader and deeper understanding of the region--its histories, cultures, and peoples. The center provides a venue for faculty, students, and the community to learn and share knowledge and partners with a host of units across campus on projects of mutual interest. LACS is one of several National Resource Centers housed in the International Institute. These prestigious designations, earned in national peer-reviewed competitions, are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI program. This program strives to develop the nation’s capacities in international studies, area studies, foreign languages, and international business education.