Graduate Spotlight: Tomas Zurita
Tomas Zurita is a 2nd year Master in Public Health student and Graduate Administrative Assistant at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.
Coming from Woodburn Oregon, Tomas grew up in a close-knit Latino community. He attributes his academic success to his community, his mentors, and his parents; they are his sources of inspiration in pursuing his career in public health.
Tomas’s upbringing, life experience, and education inspire him to “pursue a career in academia that allows me to conduct Public Health Critical Race research alongside my community to mitigate inequities and empower the next generation of students of color to diversify academia,” said Tomas.
Early Education & Inspiration
Throughout his youth, Tomas saw firsthand the generosity his parents would extend to fellow immigrant families with guidance, networking, and housing during their transition to the United States.
It was their compassion and value in education that inspired him to pursue a pre-medical degree as an undergraduate student at the University of California Irvine, in hopes of becoming a pediatrician that could further serve their community.
“My family entrenched the importance of education, community, and compassion my whole life. They taught me never to forget where I came from and to have pride in our community,” said Tomas.
It was during this time at UC Irvine that he was introduced to the world of Public Health. He was drawn to the principles of Community Health. Becoming more interested in aiding the mitigating health disparities that he witnessed growing up. It was in his third year as an undergraduate that Tomas changed his major from pre-medical to Public Health Science.
“I thought the only way to improve the health of my community was by being a doctor, but public health introduced me to a more preventative approach to the health inequities plaguing my community,” said Tomas.
Through his classwork and involvement at UC Irvine, Tomas became more aware of the social injustices, social determinants of health, and racial/ethnic inequities impacting his community. From then on he committed to looking at health from a population perspective. It was also his work as a Research Coordinator with Dr. Uma Rao in the Latino community that helped solidify his decision to pursue his MPH on his way to a Ph.D. at OHSU.
“Attending OHSU made the most sense because my dream of returning to Woodburn as a professional is still alive. I hope to continue my education at OHSU while establishing myself in the [Portland Metro] area in preparation for my work as an academic and advocate in community health.”
Inception of BREATHE
While at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Tomas has made a significant impact in our community with his involvement in the creation of the BIPOC Resilience, Empowerment, and Affirmations Towards Health Equity (BREATHE) group.
BREATHE is one of the School of Public Health’s Social Justice Advisory groups that promotes solidarity and equity of BIPOC students within and beyond the academic institution.
When Tomas moved back to Portland and began his graduate program at OHSU, he felt a lack of diversity compared to his childhood community and attending a university in a predominantly Latino community. “I felt the doubt of imposter syndrome. I felt the dynamics of institutional powers and the foreign structure of grad school,” said Tomas.
He quickly realized he was not the only one in his program to feel this way. “When I noticed myself feeling any form of microaggressions, witness privileges, or had self-doubt, I looked for reassurance from my peers and found that they had similar experiences,” said Tomas.
A common topic amongst his peers was the need for resources for students of color. Tomas and other students took it upon themselves to start a BIPOC student group. Creating a space for other students who may be feeling and experiencing similar things.
By the summer of 2023, BREATHE was officially recognized as a student group. It has created a community within the institution that relies on each other and unites voices to empower students of color.
Academic Support & Influence
Appreciative of his journey and academic success, Tomas highlights various individuals as the pillars of support that have led him to where he is today. First and foremost are his parents. Immigrants from a rural village in the Sierra of Oaxaca, Mexico, Tomas’ parents sacrificed everything to make the daunting trip to the United States in search of a better life and opportunities for their children. Tomas attributes his success in his academic journey to the opportunities provided by them.
Another person who has served as a cornerstone to Tomas’ academic career is his late mentor, Dr. Frank Zaldivar. Tomas and Dr. Zaldivar met when Tomas volunteered as a mentor for his STEM enrichment program for low-income elementary students in Santa Ana. A Director of a research center and mentor to undergraduates and teachers, Dr. Zaldivar was a tireless advocate for outreach, education, and collaboration with schools and community partners. These efforts showed his commitment as a volunteer and board of directors to several non-profit organizations and events throughout his life. “[Dr. Zaldivar] taught me how to live with grace, triumph beyond adversity, and dedicate myself to something that I am enthusiastic about,” said Tomas. Dr. Zaldivar passed away in early November 2023, but his spirit and passion live on through Tomas and the rest of the people he impacted.
Within the SPH, Tomas notes how fortunate he is to be surrounded by caring, genuine people who have helped make his life as a graduate student easier. Specifically pointing out Dr. Ryan Petteway, Dr. Dawn Richardson, and Adri Jones. “I appreciate how I can be real with Ryan, talk about what it’s like being a person of color at this school, and feel understood. I always leave our conversations with a new sense of motivation and/or enthusiasm. I am grateful to Dawn for allowing me to work alongside the social justice group at the SPH as a Graduate Administrative assistant this year. Adri has been a tremendous supporter of us students interested in social justice and advocates for student voices.” said Tomas.
Looking Towards the Future
As Tomas looks toward the future, he now understands the complexities that influence the health outcomes of community populations. He hopes to move the progress bar forward on the immense work that is the mitigation of health inequity and disparities by any distance.
“I hope to pursue a career in academia that allows me to conduct Public Health Critical Race research alongside my community to mitigate inequities and empower the next generation of students of color to diversify academia.” says Tomas