Meet the students from the College of Public Health and Health Professions, a diverse group dedicated to improving health and well-being in communities around the world. These students come from various backgrounds, united by their passion for health and their commitment to making a positive impact. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their studies, preparing to become the next generation of health professionals who will address pressing health challenges and advance their field.
Meet: Loryn Smith
Program: BHS Communication Sciences & Disorders
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Why did you decide to join the BHS Communication Sciences & Disorders program?
Growing up with unilateral hearing loss, I knew that I wanted to study medicine but wasn’t sure what that looked like for me specifically. I started as an anthropology major and waffled back and forth between others for my first two years because nothing seemed to click.
During my sophomore year, I joined the Japanese Student Association and met a CSD student a year ahead of me who introduced me to faculty and answered my questions about the program. It was also thanks to her that I had the opportunity to join the Someya Lab, studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in hearing and cochlear aging. Gaining that hands-on experience in the field combined with working directly with other students with similar goals helped me find a niche I was passionate about.
What have been some of your favorite moments in the BHS CSD program?
I’ve unintentionally met other CSD students as a resident assistant and at Greek life events. I bump into them while volunteering at the hospital and sometimes through friends of friends. I even met several PHHP students while abroad in other countries! This is my favorite aspect of the program—how the students come from all corners of campus, and even for a program that seems small, it has such a wide reach because of how involved and diverse its members are.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
I hope to attend a speech-language pathology graduate program next year and later become a physician assistant.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like watching “Kitchen Nightmares,” going on runs, and reading.
What would you like to share with others who may be considering the same program?
The CSD program at UF benefits from having a small, close-knit group of students who share the same coursework and resources. However, a smaller program also requires its students to have a very structured and specific course schedule in their upper-division years. I encourage interested applicants to take their time exploring electives that interest them, working toward minors/second majors, or taking care of prerequisite classes for postgraduate programs before applying to the CSD program. A diverse range of experiences and breadth of knowledge help students in all aspects of the program.
Want to learn more?
Click here if you’d like to learn more about the Bachelor of Health Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders program.
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