Carla Irizarry-Delgado isn鈥檛 just getting her education in public health and epidemiology 鈥 she鈥檚 helping others understand why it matters.
Irizarry-Delgado earned her bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences from the University of South Florida in 2024. She recently completed her master鈥檚 degree in public health in epidemiology and biostatistics from Boston University in May 2026 on a full-tuition Dean鈥檚 Scholarship.
After a summer internship pursuing breast cancer epidemiology research, Irizarry-Delagado has continued her work as an Epidemiologist and Research Consultant at an epidemiology consulting firm. Now, she plans to initiate her PhD research in molecular and social determinants of breast cancer progression risk this fall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Carla Irizarry-Delgado working as an Honors Ambassador in the Judy Genshaft Honors College
Tell us a little bit about your Honors experience. What are your favorite memories as an Honors student?
During my time in Honors, I was a marketing and public relations co-chair for the student council, an Honors ambassador, and an Honors Foundations peer-mentor, but my favorite memory was getting to be an Honors ambassador. As an introvert, I stepped out of my comfort zone by developing my ability to connect with people both in person and on the phone, while also forming strong relationships with my peers in the Honors College.
What inspired your passion for public health and public health education?
While I was taking an Honors geographical perspectives course, I wrote an essay that inspired my professor to introduce me to the field and recommended that I join a scholar's program at the USF College of Public Health. Although I had no prior knowledge of this field, this experience and my professor鈥檚 guidance is what sparked my interest and shaped my journey up to now.
As a biomedical sciences major, I was able to declare a minor in public health. Once I graduated with my biomedical sciences bachelor鈥檚, I then went on to complete a master's in public health education and communications.
Carla Irizarry-Delgado and other members of the student council at a Judy Genshaft Honors College event
How did the Honors College prepare you for a Master of Public Health at Boston University and now a PhD in epidemiology at UNC?
During my time at Honors, I took a class that was called Microbiology and Immunology with Professor Steven Specter. That class shaped my view on population diseases and made me want to study epidemiology, specifically in the broader field of public health. Participating in discussions was really helpful for me to identify exactly what I wanted to do.
Being part of the Honors study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic also heavily impacted my passion for public health. It鈥檚 a lot of community-level work, and it really teaches you how to be more mindful of the communities you're trying to impact in public health. I was able to see exactly how my education applies to communities around the world.
Beyond engaging in academics and leading your peers, you also run an Instagram account dedicated to public health education. What motivates you to reach people through social media and what have you learned so far in the process?
I believe that everyone with a phone should be able to access accurate public health information that isn鈥檛 fueled by fear or rage. It鈥檚 very hard to communicate complex scientific processes into common language that people will understand, but it is incredibly worthwhile. I鈥檝e had so many people ask me for health advice and tell me that they appreciate a reliable source that they can trust. They also tell me that they would be nervous to misinterpret this information if they had researched it themselves. Feedback like this tells me that my work of sharing what I鈥檝e learned is important and impactful.
What advice do you have for Honors students about how to make the most of their Honors experience?
Carla Irizarry-Delgado walking under bright umbrellas on her study abroad trip in the Dominican Republic
I think of it this way 鈥 there鈥檚 a common advice in the gym where they say, 鈥淒o one more rep than what you think you can handle.鈥 My biggest piece of advice is to exceed the limits you set for yourself and do one more thing than you originally intended. That extra step is what fosters meaningful growth in school, connections, and relationships.
I did quite a bit at USF with extracurriculars and surprised myself with how much I got involved in my community, and that mentality carried over into my master鈥檚 and now my PhD program. I can confidently say that pushing myself past what I was comfortable with is what pushed me to new heights. It鈥檚 very satisfying to see the outcome of what you鈥檝e worked for.
Learn from Carla鈥檚 Public Health Instagram account by .