Alumna Raaven Goffe continues on her path to becoming a doctor
College of Public Health alumna Raaven Goffe, came to the University of South Florida as an international student from Nassau, Bahamas in 2013.
Goffe earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and master of public health degree with a concentration global communicable disease and a graduate certificate in global health practice from USF in May 2017. Her dual degree program was offered through the USF Honors College and the COPH which allowed Goffe to complete her graduate and undergraduate coursework simultaneously.
Goffe was recently accepted into the MD/PhD program at Emory University in Atlanta as an incoming physician scientist trainee.
Alumna Raaven Goffe conducting research in a laboratory while earning her dual degrees (Photo courtesy of Raaven Goffe).
She became interested in the field of public health professionally at the pre-health scholars program offered by USF Morsani College of Medicine where Dr. Dawood Sultan and Dr. Deanna Wathington spoke about their careers, the role of public health in our daily lives and the potential of public health.
“The potential to change policies that affect the health of people and the environment, the potential to eliminate and minimize barriers that impact community health, the potential of interventions to transcend national borders, and all of the potential to do great things lies in public health,” Goffe said.
During her time at the COPH, Goffe overcame the challenges of earning her dual degrees.
“To complete both my BS and MPH degrees in four years required semesters with difficult course loads, sometimes 18, 21 and 22 credits of combined undergraduate and graduate coursework,” she said. “I would do it all over again because the public health professionals who taught and those who learned beside me made the experience more than a degree.”
Goffe’s favorite memory of her time at the COPH was her experience in Bangkok, Thailand working at the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences.
“Working with COPH faculty and students studying malaria and being immersed in Thai culture was truly amazing!” she said.
Goffe plans to be heavily involved with organizations and laboratories that have interests in global health and immunology research while in the MD/PhD program. She hopes to do more international travel as well.
“I want to use my background in public health to inform my perspective on global health, health policy and health delivery systems while using my medical education to understand individual health challenges and best clinical practices,” she said. “I want my research experience to challenge me to ask questions and develop projects to enhance our understanding of human health and immunity. I hope that all of this would allow me to work with other passionate professionals to improve global healthcare systems.”
Fast Five for COPH Alumni:
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
A doctor. A health crisis (and subsequent recovery) that a family member had directed me towards medicine at a very early age.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
Probably sleeping, painting, watching Netflix or brunch somewhere in Tampa.
What is the last book you read?
The Testament by John Grisham.
What superpower would you like to have?
Selective mind-reading (teleporting through time and space is a close second).
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
Schindler’s List.
Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health