Silpa Thaivalappil: Gervase Programs: Learning to Lead

Silpa Thaivalappil is an International Health major in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. She has found her time at Georgetown extremely rewarding, especially the opportunity to work with so many different populations and organizations such as CentroNia, MetroTeen AIDS, UNICEF and USAID.

Silpa has conducted research at the National Cancer Institute for several years, and has been fortunate to find similar cancer research here at Georgetown under the guidance of Dr. Pablo Irusta. Outside of academics, she is a Cluster Leader for the Health in the Global Context cluster, where she has moderated and led discussions on issues pertaining to global health. She also became very involved with the campus UNICEF chapter, where she implemented a tutoring program teaching local youth and teens about children’s issues around the world. Additionally, Silpa has served as a student academic advisor for incoming students and is an active member of the Georgetown University Student Research Conference Committee.

Silpa is currently abroad at the Navrongo Health Research Center in Navrongo, Ghana, where she is analyzing the health system of the Upper East Region and carrying out her senior thesis on the knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy. She plans to earn an M.D./M.P.H. and eventually work in developing countries to address issues pertaining to children, cancer epidemiology and the environment. In her free time, Silpa enjoys reading, dancing, baking and traveling.