Previous Patient Insight Institute Interns
Summer 2024
Christine Nguyen
University of California, Irvine
Christine is a PhD student in Public Health, concentrating on Disease Prevention, at the University of California, Irvine. She is interested in working with patients and cancer survivors, focusing on identifying and addressing gaps in healthcare treatment and services through research and policy advocacy. Christine has also conducted research about adolescent perceptions of electronic cigarettes and vaping behaviors, and vaccination perceptions, uptake, and intentions.
Christine’s Work:
Yasmeena Jones
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Yasmeena is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she studied Psychology and the Sociology of Health and Medicine. She is passionate about health equity and exploring how policy can address the needs of marginalized communities. During college, she worked as a research assistant for the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Racial Identity (CMERI) Project, which focuses on disrupting dominant monoracial paradigms and centering the experiences of Multiracial youth. She brings strong research and writing skills and is excited to support advocacy and policy efforts that promote justice and inclusion.
Yasmeena’s Work:
Mia Harris
University of Pennsylvania
Mia is currently pursuing her MPH at the University of Pennsylvania. Mia is interested in the intersection of research and policy specifically surrounding barriers to care and needs navigation. Throughout the past school year Mia worked with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, facilitating quality reviews of health-related services to build a resource database for partner high schools in Philadelphia.
Mia’s Work:
Christian Espinoza
Claremont Graduate University
Christian is a Ph.D. candidate in Urban Educational Leadership at Claremont Graduate University with a strong focus on health equity, policy, and community engagement. He serves on the Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee with the California Department of Health Care Services, as well as the Public Policy Participation Committee Board for Inland Empire Health Plan. Christian was also a Regional Intern with the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom and a Regional Advocate Fellow with Young Invincibles, where he focused on expanding access to care and uplifting the voices of underserved populations. As a queer and first-generation scholar, Christian brings lived expertise and a systems-level lens to advancing health justice across California.
Christian’s Work:
Alissa Xiao
Furman University
Alissa is a Public Health and English-Writing Major rising senior at Furman University. Currently, Alissa plans to attend law school in order to pursue her interest in healthcare law and policy. Prior to being an intern with NPAF, Alissa worked with the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership in Greenville, South Carolina, to address health-harming legal needs and provide legal and clinical solutions to vulnerable populations.
Alissa’s Work:
Summer 2023
Frederick Thompson
Emory University
Frederick received his MPH in Epidemiology from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Public Health Education and Community Health. In his role at Patient Advocate Foundation, Frederick organized, coded, and reported data for health services research and assisted with qualitative research and survey reporting for the Patient Insight Institute and affiliated PAF activities. Prior to working at PAF, Frederick worked as a Research Assistant for the Emory University Department of Epidemiology and a Graduate Research Assistant for the Emory University COVID-19 Response Team.
Frederick's Projects:
Summer 2025
Linda Fokam
University of Maryland, College Park
Linda earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. She’s passionate about the intersection of health equity, communication, and community-based policy. Linda previously served as a Public Policy Intern at the Truth Initiative, where she supported research on tobacco and nicotine regulations. She is currently a Tribal Health Experiential Student Internship Seminar intern, where she’s deepening her understanding of public health concerns affecting the American Indian population through independent research. Additionally, she is interested in using storytelling and research to develop and promote accessible, sustainable public health solutions.
Linda’s Work: