Alianna Higgins

Background

About Alianna Higgins

As a researcher, I'm passionate about combining my interests in disability justice, infectious disease, and implementation science. I feel that my time in Hastings, Nebraska has equipped me well for this goal. I was a Department Assistant in the emergency department at Mary Lanning Healthcare. In this role, I was the first person that patients saw upon entry into the emergency room, and handled tasks involving checking patients into the department, managing patient information, and communicating with patient care teams. I was simultaneously an intern at the South Heartland District Health Department, where I assisted the public health nurse with implementing an influenza & COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Hastings College, as well as promoting other vaccination clinics within the community. In addition, I was the founder and president of Hastings College Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM), which I consider to be my most important contribution during my time there. The group pitched and won a grant for creating sensory friendly spaces, and worked directly with the Title IX coordinator to assist in creating an anonymous discrimination reporting form. Aside from DREAM, I was co-chair of our hunger and homelessness association, and president of our Student Health Advisory Council. My contributions to campus were recognized through receiving a Who's Who award from Hastings College in my senior year. I believe this strong background of community service and leadership has prepared me to become an excellent public health professional. I am ultimately a scientist at heart, and dream of being able to perform cutting-edge research to help marginalized communities, and vaccine equity is of particular interest to me. In my career, I want to help bridge the chasm between scientific research and clinical implementation. I enjoy being able to work with a variety of different people, and love being able to see the impact of my work. I am constantly looking for a challenge- a trait which allowed me to thrive within the emergency department. I know that I have the drive and passion it takes to make these dreams a reality.