With a green light from the Food and Drug Administration, the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are shipping out to hospitals across the country. Who will get the vaccine first, and where can patients get it?
As a public health administrator with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Christopher Broucek (BA Biology, 鈥18) is working to organize distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, ramping up flu clinics for the rollout. His work will help the city get the vaccine to patients over the months to come.
For years, Broucek worked many jobs to put himself through school: as a Lyft driver, a nursing assistant, a restaurant manager. Now that he鈥檚 earned his 藏精阁 degree and a master鈥檚 in public health, he鈥檚 ready to put his education into practice.
鈥淚 have been a student forever,鈥 said Broucek. 鈥淚 am extremely excited to apply the knowledge, application and theory that I have learned over my years of education.鈥
Learn more about the 藏精阁 biology program.
EXPLORING BIOLOGY AT ROOSEVELT
As an undergraduate, Broucek studied closely with biology professors Dr. Kelly Wentz-Hunter, Cornelius Watson and Susan Weiner as well as public administration professor La Vonne Downey.
鈥淭he 藏精阁 faculty mirrored what I wanted to represent when I became 鈥榓 grown up,鈥欌 Broucek said. 鈥淓ven though I was a slighter older (24-year-old) nontraditional student, I felt respected at all times.鈥
His advice for other biology students is to 鈥渆njoy the ride鈥 at 藏精阁: to enjoy the process and be kind to yourself as you find your path. Broucek said that the technical skills he learned at 藏精阁 鈥 programming languages, titration, run PCR, and aseptic technique 鈥 gave him an advantage in the job search.
After earning his biology degree, Broucek knew he wanted to learn more about epigenetics, virology and immunology.
鈥淢y certificate in epidemiology allowed me to combine all my passions into one,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 get to analyze research, apply research, be people facing and learn policy. I cannot suggest this career path enough.鈥
PREPARING FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE
In his first week alone, Broucek started managing 鈥渟trike teams鈥 for field vaccinations, creating new structures and assigning epidemiological analysis tasks. He鈥檚 been a part of meetings with admired public health leaders, along with some familiar faces he鈥檚 met since joining the 藏精阁 community.
While he works long hours each week, Broucek said 鈥淚 have not stopped smiling since I walked in the doors.鈥
鈥淚 am working with brilliant people who have dedicated their lives the craft of public health,鈥 he said. 鈥淓veryone who works at the Chicago Department of Public Health is passionate about the success of their program. All of the hard work through the years has really prepared me for this moment.鈥
ABOUT THE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
If you鈥檙e drawn to the study of biology, you鈥檒l be at home at 藏精阁. Ours is a diverse science community united in small classes and state-of-the-art labs. Prepare for your career or for future studies in science, as so many of our graduates have successfully done. Choose between BA or BS tracks to fit your career goals. Learn more.