Current Student Adam Eickmeyer thanks HBHE Alum José Bauermeister '04
My plan was to do my undergraduate studies at U-M and
earn my BS in biochemistry, then go right into medical school. Along with my
own personal and academic development, I would have never guessed that a presentation
on sex education by José Bauermeister would help me to take a little detour
while on that path.
Rewind.
During undergrad, I was dealing with accepting my sexuality,
and used research on LGBTQ health as an outlet. In 2013 I attended the Sujal M.
Parikh Memorial Symposium for Health and Social Justice, and met José after he
gave a talk on comprehensive sex education. I remember making my friend
awkwardly wait in the room after the presentation while I went and talked to
José to learn more about him. That turned into a meeting with him a short while
later, where we discussed how HBHE could fit into my goals. I had confirmed my
interest in public health. I applied to the Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate
Studies Program (4+1), and got in. I was so excited to be a part of this program!
I told José that I was accepted, and he said he would have a job waiting for me
at the SexLab once I started the program.
Again, I didn’t realize how much working with José in the SexLab would
impact my time in the MPH program.
José has also taught me that while working diligently and
being productive in academia is important, it’s also crucial to support the
people that you work with. Without a functioning team, the work can’t get done.
He has supported me as I led a systematic review on homophobic bullying,
learned how to work with qualitative data, and grappled with my future life
plans. But he also supported me in times of personal crisis, providing a
shoulder to cry on and a listening ear.
I never got my degree in biochemistry. Instead, I created my
own undergraduate major to study determinants and inequities in health
care. I decided to pursue public health
because of my interest in LGBTQ health inequities and social justice. While I
am still planning to attend medical school, public health has become a central
part of who I am, and I hope it will remain so as I complete the rest of my
training. I am so fortunate to have met such a generous person along the way.
He is a tireless advocate for health equity for marginalized populations, and
is someone that I will look up to throughout my career. Because of him, I will
be a better physician, a better researcher, and a better person. Thank you, José.
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