Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy of Connecticut eighth graders had the privilege of attending a special event this past Monday. BCHA eighth grade students welcomed Talia Shapiro (BCHA ‘14) as this year’s Nancy z’l and Kamal Haron Center for Leadership speaker. Talia is a public health professional and Policy Analyst at RAND, where she focuses on research to inform public health and emergency preparedness strategies.

Talia holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from The George Washington University, where she was a Presidential Scholarship recipient. During her time at GW, she developed expertise in epidemiology and infectious disease research, presenting original work on vaccine hesitancy and public health preparedness.

“The Nancy z”l and Kamal Haron Center for Leadership at BCHA was founded five years ago, and came out of a genuine interest in helping students realize their potential in our school, community, and the world at large,” said faculty member Beth Fritz. “Each year, we create opportunities for students to recognize the need to step up as school leaders. As a way of teaching leadership by example, the Leadership Center brings together talented and high-achieving alumni to speak, so that our students can see the heights to which hard work and the development of their own leadership attributes can lead.”

Before joining RAND, Talia gained hands-on experience in clinical research at GW Hospital’s Emergency Department, interned at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and contributed to community health initiatives with organizations such as the American Red Cross and One Tent Health. Students had the opportunity to learn about public health and epidemiology, and asked many questions about how leadership can change the face of health in our country and around the world.

Passionate about infectious diseases, health equity, and emergency response, Talia is dedicated to advancing public health research and inspiring the next generation of public health leaders. The BCHA family commends Talia on her achievements and her inspiration to BCHA’s next generation of student leaders.