Rita Malallah (SY’ 26) is a student pursuing a B.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology and global health studies on the pre-med track. Raised in Syria during the Syrian civil war, Rita is passionate about refugee health in developing countries. She aspires to improve access to healthcare among refugee communities in the U.S. and abroad. This academic year, she is interning with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, where she helps refugee families maneuver a new healthcare system by translating and booking their initial doctors’ appointments. Rita is also an avid researcher interested in studying epigenetics causes for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. She volunteers with Matriculate, where she helps high school students from low-income backgrounds apply to college. On campus, she is involved with Yale Students for Christ, Christian Union, Arab Student Association, and Dwight Hall Urban Fellows. In her free time, Rita loves to travel, weightlift, pursue new experiences, and spend quality time with friends and family.