Denison Alum Conducts Research on Alcohol Use, Youth Health in U.K.

This past summer, Denison University alum Ania Wellere took her passion for health equity across the Atlantic, interning with the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) in the United Kingdom. Her research focused on alcohol consumption, advertising, and its effects on adolescents, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Wellere is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in health equity and social justice (EQUITY) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Students in the EQUITY concentration focus on improving population health by addressing health inequities and advancing social justice.

My Posse training at Denison taught me how to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and build strong professional relationships.

After learning about the IAS from a peer in her graduate program, Ania saw an opportunity to engage in international health policy and applied for a summer internship.

“At UNC Gillings, we have several career and professional development resources that helped me secure my internship, including the Research, Innovation, Global Solutions office and the MPH practicum team,” she said. “I also believe my Posse training at Denison taught me how to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and build strong professional relationships.”

During her four-month internship, Ania conducted a literature review on how outdoor alcohol and unhealthy commodity advertising affects drinking behaviors in low-income areas of the U.K. Her research contributed to identifying accountability measures for alcohol companies and offered policy recommendations for public health stakeholders.

In addition to the research, Ania authored a blog post published on the IAS website titled “Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain.” The post examines how underage drinking, permitted under U.K. law in some cases for 16- and 17-year-olds accompanied by adults, can impact adolescent brain development.

“Youth drinking is a growing issue in the U.K.,” she said. “There is no health benefit to consuming alcohol, and I wanted to explore how it affects brain development during such a critical stage.”

Ania’s work reflects her broader career ambitions. She hopes to one day work in international development and patient-centered care to help reimagine the U.S. healthcare system with a stronger focus on equity and inclusion.

“The current health system in the U.S. tends to miss out on addressing the needs of everyone,” she said. “I’m passionate about advancing patient-centered care and ensuring healthcare systems prioritize equity and inclusivity.”

Her experience abroad deepened her commitment to public health and reinforced the importance of applying social, economic and political perspectives to health systems reform.

“Public health requires us to think beyond biology and examine the broader structures that influence health outcomes,” says Ania. “I chose this field because I believe healthcare should be respected and upheld as a human right. Many historically marginalized groups are still navigating injustices in the healthcare system, and I want to reshape public health for the better.” Ania is eager to apply the skills she gained during her internship to future work in advocacy, policy and healthcare delivery.