Episode #423 Empowering the Next Generation With Santiago Ojeda Sainz
- Laura Hollabaugh
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- Sep 22
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
This dynamic episode with Santiago Ojeda Sainz spotlights his journey as a Master of Public Health student and passionate advocate for social and behavioral sciences, immigrant health, and micro-mobility safety. Santiago’s story, leadership roles, and future ambitions illustrate the new wave of public health professionals driving innovation and collaboration to address real-world challenges in diverse communities. The episode explores mentorship, student empowerment, and urgent road safety issues, inviting listeners to take part in mentoring the next generation and advocating for safer, more equitable public health.
Meet Santiago Ojeda Sainz
Santiago is a second-year MPH Student at the University of Florida, with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Santiago has an undergraduate and research background in Neuroscience and Behavior, including Neurophysiology and Psychobiology. Santiago was the youngest Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid instructor in the country, graduating with his bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at 18 and educating community stakeholders, including local Sheriff's Offices, Community Services Councils, and local schools in Broward County. He was recently nominated to serve as the 2025-2026 UF College of Public Health and Health Professions' TIPH Ambassador at the national level. Santiago is also the Secretary of the Public Health Student Association at UF, and sits on the Social and Behavioral Sciences Student Advisory Board for his program. His interests span various public health sectors, including migrant healthcare access policy, public health leadership, neuroepidemiology, motorist safety, and harm reduction initiatives for substance misuse in Florida.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
From Neuroscience to Public Health: Santiago shares his transition from neuroscience research to public health, inspired by his hands-on work as a mental health first aid instructor and recognizing the need for actionable tools to address disparities now .
Focus on Immigrant Health: His capstone centers on immigrant healthcare access and outcomes, especially in Florida’s diverse communities, emphasizing both research gaps and real-world impact .
Collaborative Student Leadership: As secretary for the Public Health Student Association, Santiago helps facilitate service opportunities, a mentorship program with 40 mentor-mentee pairs, and events connecting students across concentrations .
Curriculum & Advocacy Involvement: He serves on the student advisory board, working on curriculum improvements and student needs, and is a TIPH ambassador promoting public health awareness and safety initiatives at the national and campus levels .
Micro-Mobility Safety Advocacy: Santiago’s advocacy goes beyond motorcycles to include e-scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds, highlighting infrastructure gaps, safety education, and regulatory challenges affecting campus and community safety .
Mentorship is Critical: He underscores the value of mentorship—flexible, supportive relationships that inspire and inform students navigating a rapidly evolving field .
Resilience in Public Health: Despite political turbulence and funding cuts, Santiago and his peers are committed to the public health mission, calling on senior professionals to foster and sustain the next generation through engagement and shared purpose .
Campus & Community Connections: The episode invites listeners, including professionals and fellow students, to support, connect, and collaborate for stronger public health outcomes .
"We can do all the research and get all the data and make the most advanced scientific findings that we can, but at the end of the day, our community and our neighbors... need the tools now to deal with disparities and inequities."– Santiago Ojeda Sainz
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DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
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