Lily Centra
Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
During Summer 2020, May 2021 graduate Lily Centra interned at Hanger Clinic: Orthotics and Prosthetics’ Manhattan, New York, location. She was able to shadow Certified Prosthetist John Rheinstein and his colleagues. During her time at the clinic, she was exposed to a variety of patients with upper limb prostheses, lower limb prostheses and orthotics. Centra was also able to learn a plethora of prosthetic fabrication and modification techniques.
In Spring 2019, she joined Dr. Rodolphe Gentili’s Neuromotor Control and Learning Laboratory and has been working as an undergraduate research assistant since then. She says experiences in this lab played a large role in her decision to pursue a career in prosthetics and orthotics.
In one sentence, what is public health to you?
Public health to me means looking into all aspects of health care and preventative care among different populations, and especially, looking into ways that we can mend disparities among health care and different communities.
What inspired you to study public health?
When I was younger, I went to occupational therapy, and ever since then, I thought that was the coolest job there was. While my path has changed, it was that initial experience and my overall interests in science and the medical field that got me more interested in kinesiology and public health.
What person or experience has had the greatest impact on you during your degree program?
Dr. Gentili has been a great mentor. Not only did I enjoy his classes because they spoke to my specific interests, but he also has a lab on campus that I was privileged to join. I got to work hands-on with motor learning and control like working with prosthetics. I’ve enjoyed working in the lab with the grad students, who are all supportive and passionate about kinesiology. They’ve also been able to connect with me with prosthetists in the profession and help guide my career path over the last few years.
How has your time at UMD’s School of Public Health shaped your career goals?
I originally came in thinking about occupational therapy and physical therapy. I remember at orientation, we were told — not as a scare tactic but just in general — that the majority of people coming in as OT/PT will switch by graduation. Looking back, I laugh at that because it's very true. The variety of courses that were offered helped me realize different aspects of the field that I’m interested in.
For my summer internship, I worked full-time and was able to see and work with patients that have a variety of backgrounds. It was awesome to be fully immersed and get a good understanding of what it’s like to be in the field.
What do you think is the biggest challenge that the public health field should be focusing on?
I think one of the biggest challenges is health literacy problems among all populations, all socioeconomic statuses and education levels. I feel like there are even many highly educated individuals who don't have a proper understanding of what it takes to take care of your body and any diagnoses they may have, whether it’s related to the pandemic or not. In populations that are discriminated against, there are added layers that further complicate health literacy issues.