Marcus Villanueva, MPH
Marcus is from Edinburg, TX., a border town in South Texas. Growing up, he observed firsthand the health struggles experienced by people in border towns and Mexican American communities. His passion lies at the intersection of health and law, as he aims to advocate for better health outcomes for these communities along this intersection.
Marcus has earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and his Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy from Texas A&M University. Throughout his academic tenure, he immersed himself in various advocacy initiatives, serving as a devoted volunteer for numerous advocacy groups. His dedication to effecting change led him to take on roles as a legislative and government affairs intern, where he gained invaluable insights into the intersection of health and policy.
As a legislative intern on Capitol Hill, Marcus conducted thorough research on various health policy topics such as telehealth, expanding scope of practice, and opioid use, recognizing their interconnections with issues of access and equity in healthcare. Marcus delved into how these topics intersect with the healthcare landscape of communities like the one he grew up in. As a government affairs intern for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he collaborated with stakeholders and legislators to ensure that children battling cancer are being advocated for comprehensively. Marcus ensured that the voices of childhood cancer patients and their families were heard in the policy-making process. Ultimately, he aspires to apply his experiences toward his goals of advocating for equity in healthcare, spearheading initiatives that address systemic disparities and ensure that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to quality care. Moreover, Marcus is driven to represent marginalized groups in his community.
Marcus is from Edinburg, TX., a border town in South Texas. Growing up, he observed firsthand the health struggles experienced by people in border towns and Mexican American communities. His passion lies at the intersection of health and law, as he aims to advocate for better health outcomes for these communities along this intersection.
Marcus has earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and his Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy from Texas A&M University. Throughout his academic tenure, he immersed himself in various advocacy initiatives, serving as a devoted volunteer for numerous advocacy groups. His dedication to effecting change led him to take on roles as a legislative and government affairs intern, where he gained invaluable insights into the intersection of health and policy.
As a legislative intern on Capitol Hill, Marcus conducted thorough research on various health policy topics such as telehealth, expanding scope of practice, and opioid use, recognizing their interconnections with issues of access and equity in healthcare. Marcus delved into how these topics intersect with the healthcare landscape of communities like the one he grew up in. As a government affairs intern for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he collaborated with stakeholders and legislators to ensure that children battling cancer are being advocated for comprehensively. Marcus ensured that the voices of childhood cancer patients and their families were heard in the policy-making process. Ultimately, he aspires to apply his experiences toward his goals of advocating for equity in healthcare, spearheading initiatives that address systemic disparities and ensure that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to quality care. Moreover, Marcus is driven to represent marginalized groups in his community.