BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Alexis Aranda-Hernandez '25 is combining his passion for public health and community gardens to sow wellness in underserved communities.
In an interdisciplinary, real-world project, the senior neuroscience student completed an internship at the University of Chicago last summer where his research team studied the link between disadvantaged neighborhoods and individuals with high blood pressure. Aranda-Hernandez said the team included members from across the globe, which was intimidating at first, “but I learned to embrace differences in background and thought, as I was taught at Illinois Wesleyan.”
“I felt elated to be able to conduct research related to the patient population,” he said. “I was happy to see many of my colleagues were filled with similar ambitions to address health disparities.”
Ultimately, the research team determined that hypertension can be managed through community-based health solutions, such as providing access to fresh produce through neighborhood gardens.
And Aranda-Hernandez knows a few things about community gardens as president of the IWU Peace Garden.
“To me, the Peace Garden represents the intersection of so many academic disciplines embodying the mission of the liberal arts. It serves as a community garden focused on addressing food insecurity and equity — which has sadly become a politicized issue in our country — through sustainable farming practice while also being a hotbed for different research projects and publications,” he said, adding that the Peace Garden is a resource for students studying everything from political science to environmental studies.
He brought the freshly researched metrics and concepts back to campus and partnered with Jim Simeone, Sally A. Firestone Professor in Peace and Social Justice, Professor of Political Science. Simeone also serves as faculty advisor for the Peace Garden, and under his guidance, Aranda-Hernandez is finalizing a horticultural therapy program that can act as an intervention for high blood pressure.
“People should take control over their own health and I believe that starts by providing access to resources and facilities,” he said. “I’m using the Peace Garden and the West Bloomington Revitalization Project as a basis for my work.”
Aranda-Hernandez has also partnered with public health majors Natalia Martinez '27 and Kammie Carter '28 on the project. The next steps, he said, are to draft research protocols and submit the study to the University's Institutional Review Board. The team is hopeful to gain approval and move on to community outreach and partnerships. Aranda-Hernandez is looking to add other interested students to the project as co-authors.
Beyond the research project and his career path to become a physician, Aranda-Hernandez has partnered with Mishwa Bhavsar '23 to establish a nonprofit organization called Cura Community to plant community-based healthcare solutions on the south side of Chicago, his hometown.
Aranda-Hernandez shared gratitude for support in his research endeavors from Simeone and other faculty in public health, chemistry and psychology. As a neuroscience major, he said that the internship and research experience introduced him to the realm of public health, shifting his thoughts and approaches to healthcare and how to use his liberal arts degree in the future.
“I think it's great how Illinois Wesleyan University still provides students with
the opportunity to take an active role in their learning. I would definitely recommend
any student pursuing medicine here at IWU to engage in an experience that can broaden
their horizons and take them out of their comfort zone,” he said.