From pre-med to public health: Binghamton student finds her purpose inside and outside the classroom

Camil Ventura ’26 began her Binghamton University journey as a biology major aiming to become a doctor. But after taking a public health class, she discovered a new passion.

Ventura was initially drawn to medicine because she wanted to pursue a career helping others. However, she wasn’t enjoying her biology classes as much as she thought she would, and when she took her first public health class, she knew she had to make some changes.

“I want to do something that gives back to people. I want to wake up in the morning and have a purpose to go to work,” Ventura said. “That is why I wanted to be a doctor, because I felt like that was altruistic, but I found another field that is just as altruistic, and it’s a better work-life balance.”

Ventura, a native of Harlem, New York, will earn her undergraduate degree in global public health from Harpur College of Arts and Sciences in May. In the fall, she will continue her studies in the Master of Public Health (MPH) 4+1 program at Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Always interested in health and health equity, she believes public health encapsulates all her interests.

Once she graduates from Binghamton with her MPH next spring, Ventura plans to work in clinical research within the pharmaceutical industry. Her summer internship with Johnson & Johnson, which gave her industry experience through hands-on projects, inspired this career move.

“I did cancer research at Johnson & Johnson, and I really love that,” Ventura said. “I hope to pursue a future in the pharmaceutical industry. I know that there’s not that much representation of diversity, so I would like to bring that to my role.”

Ventura’s summer project focused on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, where she was assigned to Phase 1 of the clinical trial. Her task was to compare the adverse events in the trial with those in other internal Phase 1 clinical trials. In addition, she had to compare her specific clinical trial to three approved medications already on the market to determine which was best. Aside from hands-on experience, Ventura also gained leadership experience.

“At the end of the internship, we did a symposium, and it was all intern-led. It was really great because aside from learning professionally, we were also growing personally, and I just really enjoyed that experience,” Ventura said. “It’s a field that I had no idea I wanted to pursue, because I was pre-med up until that point, and then I realized, ‘I love this so much.’ I really enjoyed drug development, and I feel like I can impact more people’s lives by working in the pharmaceutical industry.”

Johnson & Johnson wasn’t just where she discovered her love for the pharmaceutical industry, but also where she realized she could make a real difference, not only in other people’s lives but also within the industry itself. While interning, Ventura traveled to Philadelphia, where she volunteered at a tabling event focused on including diverse populations in clinical trials.

This issue is important for Ventura because she knows that different populations respond differently to medications, and this should be reflected in clinical trials. This summer, Ventura will be working at another pharmaceutical internship, this time at Merck & Co., where her role will focus on diversity in clinical trials.

“To me, that was really eye-opening. I was like, ‘Wow, this is really interesting to be working in informing the community and explaining to them [the importance of diversity],” Ventura said. “There is, unfortunately, a lot of mistrust in minority communities about clinical trials, and I completely understand people’s thinking.”

Throughout her time at Binghamton, Ventura has grown personally and professionally, inside and outside the classroom. She joined clubs and held executive board positions, completed internships, worked on-campus jobs, and was an undergraduate research assistant for Sharon Bryant, associate professor of public health, associate director of the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity, and associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Decker College.

One of her roles for Bryant was helping with the Harriet Tubman Statue at the University Downtown Center. Through this work, she toured the Freedom Trail, helped facilitate the unveiling of the statue, and met with the sculptor.

“I think it’s really important to learn about history,” Ventura said. “Binghamton is so rich in history, and I was just so amazed. And I thought [working with the Harriet Tubman Center] would be a great opportunity to keep learning.”

Although Ventura began her Binghamton journey with a different plan, the community she found here led her to what she is truly passionate about, and she is excited to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.