Hello! My name is Lena Tang and I am a rising Junior at Tufts University, double-majoring in Biology and Community Health. I’m thrilled to be part of the Laidlaw Scholars Network and look forward to embarking on this journey with such a diverse, curious, and motivated group of Scholars.

This summer, I will be conducting qualitative research on respiratory health in Chelsea, MA. I will carry out this research through 8-10 interviews with residents living with asthma, COPD, cardiac disease, or other respiratory diseases. I aim to examine the question: What are the primary barriers to respiratory health faced by low-income and immigrant communities?

This research project reflects my deep commitment to health equity, especially in immigrant populations. Before attending Tufts, I spent a year in South America facilitating community welfare programs which reinforced my value of service and dedication to elevating underprivileged communities. More recently, I listened to a talk by activist Ashley Rose Solomon, who mentioned that planes from Boston Logan Airport are rerouted to avoid polluting wealthy areas of Boston, while leaving nearby areas like Chelsea disproportionately exposed to harmful emissions. This moment, combined with my previous experience with long COVID research at Massachusetts General Hospital, inspired me to take action against respiratory health injustice here in the Boston area.

In order to explore the lived experiences of the study participants, I will be utilizing community-engaged research, in which decision-making is shared with a trusted, Chelsea-based partner organization, La Colaborativa, and the focus is on community-defined problems. I will be working closely with Dr. Shalini Tendulkar, senior lecturer in the Community Health department of Tufts University.

The air we breathe is a fundamental, shared resource. Through this project, I hope to bring visibility to the environmental burdens faced by the people of Chelsea and contribute to ongoing efforts in policy advocacy, tenant protections, and community empowerment. This research also aims to inform healthcare providers and clinicians by offering a deeper understanding of how environmental and structural barriers affect patients’ respiratory health, helping improve care and responsiveness to community needs.

I look forward to joining this amazing network of Laidlaw Scholars and learning from the wonderful projects the rest of the Scholars are working on!