Class of 2024: Ava Gardner blends athletic drive with public health vision
Name: Ava Gardner
College: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Major: Public health
Hometown: Richmond
Gardner, a standout senior in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded the fall 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Medallion Award.
Gardner, who began her academic journey at the University of Colorado Boulder before transferring to Virginia Tech, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in public health and plans to pursue a career in medicine.
"Ava exemplifies everything we hope to see in our students," said Kerry Redican, professor of public health and director, undergraduate program in public health "She brings remarkable insight to complex health challenges and demonstrates an exceptional ability to connect classroom concepts with real-world applications. Her commitment to both academic excellence and community service sets a high standard for future public health professionals."
Phi Kappa Phi awards a medallion to one graduating senior per college, chosen from those with the highest academic standing in their respective colleges.
From competitive climbing to public health
Gardner's path to public health was influenced by her desire to understand health care systems more comprehensively before pursuing medical school. A competitive climber for 15 years, including two years on the University of Colorado Boulder team, Gardner's athletic background has shaped her interest in both sports medicine and community health.
"Understanding the basis of the health care system is really important in order to be an effective and good doctor," Gardner said. "I chose public health mostly for the background on the health care system that I would gain and a better understanding of what field I'm going into."
Community impact and practical experience
Between scaling walls and studying health systems, Gardner has immersed herself in hands-on public health experience. She has volunteered with Mission of Mercy, providing dental care services in Wise County, and completed her public health practicum at Feeding Southwest Virginia's food pantry. Her work there included food preparation, mobile pantry distribution, and quality assurance, giving her direct insight into community nutrition needs.
Gardner also completed practicum hours through ski patrol, where she developed social media content about injury prevention. Her diverse experiences reflect her interest in the intersection of public health, nutrition, and sports medicine.
Academic excellence and balance
In the classroom, Gardner has excelled in complex coursework, including public health program planning and evaluation, where she developed comprehensive health interventions. In her infectious disease class, she worked on mathematical modeling of disease transmission, applying theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios.
For Gardner, success in the public health program comes from maintaining a healthy balance between academics and personal well-being. She emphasizes the importance of making time for outdoor activities, regularly hiking trails like Dragon's Tooth, Tinker Cliffs, and McAfee Knob. When not studying, she can often be found teaching kitesurfing on the Outer Banks or finding a meditative moment watching the sunset from Bald Knob.
"It's really important to have a good school and life balance," Gardner said. "Study and do your work on time, but it's also really important to do the things you enjoy, to go outside and give yourself that nature break. If you overload your brain, it will not be effective."
Future plans
After graduation, Gardner plans to embark on an international experience, backpacking through Morocco and Portugal, before completing her pre-medical requirements. She aims to enter medical school in 2026 and explore specializations in orthopedics, sports medicine, or oncology.
"It's been an awesome program, and you learn things about the health system that you didn't even know existed, about all the different aspects of health policy and health leaders. It's really interesting. It's great. I would definitely recommend it to anyone," Gardner said.
