Sophia Dugoni is a senior Health Studies major at Boise State University. As a member of the François Lab, she is using a public health approach to understand demographic trends in cancer progression and treatment strategies for states like Idaho. Ultimately, her work will motivate clinically and locally relevant experiments exploring how cancer cell micro-environments influence cancer progression and treatment. Given her personal connections to cancer, she has developed a strong interest in pursuing oncology research that can contribute to better cancer treatments and patient outcomes. As she works toward a career as a physician assistant, she is excited to gain hands-on experience linking oncology research with clinical practice, building a foundation for her future role in patient care.