About:
Cyrena [PhD, LCSW] is a health services researcher and public health social worker. She is also a Public Voices Fellow of AcademyHealth and The OpEd Project.
Cyrena Gawuga provided us with a few more interesting facts about herself:
🍽 What person living or dead would you invite to your dream dinner party and why?
I am absolutely fascinated by Henry VIII of England—not just because of the six wives, but because of how he played such a large role in the formation of the modern Western world (arguably the world) all in the name of obtaining a son and heir.
🦉 What is your spirit animal?
Owls. They are nocturnal raptors who hunt silently, communicate succinctly, and are deceptively adorable.
🎶 What is your theme song?
Golden by Jill Scott.
🏝 What 3 things would you take to a desert island?
An iPad full of books and games, a solar USB-C charger, and sunscreen.
🇯🇵 Where is the best destination you’ve been to and why?
Miyazaki, Japan. My brother lived there for ten years. It was a completely different culture but everything felt so natural to me—the food was fantastic and fresh, the people were kind, and it seemed like they had found a more orderly and peaceful way to live.
🦸🏽♀️ If you could have a superpower, what would it be… and what would your superhero name be?
Power = Explosives. Name = Dynamis.
🧞♂️ If you had one wish to improve the world, what would you change?
Bring an end to US-style capitalist healthcare systems.
👩🏾🏫 If you had chosen another path in life, what might you be doing now?
Translation scholar focused on Spanish and Portuguese language literature
📚 Which books do you recommend to others?
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Stiff by Mary Roach
Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich
❤️ Name three self-care practices you have adopted to treat yourself well
Buying a large pill box and keeping it organized, being honest about my health limitations and disability, and embracing introversion.
