Anton Ziska

Growing up in a multicultural household, Anton developed a passion for two things: cultural diversity and the medicinal uses of food, especially spices. Anton declared his intention to pursue a career as a naturopathic physician, with the possibility of branching into public health, after his graduation from Western Washington University. In the summer of 2018, with the help of his Gilman Award, Anton was able to study abroad in Madagascar with SIT (School for International Training), where he participated in a program focused on Traditional Medicine and Healthcare Systems. The intent of the program was for participants to build a deeper understanding of how history, geography, and demographics impact the accessibility and availability of healthcare (allopathic, integrated, and traditional/plant-based) in post-colonial Madagascar, while connecting these issues to broader, global healthcare challenges. Anton and his colleagues also practiced the Malagasy language through classroom and field-based instruction.