ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ

Year Graduated: 2009 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public Health is creating a healthier environment, whether its individually with behavior change to broad with policy change.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • The ability to help people become better versions of themselves.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I thoroughly enjoyed the undergrad Community Health program and wanted to ensure I received the same quality education in my graduate program.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The passion the professors displayed.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • I started working as a part-time peer educator. As time passed and degrees earned, I moved up to become the Senior Director.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • Seeing a program go from a needs assessment to implementation that actually provides the participants with the skills/knowledge to live a healthier life.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Being in the field of public health is very rewarding. You may not get paid the money you desire, but you sure will make a difference every day. 

Email: a.ballard@unf.edu;  ; Web: /recwell/  

Year graduated: 2008

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you? 
   • Public Health is taking large scale problems and breaking them down to discover how we can help individuals, employers, and communities make beneficial behavior change. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health? 
   • My passion to serve people and the communities I live in was a big driving factor toward my decision to study Public Health. I was drawn to the idea that I could study something that would allow me to serve people both on small scales and large. The idea of being able to make a positive impact on communities by serving the individuals who live there drove me towards public health. Now that I’m well into my career in public health, helping people uncover their best selves and be aware of community resources, programs and tools that help them thrive and flourish inspires me to continue the great work we do. For the past 7 years my focus has been on workplace health, it’s a great way to reach people since we spend so much of our waking time at work.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • I was already living and working in the First Coast area when I was looking at graduate school and I loved the idea of deepening my education within the community I was already in. The ability to learn from professors who were not only leaders in the industry, but also members of my local community was a positive for me. Many of my professors, mentors, and classmates are still contacts and resources for me today as I continue in my career.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I love that the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program has such a strong sense of community and support. The professors, classmates, and mentors really pour into each other, and help contribute to your growth and development. In this program, you can fully immerse yourself in your learning to set you up for success in your future endeavors.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • I’ve recently made a career change after having an incredible professional and personal journey at Health Designs. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to develop myself at HD and do meaningful work that I truly loved alongside an amazing team! I’m now honored to be a part of the Regional Obstetric Consultants team and serve as their Practice Manager. This opportunity found me through a former ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ connection and individual that I met during my time in the undergraduate program. Relationships are so important no matter what career path you’re planning for yourself and I’m grateful for this new opportunity!
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far? 
   • Working for an employer that has given me the space to learn, grow, develop, stretch myself, and pursue my passions. That space has allowed me to not only flourish in my career, but it also allowed me the opportunity to serve the entire First Coast as the chair of the First Coast Worksite Wellness Council. It’s been so rewarding, and I am grateful to have worked alongside Ann and our entire team - she cares so deeply and wants us to have enriching experiences that enhance our lives and careers.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • I would give this advice: Always follow your heart, develop strong connections, and find work that brings you joy and makes you proud. Remember to set aside time each day for reflection – for your personal and professional life – to become self-aware, what your strengths are and where you need to grow, and call out the things you’re grateful for.  These will not only inspire you, but also remind you how blessed you truly are. 
    

Contact: ;  ; Britnee_Bell@mednax.com

Year graduated: 2017 

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the operation of Healthy Community North Florida  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?  
   • Being a practitioner for public health means that we are focusing more on the population rather than one-to-one health and wellness.  
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?  
   • I felt with public health you can make more of an impact because we work with populations as a whole.  
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I loved this program because of its class size and that the professors care about each individual student.  
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • Knowing that our cohort was the future of public health.  
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • Dr. Merten recommended that I apply for this job and the rest is history!   
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • The single most rewarding experience is when I held a Healthy Hearing screening at an Adult Day training center. At that screening, we found out that this individual had severe hearing loss and likely had not been hearing fully for years. I also came with him to his hearing aid fitting, so I saw his care through from the beginning.  
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health? 
   • Be flexible! Don’t be rigid in your path when you are trying to find your career. 
    

Contact: 

Year graduated: 2011

Brief Job Description: I am a Division Director providing management and oversight for health education in the community, our Community Health Improvement (CHIP) strategies, Preparedness, WIC, Healthy Start and (beginning this summer) our dental School Based Sealant Program.  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?  
   • Public health is educating the public and the opportunity to partner with the community to assist them in addressing health disparities. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?  
   • I come from a sociology background but have always been fascinated by certain aspects of the health care field. In my opinion, public health is the perfect opportunity to operate in both realms. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • I liked the way the program was set up so that students were exposed to a broad range of public health topics. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • Classes were small, giving our cohort time to really get to know each other, learn about different experiences and perspectives, and provide support as a group. The professors also made themselves available to meet with students as things came up.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • I started my public health career as a Social Services Counselor with the Department of Health (DOH). After four years in that professional entry level position, I went back to school for my MPH. Not long after graduating, my old supervisor reached out to me about an open position at the DOH that she though would fit perfectly with my experience and new degree. I interviewed and ended up managing the Healthy Start program for four years. I learned a tremendous amount in that position such that I was able to apply for the Division Director position when it became available.  
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?  
   • If I absolutely had to narrow it down to one experience, I would say it was becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). However, the most rewarding day to day work that I do is with the Spanish speaking community. We have a growing Hispanic population in our county, and I love to be able to exercise my language skills to help clients create a healthier life for them and their families.  
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health? 
   • As a Division Director in a medium sized health department I review a lot of resumes and conduct a lot of interviews. I would advise students before they look for work to spend as much time researching how to write a resume as they do on social media. When they think they have a good product, use spell check and then have at least two people who know something about writing look it over. The best resumes aren’t necessarily from those with the most paid experience in public health.  I love to be able to interview graduates who are savvy enough to include their volunteer work and/or know how to highlight how skills they’ve utilized in past jobs would work well in a public health career. 
    

Contact: Patricia.Cepeda1@flhealth.gov

Year graduated: 2009 

Brief Job Description: Responsible for analyzing and compiling current vital statistics data and evaluating electronic data processing systems for effectiveness while also identifying necessary solutions to meet program objectives for contractually funded federal programs which monitor and administer state and national health and social services.

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • To me, Public Health is about identifying health disparities in the community and educating people about those issues so they can feel empowered when making decisions that will influence their health.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • I wanted to have an impact on everyone I encountered. I wanted to be an example.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ has a well-known reputation as an accredited institution. The MPH program allowed me to broaden my grasp of Public Health while also maintaining a full-time job and raising my daughter. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?  
   • The faculty and the individual attention. I always felt respected by both my peers and my professors. It was refreshing to be among a community of enthusiastic learners who also had a strong desire to promote healthy communities. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?  
   • Someone had sent me a job posting that had been vacant for a while. When I read the job description, it was a perfect match, so I applied. I’ve been here since 2010. 
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far? 
   • Conducting statistical analyses that impact legislative bills. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Surround yourself with positive and forward-thinking people.

Year graduated: Summer 2018

Brief Job Description: As the lead research coordinator III at UF Health Jacksonville in the Department of Emergency Medicine I interact with patients and medical staff (physicians, nurses, ED techs, etc.), enter data into numerous databases, assist faculty in research design, work in our biomedical lab, and manage all staff. I also represent as the site preceptor for both ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ undergraduate and graduate students. 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health means implementing and facilitating change to make our neighborhoods, communities, cities, countries, and world a healthier and happier place.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • Helping the community inspires me to work in public health, whether that be in program implementation, research development, or engaging with the community to determine their needs.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I chose ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ’s MPH program because of the professors and it felt like home. I received my undergraduate degree from ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ as well, so I was familiar with the campus and the professors. As I was in the epidemiology concentration, I did not have the pleasure of having all the professors but it didn’t matter. They are friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and always willing to help with whatever you may need. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?  
   • Although there are many things I enjoyed about the program, I really enjoyed all the friendships I developed. The program is very close knit and having these relationships with your classmates really helps you succeed.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • After I completed my undergraduate internship in the department of emergency medicine I was hired on as an executive assistant. After a couple of months, I moved into a research assistant position and have continued to move up in the department.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • The most rewarding experience so far is applying what I have learned in biostatistics into my daily work. The master’s program provided me with a great foundation of biostatistics and how to use the software. I am currently working on an analysis with one of the physicians and will be submitting the paper for publication this year!
    
7. • One piece of advice I would give someone is to network, network, network. Networking is extremely important in the public health field as we all work together. As a student you should start networking on day one with your peers and professors. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?

Contact: Morgan.Henson@jax.ufl.edu

Year graduated: 2018

Brief Job Description: ICPs serve as a resource for hospital staff, patients, and families. We are experts in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting health data to track infection trends, plan interventions, and report data to public health agencies. We establish scientifically based infection prevention practices and help prevent infections in the hospital by isolating sources of infections and limiting transmission. In addition to reporting, research and policies, we educate hospital staff and patients about infectious diseases and how to limit their spread.  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health is utilizing medical knowledge, evidence-based research, education, and compassion to help protect communities from disease.  
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • In the field of public health, I know that I can contribute to the control and prevention of infectious diseases. I am motivated by knowing that my team and I's research, education, and surveillance can be the difference between a healthy community or a community with disease.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program because of its nationally accredited status and excellent faculty with small class sizes. Jacksonville is also a great city for those interested in working in the hospital-setting because of the large number of facilities in the area.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I really enjoyed the opportunity to be a Graduate Assistant to professors. It's a great opportunity to be mentored by experienced educators and to help teach subjects to younger students. This program provides opportunities to grow professionally (internship, assistantships, volunteering) while simultaneously growing academically.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • The MPH program has an internship the semester before graduation, and I landed an internship with UF Health Infection Control and Prevention. I was trained by all the ICPs in the department and helped them with their infection control tasks. They ended up hiring me after graduation.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • The single most rewarding experience so far was graduating from graduate school and taking a job with UF Health. I am the first in my family to go to graduate school, so that was special for me and for them to have accomplished that. I'm a huge UF fan, as it was my undergraduate alma mater, so to be able to come back and work for them was really rewarding. We serve a unique population here - Trauma One, safety net hospital, and proton therapy. The opportunity to be a part of a hospital that truly cares about its community is very rewarding.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Stay humble and focused. Never forget that in public health, our purpose is to care for and to protect the community around us. We are advocates, care providers, and educators. When we lose focus of that, we won't be as effective.   

Contact: thuyvi.hoadley@jax.ufl.edu

Year graduated: 2013 

Brief Job Description: I manage a staff of 7 and oversee a statewide SNAP-Ed nutrition education program for Duval and Nassau Counties. The Family Nutrition Program is behavior-change-focused and evidence-based. We also work to implement policy, systems, and environment changes to make the healthy choice the right choice, and to thereby reduce risk and incidence of obesity and chronic disease.  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health reveals problems and solutions to the masses in hopes we can catalyze change to make the world a healthier, happier place.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • I firmly believe everyone has the right to be healthy.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I researched. I kept feeling the call to the world of health, yet I didn't want to necessarily work in a clinical field, where the main goal is treatment. I wanted to focus on prevention and education. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The faculty and my cohort. I have gained numerous lifelong friends through this outstanding program. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position? 
   • Scouring the internet and signing up for job alerts at organizations at which I wanted to work.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • Being able to see others become as passionate as I am about public health. It greatly warms my heart to tangibly see the work my staff puts in that leads to a healthier community. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Be focused, hard-working, jovial and kind. Be willing to start at the bottom, and don't give up in finding your dream job. Don't phone it in when it comes to classwork, internships, and presentations. Be creative and practical with your projects; think deeply about how any bit of work you do in grad school can be applied in the real world.  

Contact: johnstona@ufl.edu ; 

Year graduated: 2012

Brief Job Description:  My goal at The Bailey Group is to grow our client base by demonstrating the value that our services can bring to your organization. We are always looking for the right partnerships that can benefit from our team of qualified professionals. We provide our clients with custom-designed strategies to develop and expand their business, maximize performance and strengthen employee retention and morale.  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • After spending 8 years in the corporate wellness field, and now a Benefits Advisor, I have seen firsthand the importance that preventive health can have on both the individual level and for an organization.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • I believe the work environment, a place where most of us spend 53% of our time, is the perfect place to teach and inspire a person to become a better version of themselves.  I have always strived to be the healthiest and happiest version of myself and feel the intrinsic desire to teach others how to do the same. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • After graduating with a minor in Public Health for my undergraduate studies, I felt that I had found my calling and only hit the tip of the iceberg. I HAD to have more and couldn’t wait to get back in the classroom with some of the best professors the field of Public Health has seen. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • I LOVED my professors and really got a chance to know each one on a deeper level since our cohort and class sizes were so small.  This made for an enriched environment where long-term friendships and professional relationships were made.  I still keep in touch with several of my peers. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position? 
   • I was working for a Benefits Broker while also working on my MPH, and at the time, our field was still emerging.  I saw a need for the Benefits Advisory role to provide corporate wellness consulting and the ability to “teach” an organization leader how to encourage preventive health within their workplaces to reduce high-cost claims.  I went on to work for a competitor broker who allowed me to grow their department from 2 people to 5 people, servicing over 50 clients.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • Knowing that I make a difference in the health of our clients’ employees, but also the health of our clients’ organizations.  In some cases, when a client’s claims are so high and insurance costs become so exorbitant, this can put a financial hardship on the company and restrict growth.  Preventive health enables us to teach their employees how to take better care of themselves, lower claims costs, obtain lower insurance costs, and allow for our clients to focus on building their business. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Make connections, get involved, volunteer, and don’t be afraid to say “yes.”  You never know what a connection will bring, and the more connections you make, the more opportunities you will have. 
    

Contact: ; 

Year graduated: 2009

Brief Job Description: I teach Epidemiology and Disease Prevention to students in our Environmental Health Major as well as run a research lab training undergraduates and graduate students and investigating factors that influence the establishment and spread of ticks and their associated diseases in the Northeastern US. 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public Health to me is the understanding and study of population health issues through the lenses of empirical science, healthcare practice, and social norms/values. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health? 
   • As an EMT-Paramedic I wanted to obtain a degree that would allow me to pursue a career in emergency/disaster preparedness and management. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • I loved to surf. The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ campus and the surrounding area is beautiful. 
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The faculty were great! Despite me pursuing a laboratory intensive science PhD, I utilize social and behavioral theory in all my classes. This mindset and training provide me a different way of approaching problems in my field and related fields. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • Hands down, Dr. Clark was the most important force in getting me to where I am today. He introduced me to molecular biology and ticks, and to this day serves as a mentor in life, work and research.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far? 
   • Finding a faculty position where I can teach students from a Public Health perspective which can be very eye opening for some. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Take all your training and classwork seriously. I use knowledge I gained in my time at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ every day; from meetings and talks with politicians, healthcare providers, researchers, to interacting with the public and students. The skills I learned in my MPH experience at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ have allowed me to be a better communicator in this diverse world where EVERTHING and EVERONE is connected.   
        

Contact:  ; Lab Website: 

Year graduated: 2016  

Brief Job Description: The Museum Educator serves as the Lead Educator in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) David J. Sencer Museum. This position works in the interactive museum and learning center designed to educate visitors, and particularly young people, about the value of prevention-based public health, while presenting CDC's rich heritage and vast accomplishments. The Museum Educator is responsible for coordinating the design and development of all instructional projects, to include tour workshops, the CDC Disease Detective Camp, document programs and professional development training for teachers. 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you? 
   • Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health? 
   • I was inspired to study public health because of the high teen pregnancy rates in my high school. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • I selected the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program because of the faculty.  
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program? 
   • The connections I made with faculty, staff and other students.  
    
5. How did you end up in your current position? 
   • While in the MPH program at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ I got the opportunity (from connections I had with faculty – Dr. Moore and Dr. Barr) to work on a CDC grant running Teen Health Centers in the local Jacksonville community. From there I moved to Atlanta and applied for positions at CDC. I started off as a health scientist fellow in the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) for 3 years. Most of my work was on prenatal substance exposures and resulting birth defects. From there I moved on to become the CDC Museum Educator, where I educate the general public about public health and what CDC does.  
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far? 
   • I worked the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center 2017 Hurricane Response for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. I served at the Children’s Health subject matter expert for efforts in Puerto Rico and USVI. It was a very eye-openingexperience that allowed me to work with others to help save children in those areas.  
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Be open minded and flexible, things don’t always go as you plan and that can be for the better. I would have never studied public health at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ if I did not happen to get asked to do a pilot program (health science -public health) that I never applied to. I think everything happens for a reason! I am now married, have a happy 9-month-old baby, and a very successful public health career at CDC. 
    

Contact: 

LinkedIn profile:   

Agency web site:   

Email: HMcCann@cdc.gov

Year graduated: 2017 

Brief Job Description: Training to become a specialist physician in internal medicine 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?  
   • Public health is saving lives one million at a time. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health? 
   • I was inspired by the desire to improve health at a population level through preventive strategies and scientific research. Public health exposed me to the skills and competencies to do so. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?  
   • I chose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program because of its small class size, the quality of the faculty, and the large health sector in Jacksonville. I loved the beautiful campus too.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I thoroughly enjoyed the small classes which provided opportunities for open interactions with professors, individualized learning, and personalized experiences. The professors were awesome, easily approachable and more than willing to support me in the pursuit of my professional goals. I was also fortunate to have a fantastic cohort of classmates who by the end of the program had become my lifelong colleagues and friends. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position? 
   • The MPH degree opened doors for me to do a research fellowship in a highly reputable hospital and ultimately a career in clinical medicine. 
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far? 
   • Successfully completing a rigorous 2-year research fellowship in Mayo Clinic with multiple publications. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • There are many opportunities you can pursue with a public health degree. Be open minded. But once you decide on what you want to accomplish with your MPH degree, tailor your experiences towards achieving that goal. Good luck.

Year graduated: 2010  

Brief Job Description: I work as an Analyst in Commercial Analytics Department of Florida Blue. My area of concentration is Risk Adjustment.  

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public Health is a Community Service. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?  
   • I love making a difference in the quality of Healthcare. I feel this is a good way to serve the community.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • Convenient evening hours at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ made it easy for me to study while taking care of my one-year old daughter.  
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • Awesome faculty members. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position? 
   • My passion for healthcare data has helped me grow in my career.  
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far
   • Conducting needs assessment for a prevention grant, all on my own.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Be confident and pursue your dream.

Year graduated: 2007

Brief Job Description: CMO of DMAT FL-4 under DHHS. National Disaster Medical System and Attending Clinical Decisions Unit at UF Health, respond to Trauma and On Campus Cardiac Arrest

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health defines the components that allow continued health and contentment of our general population. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • The desire to help in the broadest way after 911 and its spin off population threats.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • At the time I qualified for an extended executive program and was geographically well situated.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I loved many things but most of all the program and faculty flexibility in individualizing my career aims, well before the curve of most universities.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • The program allowed my credentials to fit into the EM UF Jacksonville faculty.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • There were two: (1) participating in the Haiti Earthquake disaster response in 2010; and (2) responding to Hurricane Maria’s devastation of my Puerto Rico homeland.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Be aggressive and tenacious in finding your niche and exploring it in detail. Love what you do and do what you love.

Year graduated: 2018

Brief job description: I practice epidemiology as an EID fellow at the county level in Seminole, where I investigate reportable diseases and outbreaks. Each of the program’s fellows is tasked with executing Core Activities for Learning which encompass the following areas of focus: outreach, database analysis, surveillance system evaluation, presentation to other epidemiologists, and rapid response to public health concerns within the county.

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • The scientific endeavor of containing or preventing danger to the health of a population.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • After working with the refugee population in Jacksonville, I began to understand the urgency of impending public health issues – global warming, domestic terrorism, refugees and immigration, suspicion of vaccinations, emerging antibiotic resistance – and decided to empower myself so I could make an impact in this critical moment in our history.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program offered a curated selection of classes tailored to future epidemiologists presented by some of the most passionate professionals with whom I have ever worked.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The professors and peers who I learned from during my time in the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program continue to inspire me in my career, and the department felt like my second family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people in the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ Public Health department. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • One of my former professors, Dr. Stallings-Smith, was a fellow in this program. When she learned they were accepting applications, she informed me of the opportunity and encouraged me to apply.
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • This role is by far the best position I’ve had in my career. I investigate or learn something new every day, and I’ve developed a passion for healthcare-associated infections. This fellowship has provided me with valuable hands-on investigative experience, and I look forward to exploring it further as my career grows.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Put in the work. You may not initially know what you want to do, but you’ll get out of it what you put in. Be open and present in your program. Engage with your professors and your community with eagerness and humility. You’ll be amazed at how much those around you will help you find your path if you’re willing to put in the work.   

Contact: 

Year graduated:  2010 

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the development, launch, ongoing operations, promotion, and expansion of health partnerships with complementary and like-minded community-based organizations. Lead community partnerships with the Jewish Community Alliance, Walgreens, and YMCA of Florida’s First Coast for the purposes of delivering innovative health & wellness services and programs designed around the unique needs of the surrounding community to improve health outcomes. 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health is improving the lives of people and communities through education, policy, and support.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • I have always believed in the power of holistic, preventative healthcare and am encouraged that it is part of the early traditions and the future of healthcare.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I felt that ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ was able to uniquely offer a high-quality, affordable public health program with outstanding educators and connection to the local community.  I was not disappointed!
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I liked that the professors encouraged application of concepts to the real world and always shared their own research in class.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • I was working for Brooks Rehabilitation during graduate school and was recruited to be involved in a new joint community project/center (Riverside YMCA).
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • Working with the underserved and injured.
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Keep an open mind.  
    

Contact:  ; 

Year graduated: 2006

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health is the coordination of services, systems, and policy, to best support the health and well-being of a population.
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health?
   • As a public health professional, you have the ability to make a real impact. From the individual and up through the community, there's so many ways you can make a positive impact to support health and well-being. 
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program gave me the ability to work full time and still attend a quality degree program.
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • The ability to learn alongside others who worked full time. Our real-world experiences enriched classroom dialogue. 
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • I saw the opportunity and I took a chance! As an undergraduate I worked at GatorWell as a health hut peer educator. It was my experience working there that lead me to a degree in health education. It was ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ that helped me take my health ed background and apply it with a larger, systemic view. 
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • Watching public health professionals grow! Working in college health affords you to see the passion and innovation driving new professionals. It's what fuels me!
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Join professional organizations as a student, before you graduate. APHA, SOPHE, ACHA, ASHA, DHPE, there's so many to choose from. Pick at least one that best matches your career goals. They will help you tremendously as a new professional; networking, conferences, webinars, and journals become critical tools.

Year graduated: 2009

Brief Job Description: I support state injury programs and opioid overdose prevention programs by providing technical assistance around program implementation, planning, and evaluation.  I also connect states with subject matter experts to give partners access to the best available science to inform programming and surveillance activities. 

1. In one sentence, what is public health to you?
   • Public health is improving the health status of communities through a variety of activities related to policy, systems, and environmental changes that foster optimal health outcomes. 
    
2. What inspired you to study public health, or inspires you to work in public health? 
   • I began my journey into public health through health education.  Before attending ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ, I received a BS in Health Education from the University of Florida (UF).  I had no idea public health existed and began my academic journey with the goal to become a pharmacist because I thought my natural talents would be best used in that profession. As I matriculated through UF, I realized that my path was not to be a pharmacist, but to work in field where I could have a more upstream influence, such as health education. Taking some of my initial health education courses ignited a passion in me to support communities through community health programming. Today, that passion fuels me in the work I do to support states across the country in implementing appropriate and impactful public health programs.
    
3. Why did you choose the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ provided me with the unmatched opportunity to continue my academic preparation while being physically close to my family. During this time in my life, I needed to return home to receive family support through a tough personal transition while continuing my professional preparation. This program gave me the support I needed to continue without skipping a beat!
    
4. What did you like most about the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program?
   • I loved the flexibility of the program and the passion of the faculty. I was born and raised in Jacksonville and didn’t quite appreciate the richness of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ’s programs. Now that I have personally experienced life at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ, I appreciated having access to such passionate professionals. Their passion and work made me comfortable with learning advanced skills and knowledge in the MPH program, while exploring different avenues to have a professional impact. I also met some really great colleagues.
    
5. How did you end up in your current position?
   • Shortly after graduating from UF and while in the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ MPH program, I worked as a Tobacco Health Educator with the Duval County Health Department, conducting community and school-based education activities. I absolutely loved this position because I was able to engage with middle and high school students around the city, and able to work with partners to advance tobacco prevention efforts in Duval County. After my first year in the MPH program, I felt it necessary to pursue additional training post-MPH to utilize and hone the skills and knowledge I would have from ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ. I researched training opportunities and learned about the CDC Public Health Prevention Service Fellowship, which was a highly competitive, 3-year service fellowship for master’s level public health professionals. The fellowship focused on public health program management and provided specialized hands-on assignments through two 6-month assignments at CDC, and a two-year field placement in state and local health organizations. During this fellowship, I conducted social media evaluations for 3 of CDC’s Twitter Profiles; evaluated the Workplace Health Workgroup Strategic Plan; and planned and implemented a new injury prevention program for the Clayton Health District in metro Atlanta. These three experiences definitely put my knowledge and skills to use and also prepared me to transition to CDC headquarters as a Policy Issues Manager in the CDC Office of the Chief of Staff. In this role, I worked with senior leaders and colleagues across the agency in management, communications, science, and policy to identify and solve real and/or potential issues that may arise from gaps between what we do as agency and what partners and stakeholders expect and understand. This was a great experience, but I missed the interactions I had in my previous assignment in the Clayton Health District. So, I decided to take a Public Health Advisor position in the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that allowed me to work directly with state and local partners to advance CDC’s priorities and equip them for success. It has been a wonderful experience!
    
6. What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career so far?
   • By far, PHPS was the most rewarding experience. It forced me to work in topic areas I would not have chosen on my own. I was given projects that required me to exercise my skillset. I had opportunities and experiences with colleagues and supervisors that required me to learn how to work in and through difficult and complex environments and situations. It was a stretch experience for me. An experience that made me utilize what the MPH program taught me in ways that I continue to benefit from to this day. In PHPS, I was able to apply everything I learned in the MPH program. The strong foundation of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ’s MPH program prepared me to maximize this opportunity. ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ had not previously had an MPH student be among those selected for the PHPS program and it was a huge honor for me to represent the talent and excellence produced from the Brooks College of Health. 
    
7. What is the one piece of advice you wish to give someone, or wish you had received, starting as student or professional in public health?
   • Trust yourself. Each of us have unique perspectives and various skills that help advance the field of public health. We all start as beginners with lots to learn, but there is a something unique about each of us that can be used to improve the health of communities.  Trust what you have to offer and use your uniqueness to help others.  I still remind myself of this and share this advice with those I mentor.  
    

Contact: Enjoli.willis@gmail.com ;