Clinical Subjects Coordinator, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
How did your MPH or MSPH prepare you for what you’re doing now?
The intersectoral skills I developed during the two years obtaining the MPH have allowed me to seamlessly transition into this position where I work with people in varying departments. Additionally, I was able to fine-tune my writing skills, which have helped me in grant writing.
Please provide a description of what you’re doing now and what you like best about it.
Currently, I am a clinical study coordinator. I am responsible for starting observational and therapeutic clinical trials, working with the IRB, sponsors, and writing grants to further research projects. I enjoy the patient contact that I have in the position. I recruit and enroll eligible patients into our trials. It’s great to see many of our patients getting better through the therapeutic trials.
What advice would you give to prospective and current MPH/MSPH students looking to do something similar to you?
I would advise prospective and current students to take the opportunity to network and work with the public health professors they are learning from. I feel that by working with Dr. Beier during my independent study course, I was able to gain not only a publication, but also a lot of skills necessary for the workplace. I feel that the expansion of my skillset made me a stronger candidate during the job search after the MPH.
