DrPH Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant at University of Hawai’i, Manoa in Honolulu, HI
How did your MPH prepare you for what you’re doing now?
I was able to learn about the field of public health from history to practice. The background knowledge helped me to choose a focus area and decide what next steps I wanted to take with my educational journey. The MPH also trained me in the skills needed to carry out evaluations and think critically about public health research in the community at the university and state levels.
Please provide a description of what you’re doing now and what you like best about it.
I am a graduate research assistant for Healthy Hawaii Initiative Evaluation Team and we evaluate healthy living programs funded by the state of Hawaii. I love that our team can devise ways to increase effectiveness of programs and organizations that focus on the promotion of healthy living within schools, communities, and workplaces.
What advice would you give to prospective and current MPH/MSPH students looking to do something similar to you?
Find what you are passionate about. What makes you excited about public health? Once you figure out your area of interest, find ways to integrate the work you do in all your classes within your MPH. Utilize all your classes as training to prepare you for work in your field. Find a mentor on campus that can challenge you in your interest area and work with you to develop skills you are lacking or not confident in. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there, whether that is presentations, conferences, or publications.
