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Ellen Delarosa Hamblet

Ellen Delarosa Hamblet

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Undergraduate Institution: Northwestern University

Undergraduate Major: Biology

Type of Work: Project Management for drug development at a pharmaceutical company

Why did you choose the MS Health Communication Program at Northwestern University?

I chose this program because it involves a diverse mix of communication, research, and healthcare. I wanted to learn more about the issues we all face as healthcare consumers from both patient and caregiver perspectives, and improve on my knowledge to help understand and navigate problems in healthcare. I also wanted a program to help me advance my career and add value to my organization with the skills I am building on during my course of study, and as a Northwestern alum, I knew the program would be very valuable and thoughtfully organized.

What are your career goals?

I want to build on my current project management talents, further optimize the drug development field by improving cross-functional communication, and expand into further patient experience initiatives to help patients learn how to advocate for themselves and gain support from their families and friends.

What is your favorite part of the program so far? 

The interactive lectures really give us a chance to participate and understand how pertinent the coursework is to our own lives and careers. Dr. Liss’ course about the US Healthcare system has been extremely enlightening since it focuses on topics that we hear about every day, but are constantly changing and evolving. Dr. Lambert’s class has also taught us to view healthcare problems at a more granular level and gives us a different perspective on how these problems can be solved. We also receive great career advice from Kim’s Proseminar session and we have the chance to meet industry experts and hear about their own experiences.

Any tips on balancing school, work, and life?

Surround yourself with supportive people who will be understanding of the challenges that lie ahead for you during this year of study, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Set aside time each day to get some schoolwork done, but be kind to yourself if there are certain (inevitable) days when you are not able to do as much schoolwork as you had planned. Make friends with your classmates – they are great resources and you will learn from each other and relate to each other! Take some time to listen to some music or do something fun when you are feeling stressed.

Is there any additional advice or information that you would share?

Take the time to see how these different courses apply to your life outside of school – it will help you appreciate the learning process even more.