Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, College Park
Undergraduate Major: Public Health Equity (Created this major in the Individual Studies Program at UMD)
Type of Work: Project Coordinator for the Center for Child Trauma Assessment, Services and Interventions at Northwestern
Why did you choose the MS Health Communication Program at Northwestern University?
I chose the MS Health Communication program because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program and the unique incorporation of interaction design in the program. I am passionate about eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity. The health communication program provides students with skills to solve problems in healthcare and I chose this program so that I would be able to obtain these skills and use them to impact the health of groups of people who have been marginalized and suffer the worst health outcomes.
What are your career goals?
Since starting this program my career goals are evolving because I am being exposed to different opportunities in health communications that I did not know about before. Ultimately though, my goal is to work in a career that directly impacts improving social determinants of health and achieving health equity.
What is your favorite part of the program so far?
My favorite part of the program so far are the lectures. The course content is very interesting and our professors are engaging, so it makes going to class on Saturdays totally worth it.
Any tips on balancing school, work, and life?
In order to be successful in balancing work, life, and school I think it is very important to plan ahead and prioritize. One way that I do this is to use a calendar to schedule not only the due dates of assignments but also when I will work on different assignments throughout the week. I also try to complete all assignments for school by Wednesday night, so that there are a couple of days during the week that I do not have to think about school work.
Is there any additional advice or information that you would share?
I think that is useful to have an open mind when in this program. The interdisciplinary nature of the program will expose you to so many aspects of health care that you might not have known about or never expected to be interested in. During this program you will learn a lot in class and from classmates who have expertise in many different industries and having an open mind for all of the new experiences and information will only be beneficial to you and your journey in health communications.