Student SPHere 2012

By Ashley Bekolay
Environmental Health, MPH

If you are reading this post as a perspective student, then I hope this helps push you in the right direction. If you are reading this as a current student, then I am sure you know how I feel. If you are reading this as a practicing public health practitioner, then you are inspiring. What am I talking about? Well, I come from a very science-y background. Being surrounded by lab scientists and MD's, I stick out like a sore thumb as "that public health person". When people ask me what I am going to school for, and I say my MPH, the response 90% of the time is, "So then do you want to go to med school or get your Ph.D. afterwards?" I even have had someone tell me that there is absolutely no job market for someone with just a masters. Well, as expected, I have really struggled with this. I find myself wanting to stand in the middle of campus and preach to people about WHAT public health is, WHY its awesome, and exactly how many jobs are just waiting for the right candidate in public health. For a while, this has really gotten me angry. It is difficult to have people continually doubt and demote what you are passionate about and what you are working so hard for. I too have had doubts as to whether this was the right career path. I recently had another instance where someone had some negative things to say about my chosen degree. After talking to a very wonderful, and sensible coworker about it, I have come to realize I am doing exactly what I want to and was meant to do. I need to take the negative views, and prove all of the haters wrong.

I think that is one of the main reasons we are all in public health. Of course we all want to make an impact, and want to make a difference on a large scale. To me, that should be the first and most important aspect of your career choice. But, maybe part of the job as a public health practitioner is to prove that thinking out of the box can get you a long way. It seems like "public health" is that kid in high school that everyone made fun of but was also secretly envied by the same exact people. I think this field of work is amazing and rewarding and takes special people to be a part of it. No, we all will not make $300,000 per year. No, we all may not win the Nobel Prize for finding a cure for cancer.
We are like the behind the scenes people that make the quiet, and larger impacts...
Many infectious diseases, because of the implementation of vaccines, no longer affect people in the U.S. Public health. Multiple types of cancers have seen a decrease in recent years because of an increase in screening. Public health. 27 states have completely banned indoor smoking in public places because of the efforts of lobbyists and policy makers. Public health. Water and sanitation practices in developing nations have drastically improved, providing safer water and decreasing the burden of disease. Public health.
The point of all of this rambling is that public health is everywhere. It is a field that is constantly in need and is also constantly producing success stories. Yes, I had my doubts and sometimes let those that looked down upon the field get under my skin. I have to realize that part of my job, as a future public health practitioner is to educate the non-believers and to really make them understand what public health is and why it is so important. I love this field, I love my major, and I love what the future holds for me. I guess sometimes all it takes is a few punches to the gut for you to stand up for what you believe in and be proud of what you are accomplishing (cheesy, I know).
Moral of the story: public health is where its at. It is where you will always find me.

By Elise Niedermeier
Dual Degree, Community Health Education and Social Work

Recently my field instructor and I were having a conversation about the benefits and challenges of online learning. The School of Public Health offers a number of core courses online and most, if not all of the Maternal and Child Health major can be completed online and at a distance.

I've taken a few online courses through both Social Work and Public Health over the years, including Public Health foundation courses such as Ethics, Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatistical Methods II. Online courses are great for flexibility in location and timing. I've worked at summer camp, traveled out of state and watched lectures from my porch all while working to complete course requirements. For my biostats class, I found it helpful to be able to re-watch lectures both with concepts I didn't grasp the first time around and also before a quiz or exam. I also enjoyed being able to work at my own pace, spending as little as 15 to 20 minutes or as much as a couple of hours on the work knowing I could complete it (within reason) when my schedule allowed.

That's not to say online learning isn't without its drawbacks. It can be hard to keep up with the material without a class to show up to every week where someone can hold you accountable. It can be frustrating to not be able to get questions answered in real-time, and you don't always get the benefit of learning from other people's questions.

Then there's the networking. One of the things that initially led me to pick Minnesota as a graduate program was the people. On my visits to the campus I met passionate students, staff and faculty with a wide variety of experiences. These were individuals with a passion for life, enthusiasm for the work they were doing and excitement about things they would do in the future. Sharing classrooms, computer labs and study spaces with my fellow students, staff and faculty has been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their passions and experiences. It has given me an eye into things that are happening locally, nationally and internationally and allowed me to become familiar with a wide variety of programs and resources that are based in the Twin Cities. When I am working on a project or looking for information or resources I can reach out to a fellow colleague with expertise in that area. I know this network will be tremendously helpful to me as I leave campus and start working in the Twin Cities community.

By Elise Niedermeier
Dual Degree, Community Health Education and Social Work

The end of the semester is so busy it can be hard to find time to catch your breath! Happily, graduation is in sight and things should settle down to a dull roar once classes are over and final papers are turned in. That's not to say I'll be done with everything school related... I will likely be working on my master's project into the summer and I will also be preparing to take the Social Work Licensure exam.

The weather has turned nice which makes it that much harder to stay indoors and study. Minnesota is home to 72 state parks and a number of them are within easy driving distance of the Twin Cities, making for great day trips or weekend getaways. Earlier this semester my partner and I visited Banning State Park for the first time. The day was warm and there was still snow on the ground so we hiked in t-shirts in the snow. We had a great time hiking along the water and scrambling over boulders although we lost the trail a few times due to snow. A few weeks ago we went back to visit the park and to hike the trail again. We also managed a stop at Peggy Sue's Cafe in Willow River for a delicious breakfast complete with homemade caramel rolls.

Last week in my Legislative Advocacy Skills for Public Health class we had a panel of past students come in to talk about the advocacy and policy work they are currently doing. It was interesting to hear the wide range of jobs they are doing and to hear their perspectives on the work that they do and public health policy in general. This panel was one of the many ways the school of public health makes it easy for students to connect with alumni who are out working in the field.

In other legislative advocacy news, my work with NAMI Minnesota is coming to a close as the legislative session winds down. The prone restraint issue I have been following all session passed off the floor and made it to the Governor without a stop in conference committee, and now I am busy writing session summaries and thank you notes.

My other classes are winding down as well and I have started analyzing data for my master's project. I am also starting to look for jobs and preparing to take the social work licensure exam, so I have a few things to keep me busy in the weeks to come.

By Dylan Galos
Epidemiology, PhD

I got some good news recently. I'll be going to my first academic conference over the summer, presenting a poster at the International AIDS Conference. It was quite a process to submit a project. I didn't know how early in my program I was going to be expected to participate in this, but one thing I learned from my friends doing PhDs while I was in my bachelors and masters program was that they regretted not attending more conferences, or advanced their careers significantly by going. This conference specifically is interesting because it will be a chance to see an international conference, but good for our research group because it will be in Washington, D.C. and won't cost an arm and a leg from grant money to send presenters there.
It was a long process choosing a topic and designing the analysis that I'll be presenting. After my first four ideas were shot down, the team's methodologist helped me choose something realistic. Analysis proved to be complex as well; this was an analysis of a set of items in a survey. Initially we were going to use multivariate methods like factor analysis or latent class analysis, methods I had read about but had no formal experience with. As it turned out, basic descriptive statistics were more informative, but not without a couple of challenges. A second project I was working on was not accepted for the conference, so I will submit that again at a different time for another conference. The process of writing my abstract in February was a learning curve; though I had research experiences in my masters program and took several biostatistics courses, my quantitative analytic skills had been largely limited to the classroom and my masters thesis research was qualitative.
It was a good push to get; I am grateful that my advisor nudged me toward this. In the meantime, I'm working on publishing a manuscript from the same analysis and helping with development of an intervention for the project I'm tasked to. Apologies for the gap between posts, and thanks for reading!

By Bryan LaBore
Epidemiology, MPH

It's been a few weeks since I last posted and I've been rather busy. My semester wraps up in two and a half weeks and I'm definitely looking forward to summer! A lot as happened, but I specifically want to talk about antibiotics in the food supply again. I had previously talked about the subject earlier in the semester, so I felt it topical to post a link to an overdue update to this important public health problem.

Yes, these are non-binding guidelines but there is hope that these will bring about real change in the industry. I've read a lot of analysis of this decision and the consensus seems to be that this was the most viable option forward that didn't involve decades worth of lengthy, expensive litigation vs. specific drugs and companies. In short: it's better than nothing, but let's hope this bill gets passed with the momentum of the FDA's new guidelines.

Happy April everyone!

By Colin Gerber
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Program: Community Health Promotion

I was not a total stranger to Minnesota when I arrived here almost two years ago, having crossed the Nebraska plains in a car stuffed to the brim with all my worldly possessions. My mother's family comes from just down river and I braved the north woods for many a summer as a camp kid and counselor. I always loved visiting and the quiet wilderness along the Canadian border is perhaps my favorite place on Earth. Already, I bore a deep fondness for Minnesota before I even started my applications for graduate school.

Despite that fondness, choosing Minnesota for graduate school was not an easy decision. I have a longstanding love affair with international health that stems from growing up in a mixed French-American household. I completed my undergraduate degree in international development at the University of Colorado - Boulder and sought to combine that knowledge with practical skills and experience in the health field. When the dust settled from the flurry of applications, I had a choice between Minnesota and a number of other campuses. Looking closely, I was pleased to discover the UMN's emphasis on practical application of classroom skills through the field experience requirement and a number of courses that require community engagement. Even more importantly, the incredibly diverse mix of the Twin Cities gives an opportunity to work internationally without ever leaving the state. Walking down the street you can hear Somali, Hmong, Karin, and Spanish, just to name a few. The curriculum really offered me the chance to modify my degree to fit my interests and goals. In French, when you call something "un auberge Espagnol" you imply that you will get out of it whatever you choose to put into it. The School of Public Health really allows those who want to go the extra mile to do so.

Academics were not the only deciding factor for me, however. The Twin Cities' excellent public transport system, great music scene, and fantastic outdoor opportunities all wielded significant influence. Growing up in Colorado, I was used to practically stepping out my front door into green open space and hiking trails. Thankfully, the Twin Cities don't disappoint. Parks and bike trails abound and not just along the rivers! Don't get me wrong, I love living in a place that offers big city benefits like theatres, music venues for touring bands, and beautiful art museums. For all that, however, it is easy to get just a little out of town and be back into rural, less developed areas. I can have my big city pie and still get my nature fix too. Even after nearly two years, I still find things every day that remind me how nice it is to live here. I have yet to meet any other people who rejoice in the outdoors quite as much as Minnesotans (I think the winter has something to do with it).

Minnesota won out over my other options because I decided that it was not only the best fit academically, but also because I felt that the quality of life in the Twin Cities is hard to beat. Graduate school is not just about the classes you take or the papers you write. So much more is gained through the experiences you have and the people you meet. I've gained so much by choosing Minnesota, both professionally and personally. If I had to choose again, there would be no doubt in my mind.

By Bryan LaBore
Epidemiology, MPH

You know those runners who always save enough energy to sprint the last quarter of a mile or so of a long run? That's what my semester is looking like. April will be the sprint at the end of a long semester. But before we get too wrapped up in the future...

Holy March, Batman!

As I check over the SPH Blogosphere for the past month, I see only a handful of entries. There's a few really good reasons for that, but the main one for my absence has been this: holy crap that was a whirlwind of a month. Tests, papers, Spring Break, second-half classes starting, midterms, March Madness (the Gophers made it to the championship game!!.... of the NIT), and reading. Reading, reading, reading. It's been a busy month.

So what else has happened? I must admit that I probably spent too much time this past week following the SCOTUS deliberating the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). What an incredibly interesting trial, regardless of how you feel about the issues debated! Of course, the outcome of that trial has vast implications of the public health sector. We shall find out by the end of June how it all shook out. As I type this, the 9 Supreme Court justices are in a closed door meeting voting for the decision. The next 3 months will be spent writing and crafting the winning and dissenting opinions. I am eager to read both!

But enough about politics. Did everyone catch Teresa Roark's fantastic blog post this past week? If not, stop reading this and pop over to that one immediately. I won't even be hurt if you forget to finish this post when you're done. To be honest, I'll probably be too busy sprinting to notice.

By Nancy Mourad
Public Health Administration and Policy, MPH

Approximately two months from today, I will be walking toward my second Masters degree. It sounds somehow scary, in both the good and bad senses of the word.

With every step along the way, people find themselves questioning the added value of their plans on the academic, professional, or personal level, considering the cost-to-benefit ratios, and what could have possibly been a better alternative. Ironically enough, rarely do they take time to stop and stare.

They are somehow afraid of gaps on their resumes, of a semester of 'non-productivity', of a journey of questioning the process, of a 'rest' note in their symphony. So they keep pressing the gas pedal, as if faster is better.

A friend once told me: "After high school, you will never ever make a step and be 100% sure about it, without the fear of failure and hesitation". He couldn't be more right. After four years in graduate school, an exquisite and self-satisfying academic experience, I decided to share the many lessons collapsed in few tips for those who are considering a graduate education, for what it is worth (and isn't).

Before Making the Decision, Ask Yourself:

- Was my college major the right one for me? Don't be afraid of the answer, better face it now than later.

People often walk toward college thinking its another journey of education that will end with graduation. It is often because of their lack of experience in the real life, considering that their best exposure to life was that to a passive school experience that started with their parents enrolling them in kindergarten class and ending with a graduation that was planned and awaited over their first 18 years. Lucky are those who receive appropriate pre-college orientation from family and school, but for many reasons common orientation is often not enough for the majority. Decisions end up being taken less seriously than they should be; some follow their parents' track or will, without real passion for the career that was planned for them; some give up on a major because they didnt make it through their top choice college; and some just find a major with a convenient tuition. The rest either do a really good job choosing what they've always wanted, or end up being lucky loving what they randomly chose. The truth is college majors are there to stay, and this is what students realize mostly somewhere near graduation.

If your answer is: No, it wasn't and I regret choosing it. Don't panic. It's not late, and you're certainly not alone. Go on a self-discovery journey. And make sure it is somehow rewarding, whether financially or in any other utility form. Work and earn money with your college degree, or start an entrepreneurial effort if that what makes you happy. A year or two will clarify things, and if you use them wisely they will never be tossed in the trash. Read alot, economic books and articles can help a lot in discovering what is really worth in the future economy and how you can align your passion with a sustainable career plan. Volunteer in things you never did, you can discover what you like when you are exposed to it. Travel around, discover emerging markets, and gain a multi-faceted perspective. Don't ignore technology and it's growing effect on our lives and careers. If you like it, embrace it and don't be afraid of change. Sometimes you might discover a small tweak between your major and technology that could change the whole game. In my case, I landed on mobile health technology, as the intersection of science and tech. What is worse than never asking the above question is actually asking it, and getting a 'No' for an answer, and still going down the wrong path just because it is the way it should be, or because other people believe it is. If they like it that way, let them do it that way; You don't have to.

If your answer is: Yes.Then, The next question is: What's next? Do I really need a graduate degree, and what is the added value of such a degree considering the increasing tuition costs and the opportunity costs of being in school.

It somehow depends on whether the major is research-oriented or professional/technical. My recommendation for a technical degree is to go to the work field right away, enjoy a young professional life while earning money and experience. That said, the sooner you land a job that you want the faster you achieve your professional growth and maturity, because after two years from being in a desired field and vertical, you will know what it takes to grow in that direction and whether a graduate degree will be needed.

If your major is a research field such as history, philosophy, hard sciences, literature, etc., you will probably need to go up the ladder to the PhD level. Yet, working after college is never a bad idea even in this case, as sometimes research majors can align themselves with a professional job.

If You Decide to Join a Graduate School:

- Ask around: If you have a program in mind, ask whether that program will really take you where You want. You do not want to get disappointed once in.Try to think outside the box; start with alum of a program or a school under consideration. They are always good resources given their experience. Consult students and professors about curriculum, e-mail executives of companies you want to work for, and ask them what really matters for them, they will be happy to hear about your interest (most of them).

- Ranking: If ranking matters in your aspired degree (like MBAs), don't settle for less than top schools, it's a one-time life experience and will last forever. Ranking however is not always a priority for many other majors.

- Environment: The city where you live should be a place to enjoy. Being a graduate student is never an easy task and your life will revolve around the place where you live. Make sure it gives you a positive vibe, a healthy spirit that keeps you up to the challenges you will face.

- Don't be Fooled: the idea of holding a masters degree, and even more, a PhD often comes with a feeling of self-esteem, as higher education has always been associated with status and wealth. Don't be fooled with such facts. About one-third of people with master's degrees make less money on average than a typical bachelor's degree holder, said Stephen J. Rose, a labor economist with Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, citing U.S. Census data. Simply, use a sheet of excel and evaluate costs and benefits, literally. In the costs, include: tuition, living expenses, books, travelling back and forth (if you're studying far from home, and need to visit the family throughout your education), opportunity costs (the lost money you could be earning over the time of your education), and include all types of lost utility such as leisure time or any other valued utility you will lose by joining school (give them a monetary value if possible). In the benefits include: the raise or high salary you will earn once (back) in the job field, the self-esteem of earning a graduate degree, the knowledge you will acquire throughout your studies, the cultural experience in case you were traveling abroad (give those utilities a monetary value depending on your personal utility scale). If benefits exceed costs, then go for it; otherwise, don't fool yourself with a Masters or PhD Degree! Trust me.

My biggest advice is to always think strategically: stop, stare, evaluate, and take action. And never forget to re-evaluate!

By Teresa Roark Community Health Promotion, MPH, class of 2013

I am from Oregon and prior to coming to the University of Minnesota for the Community Health Education Program I had spent my entire life there. This isn't a bad thing, Oregon is an amazing state, but I figured graduate school was a good chance to try someplace new. Beyond that I wasn't really sure what I was looking for. I have always been interested in health, specifically healthy food, but I did not know how to pursue that. It was the University of Minnesota website that got me thinking about a Masters of Public Health. There were a lot of intriguing sounding classes and professors doing research that sounded like what I wanted to be doing. As I continued to research graduate schools I kept coming back to the University of Minnesota. The breadth of classes and faculty expertise were the things that first drew me to the program, but there were several other factors that helped me make my final decision.

The first thing may not be broadly applicable, but it was very important in my decision. I had several friends who through a variety of circumstances had ended up in the Twin Cities. I really appreciated that I would get the opportunity to move someplace new and different while having a close network. As it turns out, it has been great to have existing friends, but I have also met wonderful people through my program. The other students have turned out to be one of my favorite parts about the University of Minnesota.  It wasn't even something I considered when I was looking at programs, but I think that the University of Minnesota attracts a particularly great group of people and does a lot to help us make connections within our cohort. The others in the Community Health Education Program are a lot of fun, but also really inspiring and have a wide variety of past experiences and current interests.

The other big draw for me, in addition to great academics and great people, was the city. I had not spent much time in Minneapolis before, but had heard good things. Since moving here I have not been disappointed. I have appreciated how much green space there is. All of the areas around the many lakes and along the Mississippi have been developed as parks. I have also been impressed with the bike infrastructure, and I have lived in other places noted for their bike infrastructure. The greenway is convenient and takes into account pedestrian as well as bicycle needs. There are even regional bike trails, which I had not seen much of before. There are lots of other great things about the city and the region; but I think those are two of my favorites.

The chance to explore a new place and learn from so many impressive and distinguished people has been worth the challenge (and I should admit that at times it was challenging) of moving half way across the country. I would not change my decision, even if I could.
You can learn more about current SPH students by reading one of our many Student Blogs.

Some things to consider...

For the second year in a row U.S. News &World Report has ranked the University of Minnesota School of Public Health 8th among all schools of public health in the country. You can also read SPH Dean Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.'s comments about this honor.

The Twin Cities have also received a variety of covetable rankings over the years. Currently we are ranked as the most bike friendly city and have been ranked as having the most park space per resident, the 6th best running city, and many more.

Oh the places you could go (with an MPH)

Katie Amaya is an alumnus of the Community Health Education MPH program. She currently works as a Senior Training Specialist at the Denver STD/HIV Prevention Training Center (Denver PTC). The Denver PTC is part of a network of training centers funded by the CDC to provide training and technical assistance to clinics and non-profit organizations throughout the Midwest and mountain region.

Katie is part of the clinical training team. She trains doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff on a prevention with positives curriculum titled Ask, Screen, Intervene. This curriculum helps providers understand why HIV prevention should be a routine part of HIV care; 2.) builds their skills to assess a patient's level of risk and readiness to change/adapt risk reduction strategies; 3.) utilize referrals and partner services.

How did you learn about the field of public health and what attracted you to it?

• Oh, like everyone else, she got into public health for the money... not really. Katie had an education back ground and had done some work in Africa when she had the opportunity to work with an organization called Girls Inc. in Denver. One of the interns there introduced her to the idea of public health, which she was not familiar with, and it ended up being a great fit.

What do you find most challenging in your work?

• Katie is challenged by engaging providers in the training the Denver PTC offers. With busy clinic schedule, providers don't have a lot of time to attend trainings. It is important to find a champion at a clinic to advocate for the training and convince providers that this training is valuable. She also finds public health challenging in general, because the need is so great and there are never enough people or sufficient time.

Is there a particular health issue or community you enjoy working with?

• Katie is passionate about preventing the spread of infectious disease, specifically malaria, but also HIV and other STDs. Additionally, Katie loves to learn. She likes working with communities that are different from her own, whether it is culturally, economically, or religiously because it gives her an opportunity to learn.

Is there anything you wish you had studied in school or done in school but didn't?

• Katie wishes she had taken more management and healthcare administration classes. When she graduated she felt well versed in program development and evaluation, but managing people and being a supervisor had huge learning curve.

If you had one piece of advice to share with someone thinking about a career in public health, what would it be?

• Katie's advice would be to really understand your strengths and capitalize on those. Public Health is a diverse field that requires a lot of skills, but each person doesn't have to be good at everything. We have to be able to work collaboratively.

Who are some of your mentors?

• Her past and current coworkers have been especially helpful teaching her how to work with other cultures.
• Paul Terry, was an adjunct faculty and CEO of Staywell Health Management, who provided a great deal of support
• Amy Becker La France was Katie's first supervisor and an alumni
• Dr. Charles (Chuck) Oberg was a professor of Katie's who really challenged her and helped her grow as a student

If you could predict the future, what do you think is going to influence the public's health most significantly and why?

• Katie predicts that the most significant impact on the public's health will come when everyone working in public health really figures out what works and how to document it. Then we won't have trouble getting funding and developing effective policies and intervention programs.

If you could leave an indelible imprint on the field of public health, what would it be?

• Change the world! Katie would create high quality patient care that doesn't discriminate, and she feels like we are making progress. Even if it is slow Katie recognizes that even if she can only see the change one provider at a time we will get there eventually 

Learn from the Best

SPH Assistant Professor Jean Abraham spent the past year on the Presiden'ts Council of Economic Advisers examining the economic implications for health care reform and ways to pay for it. You can read about her experience as well as how other SPH faculty have contributed to health care reform.

By Bryan LaBore
Epidemiology, MPH

It's been a good week.. so good that I just HAD to blog about a depressing study that just got released. I'm just the best killjoy/buzzkill you'll come across on the Internet. Okay, maybe the second.

The study in question deals with increasing drug resistance found in staph infections (MRSA).Last semester I wrote a series of 4 papers on the increasing incidence of community-acquired MRSA for PUBH 6020. It is a topic I've been passionate about since learning of drug resistance in my undergraduate microbiology class. This current study provides yet more compelling evidence that giving livestock prophylactic antibiotics is leading to increasing bacterial drug resistance. In short, we're giving our food antibiotics so they don't get sick. This obviously leads to much higher profits for the food industry. Unfortunately, it is also decreasing the amount of treatments available to humans once they actually get sick.

The food industry has maintained that the most effective drugs to battle these infections in are humans are still available; however, most of those are penicillin-based. These treatments are also being used less though as an increasing number of people in the general population are developing penicillin allergies. It seems like a real possibility that some day in the near future we as a society will have to decide between cheaper food or more effective healthcare.

I suppose I'm a bit biased as a public health student, but isn't that choice obvious?