Student Spotlight

I chose DePaul because I appreciate how every course in our program promotes a collaborative learning environment and places an emphasis on local public health applications. Collaboration is a key component to successful public health practice. DePaul’s MPH program emulates this by providing in-class opportunities to work together as a cohort, with each member bringing a diverse range of public health interests, perspectives, and expertise to the table.

Additionally, DePaul’s Center for Community Health Equity is an exciting platform that enables us to engage in projects centered around healthcare equity and accessibility in the greater Chicago area. Many courses in the MPH program use Chicago-based health data and topics to investigate and address the unique health disparities that impact our local communities.

The program’s flexibility in choosing course electives is what has allowed me to hone skills of journalism and reporting by taking outside courses in DePaul’s College of Communication. I hope to combine my growing knowledge of public health promotion and passion for local journalism by incorporating public and environmental health reporting into my future career.

What do you enjoy most about the MPH program?

The MPH program at DePaul provides me with a very rewarding and exciting educational experience. I most enjoy the diverse range of courses offered in the program. Each course goes beyond a mere introduction of the topic at-hand. The courses take a deep dive into the respective subject by combining methods learned from other courses, posing challenging topics that facilitate group discussion, and providing real-world applications of public health theories and practices through a Chicago-focused lens. I also enjoy how the teaching faculty strive to create a supportive and professional learning environment through a well-balanced selection of readings, in-class activities, and guest speakers.

Why did you choose your concentration (CHP or Social Epi), and how do you think it will prepare you for a career in public health?

I specifically chose a concentration in Community Health Practice (CHP) because it is aligned with my personal passion for improving the health and well-being of fellow Chicagoans and future career directions. Growing up in Chicago, I have witnessed the public health disparities that disproportionately impact our Black and Brown communities.

I have a specific interest in environmental health, and several of my course projects in the CHP co​ncentration have centered around topics covering lead-contaminated drinking water in South and West side neighborhoods, and the disproportionate rate of asthma-related emergency room visits faced by Black communities in Chicago.

The CHP concentration has provided me with the exciting opportunity to serve at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for my upcoming practicum experience. I hope to combine my growing experience with research-based interventions, journalism, and environmental health and justice to research, report on, and collaborate with community stakeholders to address community health issues. DePaul’s MPH program continues to provide me with the knowledge, skillsets, and experiences to help me become an active agent of change in my future public health career.