College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Public Health > Student Resources > Public Health Student Organization

Public Health Student Organization

​​​The purpose of the Public Health Student Organization is to focus on the preservation, enrichment, transmission, and application of interdisciplinary knowledge in public health that emphasizes social justice, service to vulnerable populations, and excellence in public health practice. 

Contact Information

The 2019-2020 Executive Board

Megan Boone, President
Huma Khan, Vice President
Lauren Draftz, Secretary
Muthana Sweis, Treasurer
Jennah Charniak, MPH Program Student Representative​
Molly Fuchs, Communications Director
Eleanor Duren, APHA Campus Liaison


Please contact the Master of Public Health Program mph@depaul.edu for more information.

PHSO members enjoying the 2015 Chicago AIDS Run & Walk

Accomplishments and Activities

  • PHSO Fantasy Football League (2018)​
  • Fundraiser at Irish Eyes (raised over $400)
  • Volunteer events at Lakeview Food Pantry and Erie Neighborhood House (2016)
  • Color Run​ Chicago  (2016)
  • APHA Meeting in Denver, CO (2016)
  • Screening and discussion of The Hunting Ground (2016)
  • AIDS Run & Walk (raised over $600) (2015)​
  • American Heart Association's Heart Walk (raised over $500) (2013)
  • Society for Public Health Education Annual Meeting (2011)
  • American Public Health Association Annual Meeting (2011)
  • National Public Health Week, Nutrition and Physical Activity event at Rowe Elementary (2010)
  • Health Care Reform Panel (2010)

​​​​Get to Know 2019-2020 PHSO

 

Megan Boone

 

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health from DePaul University
Practicum Placement: Advocate Aurora Health - Community Health
Public Health Interests: Maternal & Child Health, Global Health, Health Disparities
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The small cohort and classes! Makes it really easy to collaborate with the other members of the cohort and build relationships with faculty members. 
Hobbies: Exploring the city with friends, cooking, traveling
Fun fact(s): I co-led a medical service trip to Ghana with 30 people where we got to volunteer in two clinics! 

 

Huma Khan

 

Hometown: Palatine, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences: Health Policy & Administration
Practicum Placement: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Transitional Support Program
Public Health Interests: Healthcare Administration, Managed Care Organizations, Medicare & Medicaid Insurance Benefits, Access to Affordable Healthcare Services, Hospital Management, Non-Profit Work
Favorite Aspect of DePaul MPH Program: The value and effort that professors put into your education and public health career interests. Intimate contact with your classmates with more one-on-one practical learning experience. 
Hobbies: Traveling & blogging my adventures, reading, watching the latest movies, Netflix (when I have the time), cooking, spending quality time with family & friends
Fun fact(s): I just traveled back from Pakistan and helped implement a Clean Water Initiative as the country lacks access to clean water. 

 

 

Lauren Draftz

 

Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: Medicine, Health, & Society and Spanish
Practicum Placement: Illinois Department of Public Health
Public Health Interests: Food Security, Nutrition, Dental Health, Health Policy, Chronic Illness
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The small cohort size lets you get to know your professors and classmates! I'm also really looking forward to practicum!
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, reading, dancing, exploring Chicago with my friends
Fun fact(s): I performed during halftime at the Orange Bowl in high school.
 
 
 

 

Muthana Sweis

 

Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: Health Sciences
Practicum Placement: Advocate Christ Medical Center
Public Health Interests: Adolescent Health & Environmental Health 
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The ability of our practicum placements to coexist with our classes
Hobbies: Seeing movies, listening to music, going to museums, & learning about different cultures
Fun fact(s): I was born in Jordan.  

 

 

Jennah Charniak

 

Hometown: Palos Hills, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Food, Nutrition, & Dietetics from Illinois State University
Practicum Placement: The University of Chicago Medicine - Quality Performance Improvement
Public Health Interests: Social Determinants of Health, Addiction, Environmental Health, Women's Health, Social Justice, Quality Improvement
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The small cohort size, amazing professors, and practicum program are providing me with the tools, confidence, and experience I need to build a successful career after graduation!
Hobbies: Yoga, concerts, traveling, trying new restaurants throughout the city with family and friends, and binging Netflix
Fun fact(s): I hate flying, but I loved skydiving.

 

Molly Fuchs

 

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate Degree: B.A. in Spanish from Saint Louis University
Practicum Placement: Advocate Aurora Health - Community Health
Public Health Interests: Homelessness & Affordable Housing, Health Insurance & Access to Healthcare, Environmental Health & Climate Change, Social Determinants of Health, Opioid Epidemic 
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The practicality of courses such as Program Development & Grantwriting and Program Evaluation. 
Hobbies: Screenprinting, writing, running, and watching Netflix 
Fun fact(s): I was the first girl to play Jesus in my grade school's Passion Play.
 
 

 

Eleanor Duren

 

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health from DePaul University
Practicum Placement: Chicago Department of Public Health - Bureau of Emergency Response and Public Health Preparedness
Public Health Interests: Emergency Response & Preparedness and Global Health
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: I love how hands-on the professors are in the program! It's really great to know that they are there to help us every step of the way and to get to know them on a deeper level.
Hobbies: Reading, exploring new parts of the city with friends, watching a ton of movies
Fun fact(s): My high school graduation present was a cow named Rosie! She has had 2 babies named Hercules and Tarly. 
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