Meet Melissa S., a 国产主播 alumna and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award with multiple degrees in the health sciences.

In 2019, Melissa earned her Master of Public Health degree from WCU. Currently, she is attending medical school to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.

Reflecting on her educational journey, Melissa recalled failing her undergraduate anatomy course, only to later retake it and achieve the second-highest grade in the class. This experience not only strengthened her confidence in pursuing her education; it initiated a passion for medicine.

“Failure is beautiful because it teaches you how strong you are,” she said. 鈥淚f you really want it, keep fighting for it.”

Her path to higher education was paved with dedication and a thirst for knowledge. It had been eight years since Melissa earned her undergraduate degree when she began the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at WCU in 2019.

“West Coast gave me that first 鈥榶es鈥� and the opportunity to earn my higher education,” Melissa said. “The university gave me a chance when getting your foot in the door was hard.”

Melissa’s journey was not without its share of setbacks and health concerns. Battling through surgeries and personal hardships, including a cancer scare, she emerged stronger and more ambitious than ever.

Although Melissa always wanted to pursue medicine, earlier in life, she could not give it the effort it deserved while working full-time and caring for her family.

“I am turning 40 and starting medical school this year,” she said. “That’s terrifying, but I will do it anyway because I’ve always wanted to.”

Melissa’s goals have also extended beyond academics. For over a decade, she dedicated herself to “,” a volunteer organization comprised of professionals who provide healthcare services at no charge to the people in Baja California, Mexico who otherwise have no access to medical care.

“Volunteering my time serving with Flying Samaritans brought reason to everything I ever wanted to do,” Melissa said. “Those were some of the best days of my life.”

Over the years, Melissa became a leader within the nonprofit organization, training younger students and running triage.

“People would drive an hour to see us and receive free medical care,” she said. “The goal was to teach the undergrads if this was something they were meant to do.”

Melissa is proud to be a WCU alumna, representing her education in all she continues to accomplish.

“It’s essential to know where you came from, and I will always shout out West Coast,” Melissa said. “If it weren’t for WCU, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Melissa’s journey from setbacks to success reminds us that anything is possible with unwavering dedication and steadfast determination.

“I encourage every student to pursue their dreams relentlessly,” Melissa said. 鈥淟ife may be a beautiful disaster, but it’s up to us to navigate through it and emerge stronger on the other side.”

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One of the aspects of healthcare鈥揳nd healthcare education鈥搕hat is so fascinating is the diversity of career paths one can choose, from the more immediate one-to-one experience of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to the bigger-picture experience of someone who pursues a career in public health.

And sometimes, those seemingly disparate paths converge.

Such was the case for Dr. Isabelle Tardif, a full-time assistant professor of the online Master of Public Health program at 国产主播 (WCU).

鈥淎 lot of the time (when I was practicing), I got to work in public health settings, in infectious diseases, internal medicine, and pediatrics, and that work was really rewarding,鈥� Tardif said. 鈥淪o, it started early for me to be in the realm of public health.鈥�

After working for over 10 years as an osteopathic physician, Dr. Tardif took some time away from her practice, and it was during this time that she was presented with the idea of teaching on a full-time basis. She was already teaching medical nursing students in her office. She quickly connected with the concept of passing down her experience to the next generation of the healthcare/public health workforce, and she immersed herself in online teaching.

鈥淚 really cared about my patients,鈥� Dr. Tardif said. 鈥淚 really spent a lot of time with them, to be that anchor for them as a family physician鈥� I can really use what I learned as a physician and apply it to teaching, to my students.鈥�

Making a Difference

For Dr. Tardif, that very authentic, genuine care and concern for her patients is the perfect example to set for her students, who by all accounts have found their way into public health because of their passion for helping, for doing their part to influence and effect change in their community or beyond.

[Pull quote:]

鈥淚n public health, you鈥檙e working with people who really need it, and so you can really see the impact of your work. It鈥檚 a field that can offer so much to a community鈥� (Our students) really want to drive change and to help people in their community.鈥�

-Dr. Isabelle Tardif, Assistant Professor at WCU

One such example is Sanya Bedi, who completed her MPH degree in November 2021. She worked for a county public health department during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching out to those most in need. She is now pursuing her doctorate degree with the intent of focusing her research on public health in India, her home country.

鈥淚n India, there鈥檚 not a lot of public health (compared to) what we have in California,鈥� Bedi said. 鈥淚 want to make a difference in a community that hasn鈥檛 been touched.鈥�

Student Diversity Brings Expanded Viewpoints, Enhanced Learning

Bedi is not alone in bringing a diverse cultural background and perspective into discussions. With students coming from many different parts of the country, and even from other parts of the world, there is a great diversity of experience among the student population in the WCU Master of Public Health program. 颅

While diversity of thought and experience is valuable in many fields, it鈥檚 especially useful in public health, a field where remaining well-versed in best practices and staying abreast of current events at both a micro/local level and a macro/global level is absolutely crucial to formulating viable plans that lead to positive change.

鈥淚 love that I鈥檓 interacting with students from all over the country, different cultures, different backgrounds,鈥� said Tardif, adding that some of her students come into the virtual classrooms of WCU from as far away as Africa. 鈥淔or our students, being able to see what鈥檚 out there gives them a great perspective for this particular field.鈥�

Tardif herself adds to that diversity of thought and perspective. She is a native of Quebec and moved to United States at the age of 17 as a French-speaking Canadian. She proceeded to learn English and study and practice medicine. She then began her teaching career in 2007 and joined 国产主播 in 2015.

The Experience of an Online MPH Program

Another component of WCU鈥檚 Master of Public Health program that Tardif appreciates the online modality.

鈥淚 love the flexibility, and I love that you can still establish a great connection with the students despite the distance,鈥� said Tardif.

However, greater flexibility doesn鈥檛 necessarily equate to 鈥渆asier鈥� coursework. Tardif had this to say about the online versus physical campus learning experience: 鈥淥nline does require discipline. They [online students] do have to want it.鈥�

For those interested in pursuing a career in public health, the MPH program at WCU can be completed in as little as 16 months at the Accelerated program pace. Additionally, for those who may have professional or personal commitments they are balancing, the program can be completed in 28 months at the Working Professional pace. And there are new sessions starting about every eight weeks.

Learn more about WCU鈥檚 online MPH program and apply when you鈥檙e ready.

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As Sanya Bedi鈥檚 undergraduate classwork in biology at the University of California Merced was nearing its end and she was beginning to turn her attention to 鈥渨hat鈥檚 next,鈥� the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

With such a dramatic change happening around her, Bedi鈥檚 immediate focus shifted from her career to 鈥�What can I do right now to help?鈥� After some exploration, she found her way to the Merced County Department of Public Health where she became a case investigator in August 2020. In this role, she reached out to some of the community鈥檚 most in-need residents, including the elderly, individuals with pre-existing conditions, public health nurses, and school staff.

鈥淒uring this experience, I realized how little information some of the people who need it the most have,鈥� Bedi said.

One such example was a man she encountered who was in his sixties, illiterate, and living by himself. After conducting the necessary interview for the case report, Bedi began running through the services the county provided, including notably the delivery of food and water right to the homes of those who needed it.

The man was so relieved to learn of this service because he hadn鈥檛 been out of his house for several days in fear of potentially infecting someone else with COVID, and he was in need of basic necessities like food and water. This small action represents the essence of public health: Discover the needs of the community, identify the individuals/groups who need assistance the most, and then reduce barriers and provide access to those needs.

鈥淭hat experience was one of the reasons I knew I wanted to continue doing this (public health), that this is where I need to be, this is what I need to be doing,鈥� Bedi said. 鈥淎 lot of people in this field really, really want to make a difference. I saw how much our county (Merced) really wanted to help the community, and that made me want to pursue this.鈥�

Bedi Cites 鈥楽upport鈥� as a Major Influence for Choosing 国产主播

Bedi looked at several schools before choosing 国产主播. She said she selected WCU in large part because of the supportive admissions team that stayed with her every step of the way as she worked to complete the last and most difficult class of her undergraduate degree at UC Merced鈥擜natomy & Physiology鈥攊n the fall of 2020.

Sanya Bedi also had the support of her cousin, Sagar Bedi, who was researching similar master鈥檚 programs and proceeded to enroll in the WCU Master of Public Health program with Sanya. Sanya jumped right into her MPH classwork with her cousin, and the two graduated together in November 2021.

鈥淓ven though I was taking classes online, it felt like I had someone along with me the entire way,鈥� Sanya said of the experience of completing the online MPH program at the same time as her cousin.

It was right around this time that she connected with Elisia Sanchez from WCU鈥檚 Career Services team. Sanya said Sanchez and the Career Services team were a terrific resource for her, helping with resume and interview tips, access to career fairs and career specialists, and networking. She points to all of the support she received as the catalyst in helping her obtain a job as a data analyst for a hospital system.

Making a Difference in Her Home Community

Sanya is very satisfied with her role, but that desire to do something more, to make a difference in her community, continued to pull at her. She took another big-picture look at her career and as she did this, she decided to pursue her doctoral degree in public health.

鈥淚 want to do my own research with my own community, specifically India,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of public health in India, not like we have in California, and I want to be able to make a difference in a community that basically hasn鈥檛 been touched.鈥�

Sanya Bedi, WCU Master of Public Health graduate

Online MPH Program for Students Who Want to Make a Big Impact

This is the story of just one student from WCU鈥檚 online Master of Public Health program. If you鈥檙e interested in making a difference in the health and well-being of entire communities, you may want to consider a career in public health just like Sanya Bedi.

WCU鈥檚 online MPH program at WCU can completed in as little as 16 months at the Accelerated pace. Or,  for those who may have professional or personal commitments they are balancing, the program can be completed in as many as 28 months.

If you make a difference and you think public health is an area of interest, learn more about WCU鈥檚 online MPH program.

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Considering an advanced degree in healthcare or business? Becoming a leader in these industries requires discipline and the right education. You鈥檒l add to your undergraduate degree, amp up your resume bona fides, and do a deep dive into how organizations work and function, whether in the public sector, the corporate world, or your own personal entrepreneurial ambitions.

But first it鈥檚 important to find the right learning environment. Nowadays it鈥檚 possible to earn a master鈥檚 degree either in person or online. Do your diligence in researching the right school, make the big decisions about the degree you want to achieve, and consider how you鈥檇 like to focus your education even further. Start here with an overview of a few popular graduate degrees:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Businesses of all types and sizes need proficient, passionate administrators to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. As of 2020, 96% or Fortune 100 companies and 77% of startups were for near-term hiring. And because this is such a diverse degree, your options for employment after graduation are extensive and varied. An MBA degree will prepare you with advanced knowledge in all key aspects of established corporate and startup enterprises. You鈥檒l graduate with a solid foundation in the essentials of business leadership and administration:

• Finance
• Management
• Organizational models

Within each of these disciplines you鈥檒l learn the settled knowledge as well as evolving principles and practices in business administration. The right MBA will outfit you with a cutting-edge, forward-thinking education so you’ll be as future-proof as possible when you enter the workforce. Equipped with these skills, you’ll be able to work in technology-driven industries and bring your acumen to businesses looking to modernize.

Earning a master鈥檚 in business administration is more accessible than before, with accredited online MBA programs available that offer convenience and flexibility for working professionals. If you鈥檙e curious about achieving this advanced degree, consider also how you鈥檇 like to focus your education further. Many MBA programs offer tracks with a particular emphasis, such as health administration and leadership, project management, and public health, to name a few.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Health administrators are crucial to the planning, organization, and supervision of care. Pursuing a Master of Health Administration degree requires excellence in communication and cooperation, and an affinity for leadership. The right MHA school can help prepare you to administrate in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Consulting firms
• The insurance industry
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Colleges and universities
• Public health agencies

As an MHA student, you鈥檒l learn diverse skills that will help prepare you to enter into鈥揳nd adapt readily within鈥揳 field that continuously evolves with technology, infrastructural demands, and more. Aspiring MHAs can choose a specialty area and focus on a particular branch of health administration, such as organizational leadership, public health, or project management.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Public health experts and leaders are more essential than ever. at a rate more than double the average across industries. Leaders in this field develop, implement, and oversee the methodologies and processes that ensure the best possible communication and care to serve the public.

This means creating the protocols and plans ahead of the next major public health crisis, crafting response readiness for when those needs arise, and maintaining the health of specific populations on an ongoing and evolving basis. As an MPH student, you鈥檒l learn several core disciplines within public health such as:

• Legal and ethical issues in healthcare management
• Managerial epidemiology
• Health research methods
• Biostatistics
• Social and behavioral health sciences
• Development and evaluation of health education programs
• Environmental and occupational health

These disciplines prepare you for a critical role both for health emergencies and for preserving and enhancing the health of the public generally. With your MPH degree, you鈥檙e positioned to make a difference in a field designed to safeguard lives.

Once you鈥檙e committed to a course of study and school, get ready for a rewarding path to a new or advanced career, and the respect that a master鈥檚 degree in business or healthcare administration commands.

The post Organizational Leadership Careers in Healthcare and Business appeared first on 国产主播.

Public health experts with advanced training comprise a diverse range of practitioners and officials who govern and implement policy, research findings, and administrative leadership and education in this population-focused field.

From forward-thinking environmental public health considerations to epidemiological preventative and responsive policy, an MPH degree prepares students to take on a demanding, disciplined, and insightful role that protects the public. Because students entering study toward an MPH are often already working professionals with a bachelor鈥檚 degree, many accredited schools offer programs that can be completed online, or with schedule flexibility.

Areas of Specialization in Public Health

Master鈥檚 students in public health have the opportunity to choose an area of concentration that will drive their career after graduation. MPH specialties are highly focused on medicine and science, while others emphasize policymaking and leadership. All are built on a foundation of the principles and practices of public health. Within the larger umbrella of an MPH, there are six common concentrations:

Health Services Administration:

If you choose to specialize in the administrative side of public health, you鈥檒l provide leadership, guidance, and expertise. MPH administrators may work on areas from a local to international scale. In this type of role, your will likely include:

• Organizational structure
• Financing and cost
• Delivery of healthcare
• Accessibility solutions
• Quality assurance
• Personnel development (HR)
• Management of data and digital infrastructure
• Planning and marketing
• Policy

In addition to the public sector, many healthcare administrators work or consult for nonprofits. Your career will necessitate continuing education to stay abreast of technology and clinical advancements. You may also choose to take a to boost your credentials.

Biostatistics

This area of specialization focuses on the research and testing sides of public health. Mathematics and biology remain core to this discipline, as applied to public health needs and the development of practices and policies. Work in this arena may include:¹

• Statistical analysis
• Clinical trials
• Environmental epidemiology
• Toxicology
• Applied regression analysis

Biostatisticians in public health may go on to become educators, leaders, and researchers in the healthcare industry, or become government officials focused on public health and governmental policy. 

Behavioral Science

A focus on behavioral health and science is an essential complement to public health needs that address physical and environmental health. This type of public health degree requires expertise in psychology to assess public health needs and affect outcomes. MPH professionals in behavioral health are needed in many venues, including:²

• Schools
• Research facilities
• Policy institutes
• Health departments
• Mental health facilities
• Corrections
• Local health centers

These experts are integral to both awareness and practice with regard to the behavioral implications of public health. They strive to effect positive change through recommendations and implementation of protocols and resources in order to benefit individuals and populations.

Environmental Health

An MPH with an emphasis on environmental health prepares you to deal with different types of environmental considerations related to a population鈥檚 wellbeing. This can stretch from ecological preservation to workplace hygiene to emergency response to natural or manmade disasters. Study in this discipline might include:³

• Exposure science
• Biostatistics
• Occupational hygiene
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology
• Risk assessment
• Hazardous and water waste

An MPH concentrated in environmental health creates an in-depth understanding of factors as they affect human health. It falls into what some call a 鈥済reen occupation鈥� that focuses on ecological considerations and fosters a beneficial symbiosis between a population and its environment.

Health Education

This concentration is as it sounds: A career focused on educating the public to promote health and disease prevention. An MPH degree with instructive emphasis covers the necessary topics for health education, awareness, and intervention, including:⁴

• Assessment and planning
• Implementation
• Administration and management
• Resourcing
• Advocacy

An education in preparation for an MPH in health education will also cover essential and foundational public health topics like epidemiology, biostatistics, policy, and environmental health. Health educators work at all levels, from community-based and nonprofit support to governmental agencies.⁴

Epidemiology

This highly scientific specialty applies expertise in epidemiology to public health, through a quantitative and systematic approach. You鈥檒l help create predictive and preventative research and trials to inform public policy and benefit long- and short-term population health outcomes. In addition to a foundation in public health, an MPH concentration in epidemiology will in part cover:⁵

• Study framework and review
• Analysis methodologies
• Biostatistics
• Risk assessment

MPH graduates with a concentration in epidemiology are equipped to center their practice on specific populations, demographics, and geographies. These professionals play a critical and high-stakes role in disease control and response, research, and hindsight analysis.

Pursuing a Master of Public Health

Pursuing a Master of Public Health is the gateway to an impactful career in healthcare, and it opens the door to a wide array of practice opportunities, from hands-on to educational to policy-building to oversight. It鈥檚 an advanced degree that builds on an undergraduate education to benefit the public at large.

To learn more helpful information about MPHs degrees, check out our article 鈥淢PH vs. MHA: Key Differences.鈥�

¹ https://www.mphprogram.com/program/biostatistics/

² https://www.mphprogram.com/program/behavioral-health-sciences/

³ https://www.publichealthdegrees.org/specializations/environmental-health/

⁴ https://www.publichealthcareeredu.org/public-health-education/

5 https://www.publichealthdegrees.org/specializations/epidemiology/

The post Exploring a Master of Public Health Degree and Concentrations appeared first on 国产主播.

Christina Sese always knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field.

Initially certified as a medical coder, Sese returned to school in 2014 and earned her bachelor’s degree in healthcare management. Immediately after graduation, she was promoted to a management position at her home health agency where she works. Three years later, Sese decided she was ready to return to school in order to expand her career options. After asking around and doing some research, she decided to enroll in 国产主播鈥檚 Master of Public Health program.

When things got tough while pursuing her MPH from WCU, Sese always knew where she could go for inspiration 鈥� the mirror.

鈥淚 literally woke up every day and asked myself, ‘How bad do you want this? How bad do you want this master’s degree?’ That was what made me fight,鈥� Sese said. 鈥淭hat whole year, I think I wrote 60 papers. I counted. It was definitely over 50. It’s a fast-paced program. It feels like a two-year program pushed into one, so you have to have commitment.鈥�

聽鈥淚 really felt like if I was going to invest in myself one last time and give up one year to dedicate myself to this, it has to be something interesting,鈥� Sese said. 鈥淏ecause it was a different field for me it was challenging. It wasn’t your ordinary management duties, but that’s what I loved about it. My favorite part was I didn’t know the answer to a lot of things so I had to work hard to find them and to understand how public health works.鈥�

In her current position as director of health information management, Sese supervises the medical records, coding, payroll and quality assurance departments.

“I am currently specializing and working with the Compliance Team. We make sure to follow all health regulations, from organizations like Department of Health, Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and accreditation bodies.鈥�

While that role doesn鈥檛 exactly handle elements of public health, Sese鈥檚 duties range from consistently reviewing infection control programs to educating the staff.

鈥淚 think there’s something new in public health every day. I don’t think one will ever get bored doing something so diverse. While I am not in a true public health role at this moment, I feel that contributing to public health in small ways has already been impactful. And that alone makes me feel content and happy about my choice,鈥� Sese said. 鈥淧ublic health basically touches on everything. With the coronavirus 鈥� I know there is a lot of bad news 鈥� but for a public health person this is a very exciting time.鈥�

We asked Christina why she chose public health as a focus:

“Public health touches every part of the healthcare field. It is a branch of medicine I love and respect. I want to design intervention programs and contribute my ideas and interests through聽commonalities among populations. With public health, you can specialize in epidemiology, environmental health, community health, global health, maternal and child health, and more. I’d like to specialize in health policy and management.”

Why did you decide to join WCU Alumni?

I feel like the school is predominately nursing, so I thought this was my opportunity to have an edge. I wanted to stand out. This will allow me to reach out to other students who are going聽through similar paths, and I am willing to engage and support them through their journey. The WCU Alumni program have many interactive social gatherings and all have been great opportunities to be a leader.

What advice do you have for people interested in the MPH program?

The main thing a working adult wonders is, 鈥淚s this program doable?鈥� The answer is yes. If you have the discipline, organization and commitment, all things are possible!

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