Four students will be the first to receive their graduate degrees from the new ASU Online Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program Offered by School of Human Evolution and Social Change. The inaugural cohort of these degrees graduated this fall with the goal of improving health care around the world.
program, which was launched In the fall of 2021, it makes it possible for students across the country and around the world to learn about why and how health disparities in communities develop and what can be done to improve them, explained. Roseanne SchusterAssistant Research Scientist and Program Lead.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Talia Hernandez still wanted to learn how to develop, implement and evaluate global and public health interventions. This fall, she graduated from a newly developed Master of Science in Global Health online program offered through ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
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“The MS in Global Health program is focused on the human experience, drawing from the faculty’s expertise in anthropology and evolutionary science and our school’s mission, rather than an international biomedical framework, and where things are constantly compared to the US as the norm. ” Schuster said.
The online program allows students to continue working in their area of practice and contribute to their home communities while still engaging in innovative higher education education and worldwide internships.
“The internship included monitoring evaluations and learning plans for an ASU-based health library in Malawi. Solarspell And the community needs an assessment on the defense food security nexus in Indonesia,” Schuster said.
We spoke with two graduating students this semester about their experience in the program and their plans after graduation.
Talia Hernandez
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Talia Hernandez still wanted to learn how to develop, implement and evaluate global and public health interventions. She began investigating programs and enrolled in the newly developed Master of Science in Global Health online program offered by Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
“I knew the courses would enhance my skills and knowledge needed to work in public health intervention implementation,” Hernandez said. “I wanted to expand my understanding of the topics addressed by global health interventions, and the other courses offered would do just that.”
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: I decided that I needed to learn and work in global health when I was a pre-medicine student during my undergraduate years. I was interning at a clinic serving primarily low-income and Spanish-speaking patients. This is where I saw the effects of complex economic, political and social barriers to health services on everyday people. I knew I wanted to impact health at the population and systems level, and learned about the BA in Global Health at ASU. This led me to work in global health.
Q: What professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: It is very difficult to decide which lesson I learned is the most important. I would say the most impactful lesson, however, is fully realizing that I have the tools and skills to learn about anything, especially in global and public health practices. Discussion with Associate Professor Katie Hinde Made me realize that the courses in the MS in Global Health program were set up to make us better as researchers and learners and that I now have the skills and knowledge to become a researcher.
Q: What is the best advice you would give to those still in school?
A: I would recommend students take the time to conduct informational interviews with professionals in your field to learn about their jobs, career paths, and any other valuable information they have learned working in the field.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: eye Plans to continue working in the public/global health field here in the US, however, I am also in the process of identifying microbiology PhD programs that focus on global health topics such as neglected diseases and re-emerging infectious diseases that affect population health. affects
Q: What is your takeaway from the MSGH program?
A: My main takeaway is the philosophy of global health. I believe that global health interventions and research should include the populations they seek to help design and implement. Otherwise, interventions and research may be unhelpful and even harmful to the people the activities are intended to help.
Q: What has been your favorite course or learning experience and why?
A: It’s so hard to pick my favorite course! However, I will say that Evolutionary Medicine (ASM 503), taught by Associate Professor Katie Hinde, was one of the most impactful courses I took during my MSGH program. My academic background and passions include biology, global health and policy and this course was able to expand my understanding of how understanding of biology can be applied to global health. Furthermore, this course strengthened my interest in infectious diseases, particularly host-pathogen interactions, by providing a view of health through the lens of evolutionary medicine.
Q: What are you excited about in the field of global health?
A: I am passionate about general knowledge about global health. When people ask what I study or what I do, and I mention global health, they know what that looks like and what that means. Significant help was provided by general discussions of public health programs and policies related to COVID-19, and I don’t think it will easily disappear. I hope that as awareness of global health grows, so will people’s interest and activity!
Q: What advice do you have for others considering entering our global health program?
A: Part of my advice is to reach out to program faculty, advisors, and current students to discuss your goals and interests. Choosing your course and learning style can be very helpful as people in this space know a lot about current activities and research. I also want to share that your interests in global health may change and evolve over time in this program, and that is normal.
Desiree Melvin
Desiree Melvin is graduating this fall with a Master of Science in Global Health. Born and raised in Glendale, Arizona, Melvin also earned his undergraduate degree in medical studies from Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions.
Melvin said ASU was a good fit for him and his family because of the affordable costs and the programs offered. She received several scholarships but paid for 95% of both her undergraduate and graduate degrees through work.
She decided to pursue a Master of Science in Global Health because she is interested in the social determinants of health and how providers can close gaps in health disparities.
“Not only did I want an education in how to care for and treat medical conditions in an individual, but I wanted more education in ways to promote the health and well-being of all and how we as professionals can reduce the barriers and obstacles to this. health disparities that currently exist,” Melvin said.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: My “aha” moment was early when I was young. I was constantly in and out of the hospital, and the way the doctors, nurses and other health care providers were communicating with me and my family resonated with me, even a decade later. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to be in their shoes, to help people in their most vulnerable moments and in the most difficult times of their lives, to help provide the best possible care and communication, because that is what my family and I received it while I was in the hospital. It helped us through such difficult times, more than those providers even knew.
Q: What professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Associate Professor Katie Hinde and Clinical Assistant Professor Heather Ross Both taught me a lot during my graduate degree with ASU. Both professors also challenged me the most in my coursework, which I wasn’t a fan of at the time, but I came to appreciate the challenges they created with their coursework and assignments, and it helped me open my mind and learn a lot. I could never have thought possible.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation, I plan to study for the MCAT and take the exam in April 2023. I then plan to apply to medical school in May of 2023. While preparing for this, I also plan to work, volunteer and continue as an EMT. Shading my experience for medical school applications.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you solve?
A: If I had $40 million dollars to solve one problem, I would solve homelessness around the world. We have the resources to give everyone a place to sleep comfortably every night, clothes on their backs and food in their bellies. This is an issue that I will devote time and money to resolving.
Q: What is your takeaway from the MSGH program?
A: Overall, the general idea from all the work is that health is complex, and more research needs to be applied to improve health and access to adequate health care needs for all. The health and health care sector is a multifaceted concept that requires a complex and multifaceted approach to reduce health care disparities.
Q: What do you hope to do with your degree after graduation?
A: I hope to use these tools in my future career as a health provider to really understand all aspects of health and health care delivery, but also to understand and analyze the struggle to access and maintain health in our modern society, and hopefully use these tools in partnership. . With other providers and organizations to promote population health across all social determinants of health.
Q: What has been your favorite course or learning experience and why?
A: My favorite course so far is Maternal and Child Health. The reading and work in this course was very interesting, and I was able to learn a lot about maternal and child health and how fundamental the mother-child relationship is.
Q: What advice do you have for others considering entering our global health program?
A: Leave your prejudices at the door. Recognizing inherent biases is an important part of health care, as recognizing these helps us to proceed more effectively. Keeping an open mind is important, but so is a mindset dedicated to the betterment of the population. Our personal opinions, though still valid, are not nearly as important when it comes to establishing an environment in which access to quality care is readily available to all populations of people. I think it’s important to keep this idea of adaptability and keep an open mind when it comes to the learning material, and the population of people we work with, because the imperative end goal is to improve the global health of all, not just ourselves or people. . Just like us.
