Last month, Thursdays were dedicated to professionals who work in close proximity to the mental health field. This month, as many are graduating from high school, college, graduate school, tech/trade schools, and beyond, the features will be recent graduates! We'll hear about their recent accomplishment, what advice they have for others, and what is next for them.
If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please feel free to tag them below, message me on Facebook, or email at neurolawgical@gmail.com. Should there be more people than Thursdays in the month, they can be featured on another day. I'd rather have more than enough people!
[Photo Credit: On Target News]
**Below are five questions (underlined) that the grad was asked to respond to. Answers (italics) are the individual's and have not been changed in any form.**
This week's recent graduate is Chelsey!
1. Tell us about the schooling you just completed (type, level, area of study, projects or papers you completed, internships, other experiences, length of time, intensity)
I just completed my Master's in Public Health from the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. It is a 42-credit accredited degree program and my concentration was in Health Systems Organization and Policy. My program was an excellent blend of theory, research methods/stats, and experiential learning. The program required an internship and capstone project experience. My internship focused on assisting a grass-roots organization committed to mitigating the opioid crisis and my capstone project was writing a grant for a downtown community looking to improve public safety through a capital campaign project that will improve pedestrian lighting, add bike paths/racks, etc.
2. What did you go into the program hoping to learn about or better understand? What kinds of skills did you hope to acquire or further develop?
I was hoping to blend my Sociology/Psychology dual undergrad degree with a better understanding of public health and specifically how to improve healthcare in our country. I wanted to better understand the laws, policies, organizational structures, and historical events that shape our current healthcare climate. The program certainly achieved and exceeded my learning goals in more ways than one. Particularly, I enjoyed learning from my classmates, many of whom were in the medical field currently or working toward a medical degree.
3. What was the most valuable aspect of the program?
I feel the most valuable aspects of the program are the resources afforded by Penn State and the vast connections available through the institution and faculty/staff of the program. Particularly, being affiliated with a teaching hospital gives the MPH students countless opportunities for collaboration in ongoing research projects.
4. Tell us about what is next for you now that you have completed the program. If going on to further schooling, how does this program connect with that? If going on to (or already employed) how does this program connect with your current position?
I am incredibly fortunate that I was able to work full-time during the entirety of completing my MPH program, so I am currently employed as the Assistant Director of Athletics Fundraising for Millersville University. However, I would like to continue my schooling in the next few years by working toward a degree in non-profit management and/or fundraising. My ultimate goal is to work for or start a foundation that funds areas of need related to healthcare. Currently, I am enjoying volunteering for organizations like the Alzheimer's Association to put my public health knowledge and fundraising experience to use in bettering our community.
5. What advice would you give to future students going for the program you completed?
My biggest piece of advice for future students going into the program would be to take advantage of as many experiences as possible in the program. Because I work full-time, I was unable to participate in many of the extra-curricular opportunities that the program offers. If you are financially able to focus on your Master's without working or even just working part-time, do it!
[Photo Credit: Alzheimer's Association Blog website]
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your achievements Chelsey! Best of luck to you in the future.
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