Name: Melanie Forbes

Graduation Year: 2022

Post-Graduation Career: Professional Soccer Player – aspiring med school student

Q: Where were you before the MSHM program?

A: Before MSHM, I completed my undergraduate studies at Indiana University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honors in human biology and a minor in chemistry and am now playing professional soccer in Portugal. After this chapter, I plan to pursue medical school, a career path directly related to my major.

Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the MSHM experience?
A: My greatest takeaways from the MSHM program include my practicum experience and the friendships I made within my cohort. For my practicum experience, I worked with Indiana University Health’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service department. Under the mentorship of Amanda Mosier, I recruited ten diverse IU Health employees with expertise in different brain health pillars to join my brain health team. I led and managed my team to initiate and implement Bloomington’s first brain health pilot program: the Brain Excellence Education program. We designed this program for people in the Bloomington community who are living with mild cognitive impairment or at risk of developing dementia.

The friendships I made throughout my MSHM experience were also key takeaways for me. I decided to complete my final semester of the MSHM program abroad in Portugal to pursue my goal of playing professional soccer. It was challenging to devote time to my studies while I was away from the academic environment of Indiana University and in a time zone that was five hours ahead. Nonetheless, I leaned on my friends in my cohort for support, and they always came through. Whether I had questions about a particular project or needed a laugh, I knew there was always at least one person in my cohort I could reach out to.

I believe the curriculum has prepared me for my future career path. After soccer, when I pursue medical school, I know the business and public health perspective I have gained from the MSHM program will contribute to my patient-centered approach as a physician. When facing problems, I now have the insight to understand the perspectives of different key stakeholders, and I will use this insight and my diplomatic skills to make effective decisions.

This student was also featured on the MSHM LinkedIn page?