Alumni career spotlight: Felicia Greer

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Andy Ware

In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Felicia Greer

Employer: Indiana Department of Health
Current position: Indiana Birth Defects and Problems Registry Program Manager
Location: Indianapolis
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science – Ball State University (2014); Master of Public Health – IUPUI (2020)

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose to pursue an MPH degree with a concentration in social and behavioral science because I knew that’s where my heart was. I have always had a passion for people but specifically individuals and their overall quality of life. I wanted to help be the voice for public health change for individuals who may feel that their voice is not being heard.

Do you have any research interests?
My main research interests circle around maternal and child health. I am also interested in health equity within underserved communities.

Briefly describe your career path.
I graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s in health science in 2014. I immediately landed into the physical therapy realm as a coordinator but then went on to work at a children’s therapy clinic in Indianapolis. There I was able to not only work behind the scenes to make sure children received the therapies that they needed but I was also able to interact with families and hear their stories.

During my time at the children’s clinic I decided to apply for graduate school to further my education so that my knowledge could match my passion. In May of 2020, I graduated with my master’s degree and started working for the Indiana Department of Health in August of 2020. I’ve been here for almost two years now and I’m excited to see what the future holds!

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
An average day for me would be to manage my team and their needs before I start on my own personal tasks. From there I send birth defect surveillance data that is reported from Indiana hospitals to my team to be abstracted and reviewed to confirm birth defect conditions occurring in Hoosier babies.

I then take on meetings with stakeholders to discuss action items that are necessary for the education and awareness of birth defect prevention. From there I may be attending a webinar to increase my knowledge or creating new ideas to produce condition specific educational materials. Lastly, I am meeting with my colleagues to navigate new ways to improve our program for the citizens of Indiana.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell my college self to be ready to be flexible at any given moment. Public health is forever evolving and being in this field you have to be able to navigate changes, and quickly. I would also tell my college self that every aspect of your work may not be seen by others how you see it but to keep trying because one day it most certainly will!

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
To be able to listen without reaction and have those hard conversations when necessary. I learned that public health is not a one-scope profession and interdisciplinary work is critical when serving the public. I also learned that people with lived experience are the best source of information and to make sure to involve them because it will directly impact their communities and families.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I married my now husband, Brandon, and it was one of the best days of my life! I am incredibly thankful for his support throughout my professional journey.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
In 10 years I see myself continuing to work towards the improvement of health outcomes for mothers and their babies. Whether it be through research, campaigns, or collaborative work I know maternal and child health is right where I should be!

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
One of my favorite memories was being inducted into the Eta Sigma Gamma Honorary Society. Being a part of the first induction ceremony at IUPUI was an experience that I’ll never forget.

Alumni career spotlight: Alisha Clawson

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Andy Ware

Alisha Clawson

Employer: Indiana University Health
Current position: Practice Administrator
Location: Indianapolis
Degree(s): DePauw University, Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, 2010; IUPUI, Master of Health Administration, 2014

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose the IUPUI program because of the curriculum that truly prepares you to work in the healthcare industry as a leader. I also enjoyed the flexibility it allowed for me to be able to work during the day and attend classes in the evening.

Briefly describe your career path:
Office manager of an orthopedic practice during my time during the program (2011-2014); Practice manager for primary care clinics with IU Health (2014-2016); Practice manager for IU Arnett Family Medicine Residency program (2016-2020); Practice administrator for IU Methodist Family Medicine Residency program (2020-2021); Practice administrator for IUHP/IU Department of Emergency Medicine (2021-present)

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
Administrative leader for the emergency medicine physicians/APPs

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
Be sure to create a work/life balance in the very beginning because work never stops, but it is important to have breaks for your own wellbeing.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
Part of being in a graduate program is learning time management and that is something that is transferrable into the work environment as well.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I was part of the administrative leadership that helped create a new family medicine residency program that is part of the IU/IUH family.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
Still working in healthcare in Indiana and being able to contribute in a meaningful way to the organization I am a part of.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Meeting new colleagues who after graduation you go different paths but then reunite in various ways years later.

Alumni career spotlight: Caitlin Pike

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Andy Ware

Caitlin Pike

Employer: Parexel
Current position: Strategic Proposal Writer
Location: Indianapolis (remote)
Degree(s): B.A. English, North Carolina State University, 2009; MLS, North Carolina Central University, 2013; MPH, Indiana University, 2019

Why did you choose your major/program?
I spent several years specializing as a health sciences librarian, where I primarily served the IU School of Nursing. I wanted something to legitimize the healthcare aspects of my work, and public health seemed like a good fit. I tried the graduate certificate program first, just to make sure I liked it and that I felt up to the task of going to school and working full time. Once I finished the certificate, I really enjoyed what I learned and decided to continue with the social and behavioral sciences specialization.

Do you have any research interests?
My research interests are varied, given that I wear multiple hats. As a librarian, I’ve done research related to open access to health literature, and as a public health professional, I’ve done research on harm reduction and the social determinants of health.

Briefly describe your career path.
I graduated with my library science degree in 2013, and was almost immediately offered a position as a library fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This was a great springboard to my next position as a health sciences librarian at IUPUI University Library. I started a new position with a clinical research organization, Parexel, in February 2022 as a strategic proposal writer. My job involves polishing the proposals that are used to help my company successfully bid to run clinical trials for large pharmaceutical companies.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
It mostly involves a lot of project management, creativity, and a good eye for detail and layout. I create timelines, assign projects, and I send a lot of emails. Each day is different, but my favorite part is when we win a bid and get to run a clinical trial that makes a difference to patients around the world.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
You should have stuck with a science degree! No, seriously, my real advice would be to spend more time exploring and learning about potential avenues for careers. I had no idea this is where I would land, mostly because I didn’t even know this role existed. That being said, it’s a great fit for my skill-set and I get to use many different pieces that I learned during each of my degrees.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
In one of Dr. Turman’s classes, we had an assignment to write a mock grant proposal. This turned out to be an invaluable assignment for me for a few reasons. I wrote and won a large grant during my time at University Library, and I now write a slightly different kind of proposal every day for my new job at Parexel. It taught me the importance of paying attention to detailed instructions, being clear and concise, and being constructively creative.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I had the honor and privilege of serving on a Rapid Response Team for COVID-19 in collaboration with state department of health. In this team, which included several other Indiana University librarians, we worked incredibly hard to provide evidence-based information about COVID-19 to the State of Indiana. We did this primarily through the creation of annotated bibliographies to facilitate rapid expert responses to questions from state leadership.

We also helped create daily digests of emerging literature including reviews on patient care, law and ethics, communication, forecasting and surveillance, schools, and mitigation. I served on this team from April 2020-July 2020, but my colleagues continued their great work well into 2021. I was very proud of our work, as it increased visibility for librarians at the state level, and recognition for our contributions led to the receipt of an Award for Excellence in Public Health from Dr. Kristina Box, the State Health Commissioner for Indiana.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
I hope to stay in the clinical research organization world for a while. Making such a giant career change is incredibly scary, but also very exciting. I might like to eventually find my way into patient advocacy, but for now I am very happy to learn the ropes in proposals. I’m excited to be at a company that cares very much about the people who choose to enroll in a clinical trial, and I look forward to learning more about the process.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Competing in the Regatta! We didn’t win (not by a long shot), but I felt like a winner because we didn’t flip the canoe.

Alumni career spotlight: Agatha Beier

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Andy Ware

In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Agatha Beier

Employer: Robin Healthcare
Current position: Medical Scribe
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Degree(s): Health Services Management, Fairbanks School of Public Health, IUPUI, 2021

Why did you choose your major/program?
While taking an exploratory course my freshman year, I remember listening to fellow students talk about the degrees IUPUI offered. As I had not yet decided what degree I wanted to pursue at IUPUI, I enjoyed hearing from students from all different backgrounds explaining their studies and why they chose to pursue their particular degree.

The student coming from Fairbanks School of Public Health explained the importance of public health, including epidemiology, finance, and policy. It was a perfect degree path for me as I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field. The more I learned during my studies, the more I understood the importance of both clinical and administrative work in the healthcare field.

Do you have any research interests?
As I was a member of a research team during my undergraduate career, I am interested in pursuing more research opportunities in graduate school. Although I do not have specific research interests at this time, I am open to exploring and finding a project I can learn more about and contribute to. The opportunities are endless.

Briefly describe your career path.
I will be attending medical school in July 2022 and this will be a four-year degree. The first two years, I will be learning in the classroom and lab. In the final two years, I will have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations in a variety of specialties, including but not limited to, family medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology.

After my four years of medical school, I will then have to apply for residency, which can be anywhere from three to eight years of additional training. At the time, I am not certain what I would like to specialize in as I am trying to keep an open mind and find what truly suits me as a physician. Once I have completed my residency, I will seek a position as a physician where I can utilize my training and expertise.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
I have been fortunate to work as a remote medical scribe for the past six months. I usually work from 9-5 p.m. and am responsible for observing patient-provider encounters to produce medically professional SOAP note documentation, handling all information in compliance with HIPAA, and assigning accurate codes for reimbursement.

As I transition into becoming a medical student, I can imagine my average day will look similar to my undergraduate experience, but much more intense. I will be required to fulfill more coursework in advanced subjects, dedicate a significant amount of time to studying, and complete lab work. While it will be challenging, I am certain it will be very rewarding.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell my college self to not be afraid to ask for help in seeking opportunities and to network. It was late into my sophomore year when I really started becoming involved on campus and in the community. If I would have started volunteering, joining clubs, and seeking other opportunities my freshman year, I would have been afforded more connections in the community and chances to give back to IUPUI. This university is a great place to learn and grow academically, personally, and professionally.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
Prevention is the best medicine. As I am preparing to matriculate into medical school where I will be studying osteopathic medicine, this lesson will be utilized throughout my studies and when I am able to treat patients.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
Besides being accepted into medical school, I have been enjoying my time with friends and family. As I am from Des Moines, Iowa, going to school in Indianapolis, Indiana to play basketball was a big challenge. I was not able to see my friends and family as much as I would have liked, so now that I have the time to catch up with them and make new memories, I am incredibly thankful. This time has also allowed me to find and enjoy new hobbies and interests, such as reading and baking.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
In 10 years, I hope to be a certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and practice medicine in a field I thoroughly enjoy, whether that is pediatrics, family medicine, or women’s health. I hope to be contributing to the community I am a part of in more ways than providing medical care and helping others who are in pursuit of medical school.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite Fairbanks School of Public Health memories come from all of the practical assignments we were given, such as mock interviews, résumé building, and presenting to an audience. These memories stick with me because at the time, I was really dreading them, but reflecting back, they were incredibly helpful in finding a job after graduation and applying to graduate school.

Alumni career spotlight: Emily Sargent

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Andy Ware

Emily Sargent

Employer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Current position: Public Health Advisor
Location: Atlanta, GA
Degree(s): Doctor of Jurisprudence, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, IUPUI, 2018; Master of Public Health, Richard M Fairbanks School of Public Health, IUPUI, 2018; Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, Indiana University Bloomington, 2014

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose a BA in Criminal Justice because I originally wanted to be a criminal lawyer. Then, I became an emergency medical technician while in school at IU Bloomington, and I discovered my passion for health law. I decided to pursue the JD/MPH dual degree program, with concentrations in Health Law and Health Policy and Management, while in law school to increase my background knowledge of public health and healthcare.

From my first public health class at Fairbanks School of Public Health, I knew public health was my true passion. Through internships and employment experiences, I have further specialized into my favorite area of public health, emergency preparedness and management law and policy.

Do you have any research interests?
My area of expertise is public health emergency preparedness law and policy. I have previously published with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on that topic and I plan to continue to pursue related research and publication opportunities.

Currently, I’m particularly interested in the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on future public health emergency preparedness laws, funding, court cases, and policy decisions at the federal, state, and local levels of government.

Briefly describe your career path.
After graduating from my JD/MPH program, I worked as a public health emergency preparedness analyst at the Indiana Department of Health. I then became the emergency preparedness grant manager at the Indiana Department of Health.

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was hired as a public health advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work as an emergency coordinator (functional title) in the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services and an operations manager (functional title) on CDC’s COVID-19 response.

In October 2021, I took a new public health advisor position in CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control to work as a project officer (functional title) managing state and tribal injury prevention funding opportunities.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
Currently, I function as a project officer in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. In this position, I mainly manage funding opportunities that CDC provides to governmental and community partners to support public health projects around the country.

On an average day, I will 1) answer questions from state and tribal partners about their funding awards; 2) connect partners to CDC resources and subject matter experts; 3) review partner activities to ensure they are completing funding requirements; and 4) help partners navigate the funding process.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing work in your current industry?
Keep your mind open and take all of the internship and networking opportunities you can get. You never know what experience or professional connection will help you find your true passion. If it sounds interesting, even if it’s not 100 percent what you thought you’d be doing, try it.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
The process by which public health programs are created, funded, and managed.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
Being a part of the United States’ federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
Working in the government or nonprofit sector as a subject matter expert in public health policy and strategy.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Working on a joint research project with Moroccan public health students in Professor Jack Turman’s global public health class.

Juggling life and a master’s degree? It’s doable, says MHA student

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Andy Ware

Our Executive Master of Health Administration is intended for working health care professionals who want the skills and education to take the next step in their career. We recently spoke with executive MHA student Crystal McQueen to learn how her experiences in the program are impacting her career.

Tell us about your current work and why you decided to pursue the Executive MHA.

Currently, I am working as a Certified Community Health Worker for Meridian Health Services in Muncie, Indiana. I provide patients with resources and act as an advocate for both our primary care and behavioral health patients. I have always been interested in taking a leadership role and the Executive MHA program will allow me to take a step in that direction!

Explain how the Executive MHA will impact your career moving forward.

This program will provide me with the degree and tools to become not only a leader or manager, but a successful one. All of my professors so far seem so passionate and knowledgeable about the topics they are teaching and that gives us students so much confidence.

What are some of the key points you’ve learned so far in the program?

A major key point I’ve learned in this program so far is that healthcare is forever changing. If you want to be successful you need to be willing to accept change, as positively as you can. Also, as a manager, always show appreciation for your staff. Burnout rates are at an all-time high right now; even just a little note to someone saying thank you can go a long way!

Have you used any of this new knowledge in your current position?

I actually have been able to share quite a bit of my population health knowledge with my pop health team at work. Population health is becoming a huge focus in our organization lately. It’s very exciting to be able to showcase to my current coworkers what I’m learning so far.

What advice would you give others who might be considering pursuing the Executive MHA?

It’s worth it, and it IS doable. I was so intimidated in the beginning. How am I going to do this program while working full time and raising a toddler? The professors understand we have lives outside of this program and that helps tremendously!

Learn more about the Executive Master of Health Administration program

Enthusiastic health services management student gaining new skills in internship

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Andy Ware

Internship spotlight: Gracie Tial

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Internship site: Community Health Network

For the past few months Gracie Tial, a BS in Health Services Management senior, has been gaining experience as an intern with Community Health Network. When you ask her how her internship is going, get ready for an enthusiastic response.

Gracie is quick to share how much she is enjoying her experience. To date, she has worked with patients on the patient access team, helped with nurse hiring as part of the human resources team, and assisted with contact tracing as a member of the employee health team. She has learned what is it is like to work on-site and how to make a difference and engage with teammates from a remote location.

In each experience, Gracie is gaining new skills and making new connections. She says the best part of her internship has been the variety and the people. She has also enjoyed stepping out of her comfort zone and feels the internship has helped her grow and explore different possible career paths within health care.

As Gracie counts down the days to graduation in May, she is excited to talk about the skills she has gained during her time at Community Health Network. Her internship experience has helped identify the types of full-time positions she is searching for after graduation. She is particularly interested in revenue cycle services opportunities.

If your organization is interested in working with a highly motivated student like Gracie, consider participating in the upcoming BS in Health Services Management Internship Interview Day taking place virtually on April 22. Student applicants will be looking for both summer (May-August) and fall (August-December) internship opportunities.

Learn more about Internship Interview Day

MHA students participate in national Case Competition at UAB

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Andy Ware

In late February, four of our Master of Health Administration students—Tyler DeLon, Alycia Felix, Kendra Perkins, and Emily Smith—competed in the 16th annual Health Administration Case Competition at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The competition allows graduate students from CAHME-accredited programs an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice through a real-life, real-time case, and present their recommendations to a national panel of judges.

The case scenario presents complex issues faced by an actual health system. The students had approximately three weeks to analyze the case and develop recommendations to be presented to the panel of professional healthcare leaders. The students learned a lot, networked with peers and industry leaders, and enjoyed the culture of Birmingham.

The team competed with MHA students from 40 colleges and universities across the country, advancing to the top 12 in the competition.

“I am so proud of the hard work our students put into analyzing and developing their case presentation,” said Antionette Epps, Master of Health Administration program director. “They were professional and did an outstanding job representing themselves, the program and the university.”

Alumni career spotlight: Cameron Hilt

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Andy Ware

Over the coming weeks you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Cameron Hilt

Employer: Indiana Rural Health Association
Current position: Program Director
Location: Indianapolis
Degree(s): IU Fairbanks School of Public Health: MPH (May 2021)

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose the MPH degree after researching many different degree options. Mainly because I knew that I wanted to work on improving the quality of patient care, reduce medical waste, and reduce medical costs.

Outside of that, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in health and knew that the Fairbanks School of Public Health had a track record of connecting students to employment. Additionally, I wanted to go to school part-time as I worked full-time and knew the Fairbanks MPH program would give me the flexibility and knowledge that would be directly applicable in my current positions.

Even through job changes I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom to my work. The MPH program helped me narrow down what I wanted to do in healthcare and opened many doors for me. When you take the time and energy to work through a master’s program, that is the type of return on investment you want to see!

Do you have any research interests?
I currently manage two federal grants focused on collecting data to contribute to research and the evidence base for tele-behavioral health and tele-neurology services. Additionally, I work as a consultant for a Community Paramedicine program where I work to create the framework for data collection and analysis to build an evidence base for Community Paramedicine.

Briefly describe your career path.
I have had a very unconventional career path. I went to school first to get my Phd in clinical psychology and later decided to pursue occupational therapy. After losing my brother in a car accident my junior year I fell behind in my program and decided to just graduate with my bachelor’s in psychology and work for a few years before going to graduate school.

I worked at a nonprofit (non-healthcare related) for about 2.5 years before deciding I wanted to pursue public health. I moved to Indianapolis and took jobs at Community Health Network, Anthem Inc., and a population health analytics company, before starting my work with the Indiana Rural Health Association.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing work in your current industry?
Make sure to connect with other students, your professors, and take advantage of networking opportunities through organizations like Indy Hub or young professional boards. Those connections can open doors for you later.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
I’m not sure if this is a lesson, but there are two classes in particular in my graduate career that I utilize the skills I learned on a frequent basis. One was Population Health Information Exchange and the other was Program Planning. As a program director on a research grant, these classes helped me immensely!

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
A lot happened over the 3.5 years of going to school part-time! I switched jobs twice, got promoted three times, got married, bought our first home, got two dogs, and a lot of travel! But the biggest thing professionally was becoming the director for the Crossroads Partnership for Telehealth and the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC) at the Indiana Rural Health Association.

One of the things that has been one of the newest experiences for me is hosting a podcast titled “A Virtual View” with the UMTRC that focuses on healthcare technology, health equity, and telehealth.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s next for you?
I see myself continuing to focus on healthcare technology, the future is very bright and there are many new and innovative technologies that could also appear or dramatically improve in the next 10 years. I want to continue to be able to focus on bringing this technology to areas that typically don’t have access to technology due to a lack of funds and expertise.

Amy Zhong: A passion for public health and helping others

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Andy Ware

Please tell us about your long-term career goals.
My long-term career goal is to work for a nonprofit organization in my community to help minimize health inequities. I’m interested about informing the public about public health resources that can help prevent chronic and infectious diseases. I aim to work in an environment that is inclusive and receptive to decreasing health inequities, closing health gaps, and advancing public health policies after graduation.

Why did you choose IU and your specific major?
I am currently a junior at Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health majoring in epidemiology. When I was diagnosed with hepatitis B during my junior year of high school, I became more interested in finding a profession where I could help those who are going through a personal health diagnosis. At that time, I lacked resources such as a support group comprised of peers my age or older who were in a similar circumstance. However, I was able to do more research about the public health field and grew an awareness of studying epidemiology.

I knew this would be the right path for me to help others who find it challenging going through a diagnosis with little or no support. IU FSPH has a great epidemiology BSPH program to help align my passion and turn it into a career. The program has also given me endless support from my peers, faculty, and career advisors to help me find internships or jobs within the field of my interest.

What’s next in your career plan?
Up next for me is interning at CVS Health this summer. I am thrilled and honored to be serving the role of a retail management intern. I applied for this role and later heard back from the hiring manager who graduated with an MPH. He admired my sense of passion for preventing chronic and infectious diseases while being personable with my own story.

What is a piece of advice you want to share with your peers?
A piece of advice I would share with my peers is to always remind yourself of what makes you passionate about the career you hope to achieve one day. Throughout my internship and job interviews, I always like to show my passion for epidemiology. This makes the recruiter or hiring manager more intrigued about why you are interested in working for a company that aligns with your values.

I also believe if you have a personal story that relates to your passion and that you are willing to share with the recruiters, it will demonstrate your self-motivation and commitment to the company. Lastly, I took steps to meet with my career advisor before submitting my final copy of my résumé and cover letter to the companies I was applying for.

During the meeting with my career advisor, I was walked through the areas I needed improvement on. I learned about how listing and explaining the skills from my previous work experiences in my cover letter helps recruiters know specifically how I was able to accomplish that skill. This can also help recruiters know if I have the skill set that matches their job description.

Describe your favorite experience(s) you’ve had during the program.
An amazing experience thus far has been my current opportunity to serve for the IU Center for Global Health as a COVID-19 contact tracer. My role consisted of evaluating and monitoring cases that meet the standard case definition of a close-contact and/or COVID-positive individual based on CDC case guidelines.

This furthered my interest in public health and helped me build skills in how to interview cases, teamwork, and data-keeping. This job has also given me the opportunity to gain excellent interpersonal communication skills through executing crisis counseling, referrals to medical resources, and building trust with cases through cultural competency.

I was also very fortunate to also have the opportunity to work in a clinical setting at HPW Diabetes. I gained previous time-management, organizational and problem-solving skills as a clinical receptionist. My responsibilities included working with patient care, collecting copays, insurance verification, downloading (GlucoTrack) insulin pumps, organizing patient schedules, and displaying leadership skills during the COVID pandemic.

I was given the opportunity by Dr. Isaiah Pittman, founder of HPW, to run the clinic myself due to sick leave from his medical assistants. This furthered my interest to work in the public health field after interacting with regular patients and seeing their chances of having type 1 or type 2 diabetes be reduced.

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