"The UofL School of Public Health continues to be an invaluable part of my educational journey toward becoming a physician. The experiences and skills I gained from the program have been useful in preparing me not only for my first two years of didactic curriculum in medical school but continue serving to this day as I complete my third-year clinical clerkship rotations. My public health experience has trained me to think of my patients as whole people in need of healing, rather than illness and disease pathologies in isolation. Health is not merely physical illness and ailment but is rather the holistic understanding of the stories and social determinants of our patient’s lives. Having a public health background has given me a framework and foundation upon which to explore and navigate these critical aspects of patient care with the goal of not only healing illness but also alleviating human suffering."
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Allen Rakotoniaina, BS '16
"Being part of the inaugural undergraduate class of UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) I took full advantage of small class sizes, the extensive curriculum and career guidance. I was also able to gain international exposure in public health through an environmental health trip to Guangzhou, China led by Dr. Robert Jacobs. SPHIS laid the groundwork for my success to pursue a career in public health and food policy and I look forward to seeing the achievements of my fellow classmates and future SPHIS alumni."
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Julia Barclay, BA '22
"My degree has shaped my perspective as an educator, and I try to put a lot of emphasis on the way education can really influence future wellbeing. Public health has such a strong focus on how different groups require different communication strategies. For instance, working with people with differences in language, culture, or age. Behavior change theories and health communication, especially knowing how to communicate information effectively to get students to engage and listen, are all skills I use daily working as a language assistant in northern Spain."
