Year in Program: 2
My inspiration for public health was a combination of professional exposure, working style, and a ceaseless drive to look at the margins for the next problem to solve. I started working in public health as a teenager in tobacco prevention and loved talking to people about how a small change, like reducing smoking in movies, could save lives. I enjoy working with data, especially when the story that the data tell can drive policy change. I chose the Master of Public Health program because it enables me to pursue a career where I feel I can work every day to improve health systems for the people that need it most.
I completed my undergraduate degree in microbiology at UBC, and the people here are what truly make a difference. I have had fantastic mentors, professors and colleagues who have taught me more than a textbook ever could. I originally chose UBC because I felt it embodied a willingness to promote change and had an institutional instinct to persistently look onward. I couldn’t imagine an environment that aligns better with how I think, learn and work.
With Dr. Craig Mitton I am currently working on a cost analysis of alternative treatments for those with a mental health diagnosis or end of life care. At BC Children’s Hospital, I work on understanding COVID-19 risk within the B.C. school system with Dr. Pascal Lavoie. With Dr. Louise Mâsse, I study how the transition from elementary school to high school impacts adolescent health outcomes.
I would love to see the northern lights!