MPH Epidemiology
"I am very proud of who I have become and I have to give credit for MEZCOPH for helping me. Before I came to MEZCOPH, I was a shy student who just went to class and went straight home after. I was just a number, and I did not bother to step outside of my comfort zone and talk to the teachers or do extracurricular activities. MEZCOPH was great about sending emails publicizing the latest events. It seemed there was always something happening and I knew about it because of the great communication MEZCOPH has in place for its students. They made it easy to be engaged in the college. I have had opportunities to volunteer at a non-profit organization called Clinica Amistad that delivers free health care to the uninsured. I have been able to help plan and run campus events to promote public health and much more. I recommend MEZCOPH because of the great opportunities they offer to become engaged in our community. This way, even before graduation, we have the chance to begin networking and meeting folks in the community thereby increasing our chances for better job connections when we graduate."
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Hometown:
Tucson, AZ
Prior Degree(s):BS in Public Health, University of Arizona
Why did you choose public health?I chose public health because it would allow me to make a bigger positive impact in the lives of others in our community. Originally, I wanted to be a retail Pharmacist, but because I already work in a pharmacy as a Pharmacy Tech, I realized that selling prescriptions to patients is not solving the problem. I did not want to work in “sick-care”. Instead, I wanted to play a part in preventing illness and promoting wellness!
Why did you choose MEZCOPH?I chose MEZCOPH because I loved the atmosphere of the campus. I attended MEZCOPH during my undergraduate studies in Public Health, so I already knew how great the faculty is and how distinguished they are. They all really care about the students and are super friendly. I had been on different campuses, and I have never received such great treatment. MEZCOPH is like its own community. People know each other and care about one another. I found I really love the campus and the people here at MEZCOPH.
Public health interests:Currently, I am interested in vector borne diseases. This interest was sparked by my internship with the Pinal County Health Department.
Internship:During my Internship with the Pinal County Health Department, I had the opportunity to make field visits to actual mosquito breeding sites. I recorded sentinel surveillance data on mosquito traps to try to gain a better understanding of West Nile Virus. My visits to the field were with the vector specialists where I learned how to trap for mosquitoes and how to identify breading sites. I found I really enjoyed the outdoor work as well. This internship also allowed me to learn about GIS which is a great skill I can take with me in my future career.
Interests/hobbies outside of school:I love being outside! I have been playing softball since I was very young. Needless to say, it's my favorite sport. There are many co-ed softball leagues in Tucson and I currently play on a co-ed team with City Parks & Rec. The University of Arizona Campus Recreation offers a variety of intramural sports, which are also a great way to meet new people and relieve any stress!
Tip for future students:I think one of the most important tips for future students is to remind them to reach out to the college and to the faculty if they need any help. The faculty and staff are always there for the students and they really do care!
