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Wherever Lt. Commander Rashid Njai’s career takes him—from Michigan communities like Flint and Detroit to the frontlines of public health crises internationally—it is his drive to help people, an unwavering commitment to the truth of his calling and his science, that guides the course of his public health work. .
In this Field Notes, Master of Public Health students Sandra Giramahoro Coyne and Jelena Verkler talk about interning last summer at different divisions of The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services in Lansing, where they put their epidemiology skills to good use.
Returning to the University of Michigan after five years working and volunteering with the National Alliance on Mental Health, Bachelor’s student Spencer Walz is using his personal experiences — and a guiding belief in vulnerability and the power of community — to carve a path to population and mental health work.
“Many of the perceived barriers should not slow us down. It can take courage to speak out, but as soon as you do, you realize you're surrounded by people who believe in the same things you do,” says Dudley.
Lukonde Mulenga’s journey to Ann Arbor started with her family in Zambia and led her to the pursuit of an MPH at Michigan Public Health. Along the way, she discovered a few interests and found a way to bring her education home for impactful work.
The surge in studying public health is about public health’s own values. Students want to give back to their communities, to contribute. Promoting and improving population health is a rewarding goal and a career path.