Public Health Personal Statement

Five years ago, I was interested in public health, but thought I would be training to become an addictions therapist with a clinical social work license. However, during graduate school, I was reintroduced to public health, and discovered that I could no longer envision my future without it. I became interested in the impact of population health, the quality of health services, and the challenge that public hFive years ago, I was interested in public health, but thought I would be training to become an addictions therapist with a clinical social work license. However, during graduate school, I was reintroduced to public health, and discovered that I could no longer envision my future without it. I became interested in the impact of population health, the quality of health services, and the challenge that public health professionals have in dissecting complex issues that often have larger social and cultural foundations.
My main professional goals are to continue developing a career that will incorporate three major components: 1) Educating and promoting health/wellness domestically and internationally, 2) Evaluating programs and initiatives within the fields of community health, mental health and substance abuse, and 3) Working with low-income and minority communities to strengthen and rebuild

Although my foundation will be in the US, I intend to also conduct international monitoring and evaluations of physical and behavioral health programs in West Africa. In doing international work, I hope to find ways to improve health through a system that acknowledges the influence of culture, tradition, social capital, and government support, within each country. Therefore, I see the CDC as a stepping stone towards the attainment of both my short-term and long-term professional