MPH Students

Edward Bender

I am a part-time MPH Generalist with an interest in preventive health and community empowerment, especially among underserved populations.  I am interested in becoming a GP, working to address disparities through community collaborations and effective policy changes.  The Rochester MPH program is great for several reasons, particularly in the diversity of topics available. I have, and am continuing to gain, a wealth of experience and education, including a strong background in Epidemiology with an emphasis on Community Health. These are just some of the factors that make the Generalist program ideal for me and my career plans.  I welcome the opportunity to speak with prospective students about the program.  All the best.

Anna Cooper

2nd Year of MPH Generalist Track, Full-time Student; Concentration in Epidemiological Methods.  Career Goals:  Academic Medicine with an emphasis on Epidemiology.  Prior Education: B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Philosophy, McGill University, Montreal.  Extracurricular Pursuits:  Part-time work for Lifetime Health Medical Group/Excellus; Founder and Chair of Western NY Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Volunteer for Unite for Sight, Inc.; and active recreational ice hockey player.  Major strength of this MPH program: the open-door policy of the faculty creates a welcoming atmosphere for didactic learning.  Please feel free to contact me with questions; good luck in your career development.

Maria Fagnano

I’m a part-time Masters of Public Health Generalist student, and I am also a project coordinator in the Department of Pediatrics.  While I have many interests in the realm of public health, most of my research involves improving health and healthcare for underserved populations, with a special interest in child health.  Pursuing an MPH degree has greatly enhanced my research skills and continues to help me with my position as a research coordinator.  The MPH program at the UofR offers informative classes and supportive professors that will help students broaden their knowledge base, develop research skills, and enthusiastically support students’ own public health interests.  I would be delighted to speak with students interested in the program. 

Susan Ladwig

I'm a part-time MPH Generalist student who is nearing completion of the program. I’m especially interested in social inequality and disparities in health, aging, and in end-of-life care, and pursued the concentration in Public Health and Aging as part of my course work. I now work full-time as the Research and Quality Improvement Coordinator for the Palliative Care Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and feel that the MPH program has prepared me well for my new job.

I agree that one of the strengths of the MPH program is the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds among both students and faculty. Another is the flexible scheduling options, a great practical benefit especially for part-time students with other commitments. I’d be happy to exchange emails or phone calls with prospective students, especially “non-traditional” students who may be interested in returning to academic work after decades away!

Gen Maupin

I'm a part-time MPH Generalist student with interests in infectious disease prevention from a global perspective.  I hope to work on vaccination programs in the developing world after completion of my degree.  I have a BS in Biology/Molecular Genetics from the University of Rochester and have been the lab manager of an immunology research lab at the UofR since my graduation in 2002.  Two of the strengths of the MPH program at the UofR are that the students have diverse educational and professional backgrounds, which allows for discussion in the classes to come from many different perspectives, enhancing the learning experience.  The people in the department are very friendly, professional and supportive.  There is respect for all persons involved in the work of the department and they are always trying to improve things - the course work offered, the way courses are taught and the diversity of faculty available to the students, just to name a few.  In addition to the strengths of the courses and the department, the MPH program is very doable part-time if you have a flexible work schedule.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Christopher Mooney

When I am not working as a Research Project Manager in the University’s Medical School, I moonlight as a part-time Masters of Public Health Generalist student.  Like many of my peers, my research interests vary depending on the hat that I wear. With that said, I am particularly interested in community based participatory research as well as the interface of one’s environment and their health. The opportunity to both work and study at the University of Rochester has proven to be an exceptional opportunity to broaden my knowledge in the public health arena and acquire practical research skills that are applicable to my professional goals. The flexible scheduling; the committed and passionate faculty; and the diverse and talented student body are but a few of the program’s many strengths. I invite anyone to contact me should they have any questions regarding this unique program.