INTERVIEW WITH DR. CARA FRANKENFELD,
Director of the new Masters of Public Health Program BY ANNA EDMUNDS
There is no doubt public health has risen to the forefront of our minds amidst the coronavirus pandemic, persistent inequalities in health care, and the growing environmental threats. These challenges require an interdisciplinary approach prioritizing the well-being of entire communities and drawing upon the expertise of diverse thinkers. The University of Puget Sound recently announced a new Master’s of Public Health Program to rise to these challenges. Elements Magazine had the opportunity to engage in the following conversation with Dr. Cara Frankenfeld, the director of this new program officially launching in the Fall of 2021. What was your and the university’s motivation for launching a public health program? The university developed the MPH program with goals of aligning with existing community- and service-centered graduate programs on campus, responding to student interest for public health-related curricular content, and meeting a regional need for quality public health care through well-trained professionals.
and social influences contribute to health and health inequities in populations; compare causes of morbidity and mortality across economically and geographically different world regions; develop culturally appropriate strategies to improve health and minimize disparities in populations; synthesize data and literature to identify health disparities in populations; and, demonstrate high-quality writing for public health-related audiences.
What are some characteristics of this program prospective students should be aware of? What could a student expect?
What are the characteristics of a successful candidate for this program? Are you seeking specific undergraduate backgrounds?
The program aligns with Puget Sound’s institutional mission and philosophies about fostering critical thinking, apt expression, social justice, and community engagement. Students can expect to have the opportunity to engage with faculty experts in public health in small classroom settings and will complete experiential learning in the form of an internship that aligns with each students’ career goals.
What makes this program unique from other public health programs? Are there aspects you are particularly excited about? The Puget Sound program has particular focus on social justice, and students who graduate from the program are expected to be able to: evaluate how environmental
Public health focuses on influencing health at a population level, and people who like to think about population-level and systems-level solutions to problems will be successful. Successful students can also enjoy working with diverse populations and can integrate information across a variety of fields, such as math, science, sociology, communication, and ethics. Successful students can come from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Some students find it helpful to have taken courses in human biology or physiology and statistics at the undergraduate level, but these are not required for admission to the Puget Sound program.
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