Hi. I'm working on my SoP for MPH admission (via SOPHAS). I'm looking for entry into the epidemiology department of my chosen school and ultimately work on a double concentration with health education/behavioral science. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
After over a decade in the health information field, I knew I needed to do more. Coding charts all day, while useful, was limiting. In return to school to finish my undergraduate degree I knew that I still belonged in health care in some capacity. After being introduced to public health, and thus deciding to major in the subject, I knew I had finally found where I belonged. Though I did not know it at the time, my work in health information has provided me with a solid foundation of health care delivery systems and disease issues-and pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health only solidified that.
I have finally had the opportunity to explore the issues that have been niggling me since my youth. I remember crying when I learned Ryan White had died, and being one of the first of my peers to have a school project on HIV and AIDS. Though I did not have the opportunity to work in that field, it has remained an interest since. My previous work in medical coding bolstered my understanding of pathophysiology, and in expanding my studies into health disparities, allowed me to understand not only the biologic systems at work, but truly see how society affects them. I also believe that my previous work has set me up well for the detective work that is so obviously a part of epidemiology. The hunt for the cause is a thrilling aspect, and was an aspect of medical coding I truly enjoyed.
In addition to HIV/AIDS, I am also interested in sexual and reproductive health, and how it pertains to women's health. I have found that these issues are uniquely impacted by social issues. Also, I have found that my interest lies with the global realm. Classes such as Global Public Health, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and Medical Globalization, along with the opportunity to study health systems in Nicaragua, have opened my eyes to the world around me, and offered me the opportunity to expand my scope beyond the U.S.-centric focus we often fall prey to.
While I focused on public health education during my undergraduate career, I did so knowing that it and epidemiology are excellent complements of one another. Throughout my undergraduate years I worked as a peer educator and HIV test counselor. It has provided me with an appreciation for the research needed to create the framework for programs, particularly in terms of understanding the epidemiological study needed.
I am drawn to the epidemiology program at XXX School of Public Health in particular due to its affiliation with the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities. As someone who is interested in social epidemiology, and the work that needs to be done to understand and move towards eliminating those disparities, I find this institute to be particularly intriguing, and hope to work within it during my time in graduate school.
