Morgan Jade

Czterdziesty trzeci miniwywiad z cyklu „Trzy pytania do absolwenta” – przygotowanego przez Ilonę Nenko – w którym nasi absolwenci opowiadają o życiu zawodowym po studiach w Instytucie Zdrowia Publicznego. Celem cyklu jest prezentacja doświadczeń i perspektyw (w tym cennych porad zawodowych) profesjonalistów zdrowia publicznego zarówno w Polsce, jak i na świecie. Dzisiaj prezentujemy historię Morgan Jade, która ukończyła studia magisterskie EuroPubHealth+ (EPH) w 2019 roku i pracuje w Washington State Department of Health w Stanach Zjednoczonych.

What does your career path look like?

After graduating from Jagiellonian I returned to the United States and got hired as a consultant in immunizations at the Washington State Department of Health. My job is focused on health promotion and education to address the current hepatitis A outbreak. 

Before graduate school, I worked in HIV-prevention for 5 years, and it was my passion. But I knew that I needed to be open to working in other topics within public health. While in graduate school I made a list of 5 other health topics of interest for me and immunizations was one of them. Since the Coronavirus outbreak, my job has shifted more towards emergency management. I’ve completed a couple of week-long shifts for our state’s coronavirus incident management team. This has been a fascinating opportunity for growth and learning. For more information about the response in Washington: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus.

What experience gained while studying at Institute of Public Health helped you get a job?

Living in Poland exposed me to ideas and experiences that have made me a more understanding and well-rounded public health practitioner. I learned about the Polish health system and other health systems around the world, and met a lot of people with different beliefs. Learning Polish helped me understand my time in Poland in a different way, and was a fun challenge for me. I think this curiosity and love of learning was helpful when applying for jobs. 

Writing my thesis was the highlight of my year. It challenged me more than any other project, and I now feel confident in my ability to complete a professional research project. I took my thesis with me to interviews to help show my professional interests and acquired skills. It’s a great conversation starter! 

I also had three unique and interesting internship placements with health offices in Krakow. Each of them introduced me to new health topics, including hospital accreditation, interventions for dementia and memory loss, and innovation in health technology.  

I highly recommend public health when considering your university studies. It’s an ever-changing field with infinite possibilities, and every day feels like an exciting challenge. No matter your health interests, there are opportunities to make a difference. My classmates at Jagiellonian are now working in a diverse array of health topics: reproductive health, health literacy, health systems strengthening, climate change and environmental policy, and many other areas. A public health degree helps equip you to work with some of the most critical public health issues of our time. Last but not least, there’s a feeling of solidarity in public health that inspires me on a daily basis.   

3. What skills acquired during studies do you use in your professional work?

While studying at the Institute of Public Health, I polished my skills in time management, efficient group work, and project management. In addition, I gained a lot of experience in project planning, report writing, creating and delivering presentations, and critical thinking. The classes in health economics were particularly challenging and helped me think about health problems in a different way.