Public health grads thrive: 91% land jobs or advance degrees, fueled by interprofessional education

mthomp7 — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:30:24 +0000

Public health grads thrive: 91% land jobs or advance degrees, fueled by interprofessional education mthomp7 Thu, 10/24/2024 - 16:30

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

College of Public Health 2023 Graduates Report Strong Career Outcomes

Grads report positive career outcomes

Graduates from the George Mason University College of Public Health are thriving, with 91% of undergraduates and 85% of graduate students reporting positive career outcomes in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, with undergraduate outcomes rising by nearly 5%. As the only interprofessional College of Public Health in Virginia, Mason's programs offer a unique, comprehensive approach that prepares students to excel in today’s dynamic healthcare landscape.

Grads are landing jobs and pursuing advanced degrees in their field

Of those employed after graduation, 92% of undergraduates and 90% of graduates reported working in positions or pursuing a degree directly related to their career goals, demonstrating an improvement from the previous year. Notably, INOVA remains the top employer for Mason graduates, reflecting the strong ties the College maintains with regional healthcare institutions. The College is located near a wide array of employers – ranging from large government agencies to private industry – making it an attractive location for new grads to build fulfilling careers. Learn more about May 2023 graduate McKenzie Lauber (pictured below), who was deeply involved in research at the Social Work Integrative Research Lab at George Mason and is advancing her education in George Mason's Advanced Standing Social Work program.

May 2023 graduate McKenzie Lauber was deeply involved in research at the Social Work Integrative Research Lab at George Mason and is continuing her studies in George Mason's Advanced Standing Social Work program.

CPH experience fueled career success

Students have highlighted the importance of coursework, clinical experiences, engagement with faculty, and academic advising in their preparation for successful careers. 87% of undergrads agree or strongly agree that their CPH experience contributed to their success in getting (or advancing) in their current position. Graduates agreed that course work and hands-on learning opportunities played a key role in preparing them for success. One 2023 graduate shared, “The hands-on experience I gained through my practicum and the guidance from faculty prepared me to confidently step into the workforce. I felt ready to make a real impact from day one.”

Interprofessional education leads to exciting careers

Melissa Perry, dean of the College of Public Health, remarked, “These outcomes demonstrate the strength of our programs in preparing students for impactful careers. As the only interprofessional College of Public Health in Virginia, we are proud to see our graduates excel in fields that are shaping the future of public health.”

The College is home to essential careers of the future that are growing faster than average, such as health informatics, social work, public health policy analysis, nutrition epidemiology, and community health work. With nurse practitioners, data scientists, and health informatics specialists projected to see job growth rates over 30%, Mason graduates are well-positioned for long-term career success. These career opportunities align closely with the college’s commitment to interprofessional education, which equips students to address complex public health challenges in innovative ways.

The college continues to foster education in emerging fields and ensures that its graduates are prepared to lead in careers that prioritize innovation, community health, and long-term sustainability in public health.

Learn more about 5 global, interprofessional health careers of the future.

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Bachelor of Social Work

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Career Plans Survey

College Honors Class of 2022 Graduates at Degree Celebration

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 23 May 2022 17:17:35 +0000

College Honors Class of 2022 Graduates at Degree Celebration Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/23/2022 - 13:17

Congratulations, Class of 2022!

Graduates of the College of Health and Human Services Class of 2022 were honored during an in-person Degree Celebration at EagleBank Arena on May 22. We are pleased to resume the tradition of hosting in-person Degree Celebrations, and the celebration was live-streamed for those who could not attend.

Kim Holmes, associate dean for academic affairs, hosted the celebration and welcomed the graduates and their loved ones during opening remarks, followed by comments from Dean Germaine Louis, keynote speaker Karen Dale, and student speaker Deniz Lopez-Jimenez.

Holmes opened the program by acknowledging all the hard work that led students to this moment.

“Our graduates have made their mark on Mason and their neighboring communities. Many have spent countless hours working and training in local clinics, researching topics that will improve the health of others, leading student organizations, serving the community, and other important causes,” Holmes said. The College conferred 469 bachelor’s degrees, 270 master’s degrees, 34 doctoral degrees, and 21 graduate certificates, boasting a total of 794 spring 2022 graduates who received their degrees across six departments.

“Today, we want you to know that we see your efforts, we’ve seen you in the building on early mornings putting the finishing touches on assignments, meeting classmates; we see the challenges you’ve overcome, juggling work, family commitments, classes, internships, clinical hours; and in the end you all shared a common goal of helping and serving others by proving health and services can support health and wellness,” she continued. “Whether you know it or not, you challenge all of us to be better, push harder, and to chase our dreams. After all your hard work, today is our day to honor and celebrate you.”

Dean Germaine Louis and Keynote Speaker alumna Karen Dale

Dean Germaine Louis took the podium next to share that it was the students who inspired her to overcome her writing block and complete this speech only a few days ago.

“My block was because of the many challenges in the world that are facing our current graduates as well as future ones. And to me, at times, these challenges feel insurmountable,” said Louis. “How do we overcome global hunger, housing instability, health disparities driven by social inequities, hatred, violence, trauma, climate change, in over one million lives lost from COVID-19 infections in the US alone? I asked myself, are these challenges curable? Is it reasonable to ask today’s graduates and the ones to follow to be able to solve these problems that certainly my generation has not done?”

“I thought about our students in the college, across all disciplines...I easily remembered how incredible they are; Something their parents, family, and friends already know and know well,” Louis continued. “As health professionals, our students show up when need arises. Words cannot come close to expressing the great pride I have for our graduates and the faculty and staff who stand with them.”

“I found my renewed sense of hope in you. You can and will correct the wrongs of the world to innovate new paths forward and to deliver health equity irrespective of remaining challenges,” said Louis.

She also offered a few words of advice and hope.

“Remain intellectually curious with a willingness to learn to advance knowledge and deliver health innovations,” she said. “Remember together we can make health visible a reality for all. In the words of Mason’s president Gregory Washington, ‘It’s Mason’s Time and it gives me hope.’”

Bachelor of Nursing alumna Dale spoke to graduates about the importance of purpose. She is the market president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Washington, D.C. Dale was originally scheduled to address graduates at the May 2020 Degree Celebration which was canceled due to COVID-19, but returned this year to encourage graduates to find their individual motivations.

Dale shared that clarity of purpose helps us to be more resilient and have greater life satisfaction. She recommended these steps to find that clarity: Identify your unique gifts, have courage, be inclusive, and make decisions based on what’s right.

“This is the beginning of an opportunity for you to leverage your unique gifts, to find your purpose, to be a catalyst for good,” Dale said. “I wish you immense success in all your endeavors; and I hope you leave this ceremony with positive emotion in your heart, a focus on intentional engagement in all your relationships, a magnificent sense of urgency to define your meaning and purpose, and that you have the courage, the renewable courage, to lead in ways that help you to achieve yet unimagined accomplishments.”

Student Speaker Deniz Lopez-Jimenez

Lopez-Jimenez is a first-generation U.S. college student, who wanted to share his story of hope with his fellow graduates. He thanked his family and asked graduates to give their support networks and themselves a round of applause for all they have accomplished.

“In your future endeavors, I urge you to keep advocating for and helping others, persevering, and holding dear the value of the Mason experience. Go out there and make the world a better place! If you’re a first-generation college student, know that ‘Si se puede!’ You can do it! We can do it.”

After the ceremony, graduates, their families and friends, faculty, and staff were invited to a celebratory reception at Peterson Hall.

Congratulations to our newest alumni!

Check back in a few days for a slideshow of event photos.

To stay connected, all alumni are encouraged to become a part of the public health dialogue on the College’s social media channels: chhs.gmu.edu/news | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

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