Interview with Katherine Pizarro, MPH
Listen Here:
Highlights from this episode:
1. Tips she used to get through her public health journey
2. Utilizing the resources that are available for opportunity
3. The benefits of building a strong network
Episode 7 of Public Health Careers
Katherine Pizarro, MPH, chats about her public health journey as well as speaks about the University of Florida’s Public Health Programs. This includes the Bachelors of Public Health, the Masters of Public Health and the combined Bachelors/Masters of Public Health programs.
UF is ranked #7 nationally out of all public universities. Between the network, resources and alumni, the opportunities that UF provides in unparalleled. UF’s Bachelors of Public Health program is a limited access program meaning you have to apply into the program unlike other majors. Which helps select high quality public health students to complete the degree. UF also offers a combined Bachelors/Masters of Public Health Degree where a student can get their MPH in 5 years instead of the traditional 6 years. UF has many partners in the Gainesville region as well as the Nationally that can help you make the impact you’d like.
We then go on to talk about UF’s Master of Public Health Program which both Katherine and myself are alumni. UF’s MPH Program offers 5 concentrations: Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Population Health Management (formerly Health Management & Policy), as well as a Public Health Practice concentration for professionals already working in the field. UF’s program focuses on an interdisciplinary and applied curriculum to ensure that students are ready to meet the emerging needs of public health. With a plethora of resources, research and non-profits in the region, UF surely provides the opportunities for students to apply the theoretical skills into real-life public health action.
Katherine then goes on to talk about how she became interested in public health. Katherine pursued a Bachelors of Health Science with a public health tract at UF. She then went on to do her MPH at UF in the concentration of Social and Behavioral Sciences because she saw the interconnected role social aspects played in health and she wanted to meet the population where they are at. Through her mentor she was able to compete for a HIV Prevention Coordinator position at WellFlorida Council which she began the week after graduating with her MPH. She talks about this role and then her transition to her current role as Health Science and Public Health Programs Recruiter for UF.
She shares tips that got her through her public health journey and gives advice to help you navigate your own public health journey. If you are interested in attending UF’s Bachelors or Masters of Public Health Program be sure to reach out to Katherine.
Links from show
University of Florida MPH Program
University of Florida MPH (Facebook page)
Internship sites mentioned at University of Florida: Suwannee River AHEC, WellFlorida Council, SouthEastern National Tuberculosis Center, UF Health.
Podcast
Malcom Gladwell’s Podcast – Revisionist History
Connect with Guest
Email: Katypiz@phhp.ufl.edu
Wow, great episode with Katherine!