I am still in touch with friends and supervisors from the program and I'm very grateful for the support I received from everyone at McMaster’s MPH program.

Alisha (she/they) is working as a research coordinator at McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine. She has been interested in harm reduction and drug policy for years and is thrilled to be working within this field with people who use drugs and their (fantastic) care providers. She is currently coordinating two research projects evaluating Safer Supply (prescribing pharmaceutical opioids as an alternative to the toxic street drug supply) in Hamilton and a program providing multiple supports to help people who have injection-related infections with their hospital care, follow-up appointments, housing, and income, along with peer support. She is also conducting a formal evaluation of a Health Canada-funded local Safer Supply program and working as a research assistant with Dr. Emmanuel Guindon, a position that began as a practicum during her time as a master’s student. Outside of work, Alisha can be found at the local climbing gym or visiting her partner oversees and exploring new places.

Having completed my undergraduate studies at McMaster University, I had no doubts that I wanted to return to the institution that promoted self-directed problem-based learning.

Anne Kang, a recent graduate of McMaster’s MPH program, first discovered her passion for public health during her consolidation placement as a BScN student. She had always viewed the health care system as a treatment-focused process, so when she discovered the proactive, upstream approach of public health nursing, Anne decided to pursue further knowledge and training. “Having completed my undergraduate studies at McMaster University, I had no doubts that I wanted to return to the institution that promoted self-directed problem-based learning.” After completing the MPH program, Anne went on to work as a clinical research nurse in the Niagara region. She also pursued various short-term projects at the Offord Centre for Child Studies. While working with the community on various health promotion initiatives, Anne realized the impact that basic health practices have on improving larger social determinants of health. As a result, Anne will be attending Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in the fall of 2019 where she hopes to serve populations in under-served and under-resourced communities. “McMaster’s MPH program equipped me with the knowledge and skills for evidence-informed decision making in clinical practice, and helped me discover an enthusiasm for lifelong learning. I am confident I will be able to use all that I have learned in every situation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I find myself as a Marauder again in the future!”

I am grateful for the hands-on experiences gained throughout my MPH, as it helped realize my passion for transcending public health research into health policy and practice.

Bindra Shah, a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health program, is currently working at Ontario Health as a Specialist for Person-Centred Care. At Ontario Health, Bindra plays an active role collaborating with regional partners to plan and implement system-level programs, and advance quality of healthcare province-wide. Bindra’s passion for health system improvement and population health management arose through her experiences in the MPH program. The program provided her with the knowledge and skill-set for tackling a wide range of public health projects, including research, planning, and evaluation activities in a multi-stakeholder environment. While working as a practicum student at the Region of Waterloo and SickKids Hospital, Bindra gained a keen interest in the interrelated conditions and factors that influence the health of populations over the life course. She is grateful for the hands-on experiences gained throughout her Masters, as it helped realize her passion for transcending public health research into health policy and practice. Outside of her 9-5, Bindra uses her public health passion and skills by serving as the Communications Coordinator of Public Health Insight, a knowledge translation organization that supports evidence-informed public health communication, as well as the Research Program Lead at Move Me Foundation, a grassroots non-profit focused on improving mental health of seniors living in the Greater Toronto Area. She also has a keen interest in student mentorship and currently sits as a Steering Committee member for the Canadian Association for Global Health MentorNet, a Canadian-wide program that connects students and early career professionals with mentors to foster future health leaders.

Through completing McMaster's MPH program, I was able to identify an area of interest and start a career in public health that suits my unique skillset. 

With an undergraduate background in human physiology and health policy, Elissa realized early in her MPH that she was interested in working in healthcare administration. With support from the program, she was able to complete a practicum placement as a Public Health Intern at a regional health authority in rural Newfoundland & Labrador. She worked on developing an evaluation strategy for their virtual care program, which was strained and growing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this experience, and further consolidated in her learning through courses in the McMaster MPH such as ‘Program Evaluation’, Elissa discovered her passion and innate skill for health program-related planning, implementation, and evaluation. After graduating with her MPH, she continued her work with this regional health authority, and stepped into the role of Acting Manager of Public Health. She was responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and all other routine public health programs in the region. She assisted in a ‘Community Health Needs Assessment’ for the region and used it daily to inform policy development. The decision to start a career focusing on conducting holistic and evidence-based community health needs assessments came naturally to her, as she could clearly see how important they are to developing equitable health policy. She is currently working at Moxley Public Health (https://www.moxleypublichealth.com/) as part of a multidisciplinary team of consultants who complete community health needs assessments. She is also currently working with the Government of Canada, at Veterans Affairs Canada, as the Project Manager for a community health needs assessment of the Canadian Veteran population.

The MPH program was a perfect fit for me and my learning styles.

Erika Kouzoukas’ passion for public health first began while taking a Gender Studies course where she learned about the defining role that the social determinants of health play in people’s capacity to live, work, and achieve wellbeing. After attaining her Bachelor of Science degree, she knew she wanted to take a leadership role in driving population-level change in equitable ways and felt that the MPH program at McMaster would provide her with the tools necessary to succeed. The program’s small class sizes, diverse course work and collaborative hands-on approach to learning facilitate creative thinking and prepare students for the workforce. “My MPH degree and practicum experience have provided me with a strong foundation in evidence-informed decision-making, allowing me to critically address problems relevant to public health from a systems-based approach.” Having graduated, Erika works in addiction research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She leads projects related to the development of national guidelines, programs, and educational products for smoking and vaping cessation, and leverages technology for the equitable provision of care across Ontario. Erika aspires to take her passion for health policy and public health to the political stage and advocate for the advancement of health equity for women in Canada.

The MPH program at McMaster has equipped me to deal with Public Health issues with nuanced understanding, strategic insights, and innovative solutions.

After completing my Master of Public Health (MPH) program at McMaster University in December 2023, I reflect on a journey fueled by a deep passion for public health, initially sparked during my five-year tenure with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Bangladesh. In my role as a National Consultant for Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting, I supported the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh in developing health, population, and nutrition policies and strategies, aligning them with broader national objectives. This experience with WHO and the Ministry highlighted my need for a broader knowledge base and versatile skills to tackle the health sector’s multifaceted challenges.

Motivated by a commitment to enhance community health, protect people, and address global health emergencies, I pursued McMaster’s MPH. The program enriched my understanding of public and population health, healthcare systems, policy analysis, epidemiology, and research methods. It also offered me a wider lens through program evaluation, health behavior theories, and health economics, expressively shaping my approach to deal with health issues. The in-depth study of population and public health policy equipped me with a solid foundation for crafting, analyzing, and implementing health policies.

My practicum experience with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) during the summer and fall, 2023 culminating in a full-time Research Officer position at “Veterans’ Well-being Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)” starting January 2024, further solidified my capabilities in evidence-informed decision-making and policy review.

The MPH program is a close-knit community, supports diverse and collaborative learning, and encourages a multifaceted approach to tackling public health issues.

Joyce Chan graduated from the Master of Public Health program in 2017, with a keen interest in developing and leveraging research to inform public policy. During her time in the program, Joyce furthered her interest in measurement and evaluation techniques, collaborated with McMaster University and community partners to develop immigration policy options as a research associate with the McMaster Research Shop, and applied her research background in completing a thesis on community paramedicine programs and training.

The MPH program is a close-knit community, supports diverse and collaborative learning, and encourages a multifaceted approach to tackling public health issues. Completing a masters thesis was also an opportunity to learn from bright and passionate leaders in health research. After graduation, Joyce was a policy intern with the Ontario Internship Program, and is currently a policy advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. She looks forward to growing her skills in diverse policy areas, and finding linkages and opportunities to advance health equity, social justice, and collaborative decision making. Previously, Joyce graduated from the Arts and Science Program at McMaster University.

My thesis project provided me with many opportunities for reflection, growth, and invaluable lessons in perspective as an academic research partner.

Kayla Lucier turned to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at McMaster following a desire to find an interdisciplinary field that merged community and environmental health with education in a socially relevant way. Her Masters thesis, “One Indigenous Community’s Journey Towards Water Security: A Transdisciplinary Reflection on Drinking Water Advisories and Pathways Forward” used a community-based participatory research approach to unpack and explore the broad health, social, cultural, and economic impacts of a Boil Water Advisory from the perspective of community members on a reserve in Northern Ontario. It provided her with many opportunities for reflection, growth, and invaluable lessons in perspective as an academic research partner.

While in the MPH program, Kayla concurrently completed the Water Without Borders Graduate Diploma program with United Nations University, diving deeper into the intersection between clinical and environmental health and well-being. Following graduation in 2019, Kayla remained local and currently works as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the McMaster Centre for Transfusion Research at McMaster University. Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-j-lucier/

Completing a placement in a research based setting such as McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine and in local public health at Halton Region allowed me to gain real world experience.

Since graduating in 2017 from McMaster’s Master of Public Health program, Kendra has been working in local government in roles focused on Epidemiology and Decision Support. Kendra discovered her love for epidemiology during the MPH program and was able to develop her skills in the epidemiology and biostatistics classes offered. Her experience led her to work as an Epidemiologist for Halton Region Public Health, where she focused on infectious disease, healthy environments, and healthy families. She currently works as a Decision Support Advisor in Social and Community Services for Halton Region where she supervises a team focused on Community Safety and Well-Being. This combines her love of data and community partnerships as she works closely with Halton Regional Police Service and other organizations across the region. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the ability to complete two practicum placements. Completing a placement in a research based setting such as McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine and in local public health at Halton Region allowed me to gain real world experience in the public health sector prior to graduating. It also allowed me to better understand the types of opportunities for a MPH graduate and the different career paths that could be explored. Best of all, following the successful completion of my practicum placement, I was hired back full-time following graduation which was a great start to my career.

The MPH program nurtured my insatiable appetite for learning, and as such I will be attending Emory University’s doctoral program in Global Health and Development in the fall of 2023. 

A graduate of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, Leila is currently working at the Hospital for Sick Children as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Center for Global Child Health (CGCH). At CGCH, her role is to plan, coordinate, and conduct large evidence syntheses on key maternal and child health topics in low-resource settings. Currently, she is leading a set of robust systematic reviews and review updates on the evidence for care of the newborn at birth and thereafter to update the interventions recommended in 2014 as part of the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) and associated Lancet Every Newborn Series. Some of her past projects have included topics of infant and child feeding, women’s empowerment, and the global mental health of children and adolescents. The MPH program provided invaluable training as a public health generalist, with coursework in a broad array of core disciplines. This allowed development in knowledge and skills ranging over many topics, which provided diversity in day-to-day work, but also helped to instill an ability to quickly pivot in times of emergency. For example, though not an infectious disease specialist, Leila was able to pivot her research to COVID-19 related support efforts to contain the spread of the virus during the height of the pandemic.

Each practicum opportunity has been instrumental in shaping my commitment to promoting health equity and driving positive change within healthcare systems.

Mariya Ahmed is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health program and is currently working at Ontario Health as a Health Policy Analyst. At Ontario Health, Mariya supports the ColonCancerCheck cancer screening program by planning, implementing, and maintaining quality improvement initiatives. Mariya’s passion for health system improvement and health policy arose through her experiences in her practicums. While working as a Program Support Student at The Centre for Family Medicine, Mariya became interested in supporting programs that will improve health equity. In her second practicum with IWKHealth as a Health Promotion Student, she gained experience conducting jurisdictional scans to inform the development of population health approaches. She is grateful for the hands-on experience gained through her practicums and the support she received from her supervisors throughout. Mariya is grateful to the MPH program for connecting her to practicums that allow her to excel in her current position with Ontario Health and to her classmates and supervisors who inspired her throughout her time in the program.

During my MPH degree, I had the opportunity to co-published a paper titled: “Community Distribution of Naloxone: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations”.

Nelda completed her Bachelor’s in Public Health from Brock University in 2018 and continued on to do her Master’s in Public Health at McMaster University in 2019. During her time in the McMaster MPH program, she completed practicums with the Population Health Research Institute and the Canadian Public Health Association. Additionally, she published a paper with classmates Joanne Kearon and Robin Tetreault, teaching assistant Sophiya Garasia, and Professor Emmanuel Guindon, titled: “Community Distribution of Naloxone: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations”. Nelda is currently working at the Public Health Agency of Canada as a policy analyst in the Dementia Policy Unit. Her role includes work on the annual report to parliament on Canada’s national dementia strategy, overseeing projects funded through the Dementia Strategic Fund, as well as work on public opinion research.

The MPH program provided me with the ability to synthesize complex health information from diverse sources.

A graduate of the Masters of Public Health Program, Ruhi is a Health Policy Advisor for the Ontario Hospital Association. The MPH program provided her with the ability to synthesize complex health information from diverse sources along with experience in policy analysis, development recommendations and options, in addition to policy evaluation. At the OHA, she provides advice, conducts research, prepares briefing notes and develops tools and resources for colleagues and member hospitals on health system policy and governance issues such as health human resources and physician services agreements. She also collaborates with members and system partners such as the Health Professional Regulatory Colleges, the Ministry of Health, and external stakeholders on matters affecting hospitals and the broader health system.  She recently also completed the Leading Social Justice Fellowship at the University of Toronto exploring ways to support seniors that may be impacted with isolation and loneliness through the pandemic. Ruhi is grateful for the practicum opportunities through the program, along with assignments based on ‘real world’ examples where she gained experience in health policy development.

The MPH program at McMaster provided me with hands on experience in the field of public health.

My name is Sameen Amjad and I am a graduate (class of 2021) of Master of Public Health program from McMaster University. Currently I am working with a health unit in Ontario, managing COVID-19 contact and case management in the region. I am also working on a health promotion project with another health services organization in Ontario. I am passionate about health promotion and hope to work as a health promoter and evaluator in near future. The MPH program allowed me to develop expertise in conducting research, planning, implementing and evaluating evidence-informed public health interventions. I am grateful for the knowledge/learning and opportunities provided during my MPH and hope to stay in touch with all of my connections that I got to develop at Mac!