2015 MPH Student Orientation
The School of Public Health welcomed new Master of Public Health (MPH) students during a two-day orientation on August 14 and 15.
42 students attended the orientation, which began with introductory talks from Interim Executive Director Dr. George Mutwiri, Interim Associate Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Waldner, and Practicum Coordinator Dr. Michael Szafron.
Dr. Mutwiri spoke of the vital and diverse role public health professionals play in governing the healthcare needs of the global population. “You have chosen a great career in public health” he told the students. “It gives you an opportunity to make a difference, small or large, locally or globally.”
Dr. Waldner encouraged the students, who will work closely together as colleagues as well as classmates over the course of the program, to get to know each other well. Practicum Coordinator Dr. Szafron shared insights on the 12-week practicum placement all MPH students will complete during their program, which offers unique, hands-on experience working for select provincially, nationally and internationally-based healthcare agencies.
Students continued their orientation with an introduction to the health sciences library services with the School’s Liaison Librarian Vicky Duncan, which included tours of the Leslie and Irene Dubé library in the Health Sciences building.
Second-year students offered a valuable introduction to the MPH student experience with welcome speeches on day two, having been new to the School themselves the previous year. Students new and old, along with School staff and faculty, then enjoyed an informal pizza lunch and time to get to know each other better (pictured).
Following a successful orientation, the new MPH students will embark on the program’s inaugural course, Foundations of Public Health. The course is taught intensively over two weeks, before regular term 1 classes begin on September 3.
The School of Public Health received over 900 applications for fall 2015 admission to the MPH, out of which approximately 60 students were successfully admitted and started the program this week. The next application cycle for the MPH program begins November 1, 2015 until March 15, 2016.
We wish all our new MPH students a great start to their program!