Student Profiles

Jessica Lammers, who will graduate with her master of public health on Dec. 16, found a job as an environmental health specialist with Fairfax County through her internship.

Patricia Tran became interested in health informatics while working as a nurse. She is now pursuing a Master of Health Informatics degree at Mason, where she obtained an internship with Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) over the summer to research how 5G-enabled technology can transform telehealth care.

Three MHA students reflect on the valuable experience of participating in the three-day competition.

Tarang Parekh, PhD candidate in Health Services Research in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP), received a 2021 American Public Health Association (APHA) Career Enhancement Student Scholarship Award for his outstanding peer-reviewed abstract submission, which was selected for an oral presentation by the Disability Section abstract review committee. The virtual oral presentation occurred on Sunday, October 24, 2021.

On Thursday, September 16, the student alumni organization Rising Healthcare Leaders at Mason (RHLM) hosted its first in-person networking event since March 2020. Both the graduate student leadership team and undergraduate students in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP) worked together to make the event a successful networking opportunity for attendees.

For Master of Public Health (MPH) student Jorge Garcia, the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to obtain real-world experience in infectious disease surveillance by applying the skills he learned throughout his MPH courses while working at the Fairfax County Health Department.

Students beginning the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program this academic year share why they aspire to join the profession and their excitement to join a supportive community of students and faculty.

Preparing aspiring health care providers is no small task and requires a true partnership between academic instructors and internship preceptors. The value of partnership to successfully prepare students for a career in health administration is exemplified by the relationship between Anastasia (Stacey) Schaab, senior director of nursing rehabilitation at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, and John (Jay) Shiver and Virginia (Ginny) Blair, associate professors in the Health Administration program in Mason’s Department of Health Administration and Policy. 

Meet recent graduates Harsha Nayyar (BS, Health Administration, ’21) and Kelly Simons, (BS, Health Administration, ’20) who share insights and advice with students considering a degree and career in health administration.

Mengqi Li is a Master of Social Work student with a passion for social justice and advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community. She was recently accepted into the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program, with a mission to reduce health disparities for racially and ethnically diverse populations through cultural competency training. Additionally, Li accepted a new position at Mason’s Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) as a graduate assistant within the Student Engagement for Racial Justice team.