BU MET Degree Earns Alum Instant Promotion, Uses New Skills Daily
Sara Elizabeth Axelrod (MET’24)
Program Manager, Office of Training and Academic Affairs, Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital
MS, Health Communication
This interview was originally published in fall 2024.
What motivated you to earn your master’s degree at this point? Why did you choose to fulfill your goal at Metropolitan College?
After graduating from Boston College in 2022, I spent some time enjoying my first extended break from school and adjusting to full-time work. As an undergrad, I studied biology and marketing but was unsure how the two could be blended. I discussed my academic pursuits and interest in visual communications with my team at the Mongan Institute, Director Dr. Stephen Bartels, and Administrative Director Jason Hagan, and they encouraged me to find a course that would help me discover the synergies between biology and marketing. The Metropolitan College MS in Health Communication program stood out due to Boston University’s prestigious reputation. As a New England native, it is no secret to me that BU graduates are both highly respected and well-educated.
What do you find most fascinating about the discipline of the Health Communication program? Do you have a particular focus within the broader field?
The most fascinating aspect of health communications is its broad applicability. Novel scientific findings and health information are generated every single day, but these findings are not always accessible to all who need them. This is why health communication is important. A strong health communicator has the ability to disseminate information and improve health outcomes. In my current role at the Mongan Institute, I focus on visual content creation and external communications. My recent work includes a 2024 Health Equity Research Report, and a weekly social media campaign titled “Mongan Science Minute,” which can be found on our X page, @MonganInstitute. Additionally, I am researching how to spread our mission beyond the greater Boston area.
Congratulations on your high achievement in the Health Communication program and your Award for Excellence in your studies! Looking back, what do you consider to be the main ingredients of your success?
My success in this program is all thanks to the assignment completion calendar I made before beginning each course. This is a fast-paced program, and staying on track is critical. I would also encourage attending the live classroom (even though it’s also recorded!) and connecting early with your professor and facilitator. The faculty in this program are incredibly supportive and responsive. Utilize them!
How were you able to successfully balance your studies with your commitments outside the classroom?
I won’t lie. It was tough to have a full-time job, be a part-time student, and have a social life. I knew from the beginning that I would be completing the eight courses without a break and that I would have a master’s degree by May 2024. The ability to see the end goal helped me focus on my studies. But of course, I knew it was also important to have fun and relax, so I made sure to be intentional with my time. When I was studying, I was studying, and when I was focusing on my commitments outside the classroom, I pivoted my full attention to my commitments.
Was your success in the program driven by a particular outcome—such as professional advancement, educational achievement, personal satisfaction, or something else?
My success in this program was driven by both personal satisfaction and professional advancement. Dr. Bartels, Hagan and I had discussed when I began the Health Communication program that, upon completion, I would be promoted to program manager (from administrative coordinator). In my new role, I would be responsible for innovating our communication efforts, launching new training and academic seminars, and promoting faculty advancement opportunities. In order to succeed in my new role, I knew I needed to truly comprehend the information I was learning in the program. It also helped that I found myself immensely fascinated by the material—it was refreshing to be this excited to learn.
Is there a particular course or project that enhanced your experience in the Health Communication program? Please explain.
Visual Communication in the Digital Health Age (MET HC 762) with Alane Bearder and facilitator Barbara Noble was by far my favorite course within the Health Communication program. The course was completely hands-on, and each week I learned new design techniques that I would be able to apply in my new role at the Mongan Institute. Visual Communication was my final course before graduation and was incredibly well-timed. Upon finishing the course, I was competent in Adobe Creative Cloud, logo design, social media page and content creation, and website design. It was fulfilling to apply the principles and strategies I had learned in my previous seven courses during my final weeks in the program.
Can you share any examples of skills, principles, or practices learned in the program that you were concurrently able to apply to your job?
I use design skills and principles every single day at work. As I previously mentioned, I recently completed a 60-page Health Equity Research Report using Adobe InDesign. The report is a combination of faculty interviews and summaries of publications and grants. Designing the layout of the report required me to apply lessons I learned during the program, such as color theory, accessible font selection, and the use of appropriate white space. The principles and skills from the program make me a better communicator, which, in turn, generates a greater audience reach for my creations.
What’s next for you? If you are changing roles, moving on to a new career, or receiving any promotion, we would love to hear about it. Would you say your program helped prepare you for the next phase of your life/career/education?
I have been promoted to program manager in the Office of Training and Academic Affairs at the Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital! MET’s Health Communication program absolutely prepared me for this next phase of my career. I was able to translate my passion for science and creative communications into a fulfilling career.
You were recognized by faculty and peers for your hard work and dedication to the Health Communication program. What “words of advice” or encouragement have served as a guiding principle, or simply inspiration, for you? Any words of wisdom you would like to pass along to students starting in the program?
As my roommate used to say, “You can do anything for one day.” When I was feeling most overwhelmed by the program, she reminded me that tomorrow is a new day, and I had the opportunity to try again. To new students who are just beginning the program, I would encourage them to truly enjoy the work. It is incredibly challenging and fast-paced, but it is so rewarding. And lastly, congratulations and good luck on your journey in the Health Communication program!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you to the incredible faculty and staff of the BU Metropolitan College Health Communication program! It was an amazing opportunity to learn from nationally recognized experts in this field. I am so grateful to the program staff for their willingness to help with any questions I had over the last 18 months.