Nedghie Adrien.
Why did you choose BU School of Public Health? What made the degree program standout?
I was interested in BU School of Public Health because of the strong reproductive and perinatal epidemiology scholarship. I wanted to add the literature on the inequities in preterm birth between White and Black women, and how racism (both interpersonal and structural) may be a contributing factor. During my pre-admission interview, the conversations I had with faculty members convinced me that BUSPH was the right choice. The professors I spoke to were not only engaging scholars but also welcoming people. One professor had also gotten her master’s degree from the same institution I did, so we had a lot to talk about. Plus, the epidemiology department at BUSPH houses some of the giants of our field. I had the pleasure of being a TA for someone who co-wrote one of the popular textbooks for epidemiology courses. It’s a bonus to be able to learn from them, be their colleague, and realize that some are as kind as they are brilliant.
Why public health?
In some ways, once I knew what public health was, there were no other options. It’s a bit of a cliché but I grew up with medical doctors as parents and thought that I would follow in their footsteps. Then, while attending undergrad, I took a course on community health and first learned the term “public health”. After my undergrad graduation, I spent some time back home (in Port-au-Prince), volunteering at a maternal and child health clinic. It became clear to me that I was less interested in the individual scale interventions (medicine) and more on the population-focused solutions. There are a few other experiences along the way, but ultimately, I chose public health because I wanted to enact change that affected more than one (1) person.
How have the faculty helped make your experience exceptional?
The faculty at BUSPH have shown me that they care about me as an epidemiologist and as a person. Some faculty members have been beyond the call of duty. Whether it was helping me move apartments, impromptu mentorship lunches, or showing incredible kindness and compassion (one professor emailed me after class because they noticed that I looked a little sad on Zoom). My advisor has shown me that she respects my opinions and that my voice is valued. And I can’t mention how the faculty make my experience exceptional, without mentioning the staff. Shelley Barnes who keeps the department afloat, has fed and listened to me more times than I can count. Seeing her always brightened my day and made coming to the office enjoyable. She is so much of what makes BUSPH and the Talbot building special.