Alumni Stories
Graduates of the UW Master of Public Health in Community-Oriented Public Practice program are prepared for a variety of rewarding careers in public health.
Omid Bagheri Garakani
Equity and Social Justice Consultant, Center for Public Affairs, Washington State Department of Health
“The COPHP learning environment invites you to be a full human in necessary and difficult conversations about what fuels health and well-being, which is also a part of real-life work. Everyone brings their own background and experiences into the work they’re doing.”
Lee Hicks
Project Manager, Global Health Programs at PATH
"I realized there was so much inequity in the field of development that I didn’t understand,” said Lee. “It fueled my passion to continue to work in international development, to try to undo these injustices."
Catherine Rizos
Director of Communications, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
"You work together with classmates to learn about the important facets of key topics using that one person or one community story. I think that practical application of public health knowledge really sets this program apart.”
Carolanne Sanders
Jail Diversion Coordinator, King County Department of Community and Human Services
“Social systems like access to affordable housing, transportation and child care, and cultural factors like racism have huge impacts on a person’s health.”
Sarah Wylie
Health Promotion Strategist, Oregon Health Authority - Public Health Division
“I think the program did a great job assembling a group of people with very diverse career experience. As we worked together on cases and projects that were actually benefiting the community, we felt like we were coworkers. In terms of thoughtfulness, intelligence and experience, it really was an exceptional group.”