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Jennifer (Jenna) Hoover is the first graduate of Midwestern University’s new Master of Public Health Stand-Alone degree program. The Master of Public Health degree was originally offered as a dual-degree program for Midwestern students, but expanded in Summer 2024 to include a stand-alone degree option, allowing any student to complete their master’s degree online in just 18 months.

Through her own experiences navigating the healthcare system, Jenna has gained a deeper understanding of the challenges patients can face and the broader factors that influence health. Pursuing an M.P.H. degree allowed her to explore how healthcare systems, policies, and community-based approaches can work together to create meaningful improvements in public health.

Midwestern University’s Master of Public Health program equips students with knowledge and tools to examine the complex social, environmental, and systemic factors that shape health outcomes through coursework in a variety of public health disciplines. The courses in epidemiology, food governance and policy, and impacts of diversity, equity, and inclusion on health were among Jenna’s favorite classes during her time at the University.

“I believe many people think an M.P.H. degree mostly involves learning epidemiology or biostatistics. Those are incredibly important skills, but they’re valuable because they help us identify larger trends and understand the factors driving health disparities. That understanding allows us to create more thoughtful and effective approaches to improving health outcomes, and it’s critical for all healthcare professionals to learn,” Jenna said.

In addition to learning the “why” of public health challenges, students also learn the “how” – how to communicate effectively and engage with communities to be more impactful healthcare professionals. Jenna says she strengthened these skills during her time at Midwestern.

“The M.P.H. program helped me become a more well-rounded public health professional by enhancing my ability to think critically about complex health challenges, communicate effectively with diverse populations, and consider the structural factors that influence public health,” she reflected. 

To best teach these professional competencies, Midwestern’s M.P.H. degree has small class sizes taught by faculty who all utilize their own public health degrees in clinical and consultative practices.

“The highlight of the program is the faculty,” Jenna noted. “They were more supportive and invested in my success than I could have asked for. They consistently challenged students to think beyond their own experiences and consider different perspectives. They created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions, having meaningful discussions, and growing both academically and professionally.”

The degree program was taught entirely online, which gave Jenna the flexibility to pursue several professional experiences alongside her coursework. For her field practicum, she worked with the San Mateo County Oral Public Health Program on oral health education and program evaluation. For her capstone project, she worked with the American Dental Association, tracking and interpreting information regarding community water fluoridation policy action across the United States.

Through her studies, Jenna discovered a passion for applying her scientific background to health communication strategies to make complex information more accessible to diverse communities. Looking forward, she aims to combine her background in oral health with the skills gained through the Master of Public Health program to further advance health initiatives in Northern California.

Learn more about the Master of Public Health program at Midwestern University.