In celebration of this year’s 2024 SPPH graduating class, we caught up with several graduating students to learn about their time with the School of Public and Population Health.
Kaydin Griffin is a Master of Public Health in Prevention and Intervention student and is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences Leadership, Data-Driven Decision Making. She will graduate this May.
Read on to learn about her experiences in SPPH, her love of public health and her advice for potential graduate students!
What brought you to Boise State and the School of Public and Population Health?
I grew up in Boise and have always loved it, so Boise State University was the only school I wanted to attend for my undergraduate degree. After graduating in 2022 with my B.S. in Health Studies, I knew I wanted to continue learning in a health-related field but I didn’t know what. Some of the most impactful courses I took during undergrad were epidemiology, health policy and ethics, health services administration, and health informatics. Dr. Douglas Myers was my epidemiology professor in undergrad and he gave me the push to apply to the MPH program. Once I read more about the program and saw similarities to the undergrad classes I loved the most, I immediately wanted to apply!
What have you enjoyed most about your MPH experience?
Being able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom and see it in action in our communities has been incredibly rewarding. For example, learning about community engagement principles in class content, then getting the opportunity to see how they actually play out in our communities, and then applying the skills I’ve learned to each unique situation has been incredibly educational and informative. Every scenario is different, but utilizing learned skills and applying them to each individual situation granted me the opportunity to continuously learn through experience.
How has the MPH experience changed or shaped the way you view public health and think about your role in your community?
A question I get a lot is, “What exactly is public health?” And my response is always, “Public health is everything!” It’s sunscreen, safe walking paths, cancer screenings, vaccines, seatbelts, light posts in public parks, handwashing, car seat safety, policies, safe drinking water, everything! To me, public health puts emphasis on being preventive and community-based– those are two of my favorite things about it.
What advice do you have for undergrad students contemplating a graduate degree?
Do it! I’ve been given opportunities in the graduate program that I wouldn’t have been able to receive if I didn’t apply. Something incredible about the MPH program is that the materials I’ve been taught throughout the program can be applied to other areas outside of just public health. I utilize strategies I’ve learned in the program in my personal everyday life. I’ve been connected with a wide array of people and organizations in our community; and that’s been imperatively facilitated by the graduate program.
What are you looking forward to after graduating?
My favorite part of the program has been seeing how public health foundations and strategies play out in our communities; so I’m excited to continuously learn outside of school.