New Blood Flows Into The UIC School Of Public Health

Nearly 100 new graduate students turned up for an old-fashioned barbecue, complete with picnic blankets, on the back lawn of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

The event was part of orientation last Friday, which also included welcoming remarks from Dean Paul Brandt-Rauf and book discussion groups led by faculty and alumni on the New York Times Bestseller, “Three Cups of Tea.”

These students and more join UIC SPH this week for the start of the fall semester.

“It’s clear from the orientation turnout that we have a talented and diverse student body from all educational, professional, geographical and ethnic backgrounds who are going to contribute wonderfully to our graduate programs here at the UIC School of Public Health,” said Ann Shorrock, process/systems specialist in the UIC SPH Office of Student Affairs.

Though final enrollment numbers won’t be in until the 10th day of classes, application numbers were up 12 percent this year, Shorrock said.

According to students attending orientation, the school’s programs, location and internship opportunities are all part of the attraction to join the student body.

“I chose UIC because of the glamorous location of Chicago,” said Jennifer Brock, an incoming student in epidemiology. “Also because UIC offers opportunities for a practicum at amazing government organizations nearby, as well as the integration of the new Peace Corps program.”

“I also chose UIC because of the friendly staff members I worked with during my admission process,” she added. “One staff member actually called me personally to tell me I had been accepted. I do not regret my decision to come here.”

Some students are attending UIC SPH for the second time and say compassionate faculty and a message of making a difference draws them back.

“It is the permeating nature of public health and the importance it has to the lives of every person that attracted me to the field,” said Ada Moadsiri, who earned her Master of Public Health at the school in 2006 and went on to serve in the Peace Corps before coming back.

“I went to an open house event here and was inspired when one of the deans said, ‘public health is everywhere; it is a part of every profession.’ Disease and wellness, as it has been said, know no boundaries, so public health can’t either,” she added.

In the Kingdom of Tonga, Moadsiri worked as a community and public health educator. It was during her Peace Corps Close of Service Conference that she applied to UIC SPH’s DrPH program.

The highlight of her master’s education, she said, was having the opportunity to apply her course knowledge to real-world public health settings in Chicago, but what keeps her coming back for more is an encouraging and diverse UIC SPH community.

“I returned to the school because the faculty and staff are very supportive and genuinely care about the students,” Moadsiri said. “The students in the DrPH program come from disparate backgrounds with various work and life experiences. I look forward to working with and learning from them.”

For students, faculty and staff, orientation proved to be an informative and festive day, leaving everyone in anticipation for the academic year ahead.

“Attendance at orientation was terrific, and the energy of the new students kicked off the academic year with a great vibe,” Shorrock said.