Meet Our Team: Jessica Schnitzer, Student Support Specialist

Jessica Schnitzer, Student Support Specialist for Public Health
‘Meet our Team’ spotlights are just one way we like to share a little bit about the people who are dedicated to UNE Online’s signature student-centric experience. What do you do here at UNE Online? I am a Student Support Specialist in the UNE Online Public Health program specifically working with master’s and graduate certificate students. What stands out to you in the program that you work within? What stands out to me about Public Health is its relevance in our current climate. Public Health is on the minds of everyone during the Covid-19 pandemic and is more recognizable in our daily lives more than ever before. I commend our students for making the conscious decision to further their education… Read more >>

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Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Kilgore, RN, MPH ‘20

Sarah Kilgore in front of a visiting ICV Stryker, mandatory mask in hand.
Sarah Kilgore is an RN in the Department of the Army in New York, and a recent UNE Online MPH graduate. Here, she talks about how her professional life has changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what encouraged her to earn her MPH. What encouraged you to get your master’s in public health? I became interested in public health while I was working with infectious diseases and research for the Army in Germany. I wanted to be involved on the policy level, working on public health initiatives with Army representatives and hospital directors. How has your graduate school experience been affected by the pandemic? I had my capstone and preceptorship all set up, I had a doctor… Read more >>

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CGPS Collaborates to Meet Challenges of COVID-19

UNE Online Logo blog
In 2020, all of education (higher education as well as K-12) has been grappling with the new realities of remote learning and “pivoting” to emergency remote teaching as schools and institutions are forced to close related to COVID-19. As an entirely online graduate school with years of experience delivering online learning experiences, UNE’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) is well-prepared to handle new challenges brought on by COVID-19, in support of our impacted students and faculty. Collaboration across the college CGPS provides fully online and asynchronous instruction and strives to provide authentic experiential learning for all students. For students thinking about a new career, gaining real-world experience can be invaluable. Many CGPS academic programs offer site-based or… Read more >>

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The Role of Public Health in a Pandemic

Carol Ewan Whyte, Research and Service Coordinator, Public Health, UNE Online
UNE Online Faculty member and public health expert Carol J. Ewan Whyte, Ph.D., M.Sc. discusses the role of a public health professional during the coronavirus pandemic. This information reflects the expert opinions and experiences of Dr. Ewan Whyte, and is accurate as of Wednesday, April 1, 2020. For someone working in public health right now, what is their role in this COVID-19 pandemic? Epidemiologists are really the ones who are working overtime right now. I liked how the Director of the Maine CDC calls them ‘Disease Detectives.’ The epidemiologists are the ones tracking how many new COVID-19 cases we have, where they live, who they have come in contact with, and making sure all those people who need to… Read more >>

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Opportunity available to go abroad with UNE’s Ghana Health Partnership!  

A fortnight in Ghana UNE's cross-cultural opportunity
Study abroad to engage in direct health services, interprofessional collaboration, community education, and cross-cultural exchange. Open to students and alumni of UNE Each May, UNE students work alongside the Ghana Health Service, community health educators and the community, in a two-week Cross-Cultural Health Immersion initiative. A chance to effect positive change This annual effort involves collaboration between UNE, the Ghana Health Service, and local Ghana health practitioners to provide primary care, health education, and clinical services to community members in the city of Sekondi and two rural nearby villages. Learning is facilitated by interprofessional collaboration American and Ghanaian public health professionals, social workers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, physician assistants, and optometrists experience the opportunity to learn from, with, and… Read more >>

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Alumni Spotlight: Mona Haimour, MPH

Alumni Spotlight, Mona Haimour
Mona Haimour, RN, BScN, MSN, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada. As a 2016 inductee to UNE’s Chapter of the Delta Omega Honor Society, she also proved herself to be one of UNE’s brightest Master of Public Health students. From Jordan to Canada Originally from Jordan, Mona earned her Registered Nurse certification and actively practiced as an RN in the area of women’s health, maternal child health and pediatrics for many years there. It was in Jordan that she also earned her Master of Science in Nursing, and began to shift her work from nursing practice to nursing education. After working and volunteering across the Middle… Read more >>

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Faculty Spotlight: Tracey Spinato, MPH, Public Health Program

Tracey Spinato, Assistant Director for Career Services in Public Health at CGPS
Tracey Spinato is the Assistant Director for Career Services in Public Health at CGPS. One of her functions is to be a resource for public health students as they seek out a field experience placement. She is also a resource for UNE students and alumni who are beginning in the field of public health or for those who have decided to change their career to work within the public health field. Here, she tells us more about what she brings to UNE, and how she works with students to add value to their student experience. Can you tell us a little about your background and what drew you to UNE Online? I am originally from New Jersey, but I moved… Read more >>

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Faculty Spotlight: Carry Buterbaugh, Public Health Program 

Carry Buterbaugh, PhD, MS is assistant-director thesis advising for the Graduate Programs in Public Health
Carry Buterbaugh, Ph.D., MS is the Assistant Director of Thesis Advising for Graduate Programs in Public Health students here at CGPS.   So can you tell us a little bit about your background and what drew you to teaching at UNE online?  My background is in public health program evaluation and research. When working at the School for Community and Population Health at UNE, one of the programs I was involved in required frequent travel up to Washington County in rural Downeast Maine. We worked on an early childhood initiative (Project LAUNCH) designed to provide comprehensive support to at-risk families and expecting mothers. It is because of this program that I became really interested in rural health and the delivery of… Read more >>

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Alumni Spotlight: Monica Huelga, MPH

Monica Huelga, who completed her Master of Public Health practicum presentation on environmental health literacy, stands in front of the Pacific ocean with a sailboat in the background
In celebration of our Graduate Programs in Public Health’s successful CEPH reaccreditation, we sat down with Monica Huelga, MPH ’18, who found herself at UNE Online rather serendipitously. Monica is passionate about the power of communication to promote global health and equality. She completed her applied practice experience on environmental health literacy at the non-profit MEarth Carmel while working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Congratulations again on graduating last year! What inspired you to go for your MPH in the first place? I’ve always been drawn to health and distance studies. I received my undergrad from University of Washington in medical anthropology and global health, and I was trying to look at health in the bigger picture, the cultural perspective… Read more >>

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UNE CEPH Reaccreditation in UNE Online Public Health Programs

CEPH logo
UNE CEPH Reaccreditation reaffirms the quality of UNE’s graduate programs in Public Health.  UNE Online’s Graduate Programs in Public Health are excited to announce our successful reaccreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. The Council met June 13-15, 2019, and awarded UNE a 7-year accreditation – the maximum amount of time possible under CEPH guidelines. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency and the only organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the official accrediting body for public health schools and programs in the United States. CEPH accreditation is a rigorous peer-review process designed to ensure that a program’s curriculum meets set standards for high-quality education and training. Download our Public … Read more >>

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Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Titilola Balogun, Public Health Program

Dr. Titilola Balogun, MBBS, MPH, DrPH
Dr. Titilola Balogun, MBBS, MPH, DrPH, is the Assistant Director of Public Health Practice for the Graduate Programs in Public Health in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. In this post, Dr. Balogun talks about her role in the program, how she supports our students, and what skills she feels are most important for a public health career. Can you tell me a little about your background and what drew you to UNE Online? I started my career as a medical doctor, practicing clinical medicine. While I was working in a hospital in Nigeria, I began to notice a trend in my patients, who were primarily children. I would treat the children,… Read more >>

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What is the difference between Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the Practicum?

APE vs Practicum
To get the inside scoop on what defines the Applied Practice Experience (APE) versus the Public Health Practicum, we spoke with Dr. Titilola Balogun, MBBS, MPH, DrPH. She is the Assistant Director for Public Health Practice for the Graduate Programs in Public Health in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. Dr. Balogun supports students who are about to begin their Public Health Practicum or Applied Practice Experience. What is a Practicum? The Practicum is the version of the public health field experience that we had before the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), our accrediting body, came up with updated requirements. While the definition of “Practicum” varies from school to… Read more >>

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Ambassador Spotlight: Tannaz Safari Vejin, MPH

Tannaz Safari Vejin, MPH
Tannaz Safari Vejin earned her MPH during the gap years she took after pre-med and before med school. Here, she talks about what she feels is an important skill set to master during the program, and how she feels getting her MPH has given her an edge. UNE Online Ambassadors have been recognized by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies for being exemplary students and enthusiastic members of the UNE Online community. UNE Online Ambassadors serve as liaisons between our extended community and UNE Online, setting a precedent and standard for what it means to be a UNE Online student and community member. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your… Read more >>

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UNE Online Graduate Programs in Public Health at MPHA 2018

UNE GPPH alumni and student presenters at MPHA 2018
MPHA 2018 was a HUGE success! This year, the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) Annual Meeting and Expo was held in Augusta, ME and there were about 400 public health professionals from within and outside Maine in attendance, including our very own UNE Online Graduate Programs in Public Health (GPPH) faculty, staff, students and alumni. This year’s Annual Meeting theme was Addiction and the State of Public Health in Maine, which contributed to the topic of discussion in general sessions, scientific sessions, and presentations. Below, we’ve summarized a few of the sessions presented by our team at this year’s MPHA meeting. Prevalence and Correlates of Cigarette Smoking among High School Students in Maine Titilola Balogun, DrPH and current MPH student… Read more >>

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Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online: An Overview

Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online
There is a critical need for professionals with public health degrees today. The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) estimates that by the year 2020, the United States will be facing a shortfall of at least 250,000 public health workers. If you’re interested in improving the lives of others through building one-on-one relationships, conducting research or analyzing numbers, public health may be the field for you. Public health students are diverse and dedicated people who demonstrate a passion for improving public health. Public health graduates can find employment in the public or private sector, within non-profit organizations, or in health departments at the local, state, and federal levels. The University of New England offers two fully articulated online graduate… Read more >>

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Program Director Spotlight: Dr. Nang Tin Maung, Public Health Program

Nang Tin Maung Program Director, Public Health Program
Dr. Nang Tin Maung is the Program Director for the Graduate Programs in Public Health at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. She talks about her experience in public health, how she encourages her faculty to foster a sense of community, and how she feels that the program prepares students for life after graduation. Can you tell me a little about your background and what drew you to UNE Online? I have a BA in Biology from Simon’s Rock College, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and an MPH in Global Health from Harvard School of Public Health. I decided to make a full career transition… Read more >>

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CGPS Team Presents at CETL Faculty Workshop

CGPS Staff Faculty with with the poster results of their CETL mini-grant-funded research project
Each year, the University of New England’s Center for the Enrichment of Teaching and Learning (CETL) offers mini-grants to support research into the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to faculty and staff. In Spring 2017, Titi Balogun, Practicum Coordinator for the Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online, convened a team of co-investigators to create an application for research funding for this program. Joining Titi were Sharla Willis, Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator for the Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online, and Richard Parent, Director of Assessment at UNE Online. The goal of the project, which is the first College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) proposal to receive funding through this program, was to gain insight… Read more >>

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Ambassador Spotlight: Emily Bartlett, MPH Program

Emily Bartlett, MPH Student
UNE Online Ambassadors have been recognized by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies for being exemplary students and enthusiastic members of the UNE Online community. UNE Online Ambassadors serve as liaisons between our extended community and UNE Online, setting a precedent and standard for what it means to be a UNE Online student and community member. Emily Bartlett is a public health student and noted UNE Online Ambassador. Can you tell me a little about your background, and why you chose to earn your MPH at UNE Online? I’m from Maine, so I’ve known about UNE for a long time now. I got my undergraduate degree at The University of King’s College in Nova Scotia, majoring in International Development… Read more >>

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Changes in the MPH Curriculum at UNE Online

MPH curriculum change
The Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online is pleased to announce changes to the MPH curriculum for students who started in or after May 2018. These changes are to make sure that our curriculum aligns with new competencies published by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2016, and to improve student outcomes. That said, if you began your program earlier, it would still be beneficial to review the changes to the MPH curriculum and follow the suggested order of classes, which is designed to enhance your learning and success. Other changes have taken place program-wide or within electives, and are of benefit to all students no matter when you began your studies with UNE Online.… Read more >>

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How to Find a Public Health Practicum Site

How to Find a Public Health Practicum Site
Everyone needs to complete a practice experience, but finding a practicum site can be a challenge. Recently we sat down with Dr. Titilola Balogun to discuss best practices in finding a practicum site that fits your professional goals. Begin with the end in mind The number one piece of advice when thinking about your practicum placement is to think about what you want to do with your MPH. Looking for a practicum is very similar to searching for a job. Actually, it’s the exact same process – and in many cases, it’s easier to find a practicum than it is a job because many health departments and public health organizations are generally happy to have students willing to work in… Read more >>

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Career Services for the Graduate Programs in Public Health

Career Services at UNE Online Public Health
Career Services in the Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online is a resource dedicated to supporting the career success of graduate public health students through individual career counseling, development, and online training workshops. Career Services facilitates the connection of UNE Public Health students with the resources and skills they need to drive their career development. We spoke to Jennifer Healy, Public Health Career Services Advisor, about her steps toward developing this program, and her vision for its future. “I think it’s important to get students thinking about career possibilities right from the start,” says Healy. To this end, she is currently working on writing and producing the curriculum for a series of career workshops, targeted specifically to… Read more >>

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Why Work in Public Health? Ten Reasons to Choose a Public Health Career

10 reasons to choose a career in public health
The field of public health is burgeoning with growth and opportunities. Work in public health is constantly evolving in response to the needs of populations around the world – because at its core public health deals with the issue of the health of people and their communities. Public health workers work to improve the conditions and behaviors that affect health. Broadly speaking, they track, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, promote healthy lifestyles, research disease and injury prevention, and work to limit health disparities. Public Health is everywhere, and public health initiatives affect people every single day in virtually every part of the world. The reasons people choose to work in public health are as diverse as the people themselves.… Read more >>

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Student Spotlight: Dr. Puneet Saini, MPH Program

Dr. Puneet Saini Student in the Master of Public Health MPH program at UNE Online
Dr. Puneet Saini is a native of Madison, WI, and a second-year MPH student at UNE Online. Having completed his M.D., he is looking to complement and add more value to his education, and also delve more deeply into the realms of public administration and policy-making in order to bring about change on a global level. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? I was born in America and come from a multi-cultural family. Growing up in this diverse mix of different ethnicities and cultures made me very aware of the world, and I learned early on to respect other people’s values, ideas, and ways of life.… Read more >>

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GPPH Volunteer Week Challenge, Winter 2017

GPPH Team Volunteer Work
UNE Online’s Graduate Programs in Public Health (GPPH) recently held our first Volunteer Week challenge! Our goal was to encourage UNE students and public health professionals everywhere to facilitate meaningful community service activities with a public health focus. The UNE GPPH community shared photos of how they gave back this season, and we created a special Facebook album, titled #uneonlinegivesback just for these photos. We were definitely inspired by what we received. As an added bonus we proposed a contest to our GPPH students – a free textbook for the best photo submission. MPH student Jensen was the winner with her adorable photo volunteering for the Rescued n’ Ready Animal Foundation in Tulsa, OK. The GPPH Team Gives Back! Not… Read more >>

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