Faculty Spotlight: Tracey Spinato, MPH, Public Health Program
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 >> Tags: GPPH | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health Spotlight | public health
Faculty Spotlight: Carry Buterbaugh, Public Health Program
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 >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | public health
Alumni Spotlight: Monica Huelga, MPH
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 >> Tags: Alumni Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | Master of Public Health Spotlight | public health | student | Student Spotlight
CEPH Accreditation in UNE Online Public Health Programs
UNE Online’s Graduate Programs in Public Health are excited to announce our successful reaccreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The Council met June 13-15, 2019 and awarded UNE a 7-year accreditation – the maximum amount of time possible under CEPH guidelines.
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 Health Program Guide
Evolving public health education
The University of New England’s Graduate Programs in Public Health first earned… Read more >> Tags: CEPH Accreditation | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Public Health | MPH | public health
Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Titilola Balogun, Public Health Program
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 >> Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | MPH Faculty Spotlight
What is the difference between Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the Practicum?
To get the inside scoop on the Applied Practice Experience and the Practicum, we spoke with Dr. Titilola Balogun, MBBS, MPH, DrPH, 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.
Dr. Balogun supports students who are about to begin their Practicum or Applied Practice Experience.
What is the difference between Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the 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. The Practicum requirements are simply that the student needs to… Read more >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | public health
Ambassador Spotlight: 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 >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | Master of Public Health Spotlight | public health
UNE Online Graduate Programs in Public Health 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 >> Tags: conference | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | public health
Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online: An Overview
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 >> Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | public health
Program Director Spotlight: Nang Tin Maung, 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 >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | MPH | MPH Faculty Spotlight | public health
CGPS Team Presents at CETL Faculty Workshop
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 >> Tags: assessment | CETL | Graduate Programs in Public Health
Ambassador Spotlight: Emily Bartlett, MPH Program
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 >> 
Tags: 12 Days of Online Learning | Ambassador Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health Alumni | MPH | MPH Student Spotlight | public health | Student Spotlight
Changes in the MPH Curriculum at UNE Online
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 >> Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master’s in Public Health | MPH
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 >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | UNE Online
Career Services for the Graduate Programs in 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 >> 
Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | public health
Why Work in Public Health? Ten Reasons to Choose a Public Health Career
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 >> Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | public | public health
Faculty Spotlight: Jennifer Healy – Public Health Program
Jennifer Healy is Public Health Career Services Advisor for the Graduate Programs in Public Health. We sat down with her recently to talk about her role and how she supports students in the public health program.
Can you tell me a little bit about your background and what drew you to UNE Online?
I’ve had a varied career path – going from consumer goods brand management, to healthcare administration, and then teaching, advising, and career counseling. When I was teaching undergraduates, I enjoyed mentoring and learning from students. I’ve always enjoyed working with people and helping them figure out their goals and then how to identify the steps they need to take to realize those goals.
I joined UNE Online… Read more >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | MPH Faculty Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Dr. Puneet Saini, MPH Program
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 >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | Master of Public Health Spotlight | MPH | MPH Student Spotlight | Student Spotlight
GPPH Volunteer Week Challenge, Winter 2017
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 >> Tags: GPPH | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH
Meet Our Team: Alexandra Legere
Alexandra Legere is an enrollment counselor. She also stars in UNE Online’s Facebook Live videos answering your questions about UNE, the application process, and graduate school. As an enrollment counselor, Allie enjoys hearing the passion in potential student’s voices and working with them as they take charge of their futures by applying to graduate school.
At UNE Online, students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day.
What do you do at UNE Online?
I am an Enrollment Counselor for the Public Health, Applied Nutrition and Health Informatics… Read more >> 
Tags: Enrollment | enrollment counselor spotlight | Graduate Programs in Applied Nutrition | Graduate Programs in Health Informatics | Graduate Programs in Public Health
Public Health Credentialing: Seven Public Health Certifications
See what certification is appropriate for you, whether you go into public health education, public health administration, or if you’re just looking for a general public health certification. Below is information about some common certifications held by public health practitioners, and examples of types of jobs that may require certification after graduation.
While there is no national-level credential for public health, there are various certifications and credentials associated with specific career paths that help you stay at the forefront of your profession.
Why get certified?
Your chosen career path often dictates the best certification for you, or whether you even need to have a certification at all. Earning a credential indicates that you understand the different components of public health… Read more >> 
Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH | public health
How does an online course work at UNE Online?
What does it look like to take an online course?
An online course has the same learning objectives as a traditional course but is presented online through technology. At UNE Online, courses are developed by pairing a subject matter expert with an instructional designer to develop learning experiences that are efficient, pedagogically sound, and appealing.
Using a typical public health course as an example, this post discusses the “who, what, where, when, and how” of taking a class online at the University of New England. We’ll take a look at how this sample online public health course is structured, what’s expected of you, what resources are available to you, and more.
1. Course outline: the syllabus
The majority of online… Read more >> Tags: Enrollment | Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | MPH | Online Learning
Meet Our Team: Carol Le
Carol Le is an Enrollment Counselor here at UNE Online, helping students build their strongest application. In particular, she’s an expert at advising students on their goal statements, and her favorite part of the job is emailing students to congratulate them once they’ve been accepted.
She’s also a restaurant aficionado and is working on trying every restaurant Portland has to offer…which will be an impressive feat once she completes it!
At UNE Online, students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day.
What do you do at UNE… Read more >> Tags: Enrollment | enrollment counselor spotlight | Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH
UNE Online's Nan Solomons Awarded Mini-Grant for Health Informatics Resear
Dr. Nan Solomons, Health Informatics Practicum Coordinator, and Dr. Erin Hartigan, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, were recently awarded a mini-grant by the University of New England’s Office of Sponsored Programs.
The UNE mini-grant program provides funding to support faculty research and scholarship at the University of New England.
Nan, along with co-principal investigator, Dr. Erin Hartigan, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, will use this grant to evaluate the following question: What are the barriers and facilitators to the adoption of and adherence to a criterion‐based rehabilitation progression program post Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction and subsequent effects on outcomes?
In short, Nan and Erin will look at how physical therapists (PTs) adherence to best practices may… Read more >> Tags: Graduate Certificate in Public Health | Graduate Programs in Public Health | Master of Public Health | MPH