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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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 >>
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Alumni Spotlight: Mae L'Heureux, MPH Program

Mae L’Heureux is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health program. During her time in the program Mae served as Membership Co-Chair of the APHA-SA, and Member of the Graduate Programs in Public Health Advisory Committee here at UNE Online. Recently we had a chat about her experience in the program, how she liked the online format, and how getting her Master of Public Health is enhancing her professional career in youth mental health management. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? I discovered my interest in public health in a somewhat roundabout way. I began working in the mental health field after experiencing… Read more >>
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Policy - An Interprofessional Approach

A series of illustrated, intertwined gears to depict how How our online, interprofessional public policy course works Have you ever wondered what people mean when they talk about policy? What is it? Who needs it? How does it work? Why should I care about it? UNE Online’s new public policy course, Policy: An Interprofessional Approach (GPH 702) is a great way to find out answers to these questions. You will work with students from other disciplines to better understand how policy impacts individuals, communities and populations and the importance of cross-sector collaboration and partnerships. What is Policy? Public policy refers to any federal, state, or local government action that influences individual or agency behavior. It can be laws, executive orders, regulations, ordinances, court rulings, appropriations, or board and committee decisions. Government decision-making impacts all of us personally… 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 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 >>
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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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Announcing the New Service Cord for GPPH!

Public Health Service Cord Announcement Service – it’s a word that means different things to different people. As public health professionals, we think of service opportunities as activities done outside of our regular work or program of study that allow us to use our passion and expertise to help make our professions, communities, and ultimately, our world a better place. If you embrace community service opportunities during your public health studies, you could be recognized with a service cord at graduation. Service is giving back to our profession and to our community, not for financial gain, but with the only expectation being improvements in health outcomes in our communities. Whether you are an established public health professional gaining your advanced degree, or new to the… 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: 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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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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Alumni Spotlight: Mansoor Shafqat, GPPH Program

Mansoor Shafqat, MPH Student Mansoor Shafqat is a public health graduate student at UNE Online, residing in California. He has had many life changes while enrolled in his program, including becoming a new parent, so he finds the flexibility of the online public health program to be essential to his success as a student. We spoke with him recently about his experience with the program. Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? I received my Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior Health from the University of California, Davis, and I am currently more than halfway through the Master’s of Public Health program here at the University of New England. I… 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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Free Community Event: Screening of the Documentary Resilience

Resilience movie screening free community event UNE Online and the Junior League of Portland have teamed up again this year and are proud to present the documentary Resilience: The Biology of Stress & Science of Hope. The event will begin 5:30 pm with opening remarks from Arabella Perez, LCSW of UNE’s Master of Social Work program, to discuss her work with trauma-informed care. The screening will follow. About the documentary Resilience This 68-minute documentary delves into the science of ACEs and the birth of a new worldwide movement to treat and prevent Toxic Stress. The movie premiered at Sundance Film Festival to sold-out houses. Resilience is the second documentary by director James Redford (son of Robert Redford) that addresses ACEs. The first was Paper Tigers,… Read more >>
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Meet Our Team: Zachary York

Zachary York, Student Support Specialist Meet Zac York, a Student Support Specialist for our Graduate Programs in Public Health (GPPH). Zac started at UNE Online about a year ago and he’s been having a great time ever since. Zac and his team have a lot of fun, and he genuinely enjoys working with them. Zac’s great listening skills, positive attitude and sense of humor make him a strong asset to his team members as well as the students he works with. 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.… Read more >>
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UNE Online Graduate Programs in Public Health at APHA 2017

APHA 2017 APHA 2017 was a HUGE success! This year the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo was held in Atlanta, GA and there were more than 12,000 public health professionals from around the world 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 Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health, 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 meeting. In addition to the sessions listed below, the following GPPH adjunct faculty also presented: Wenjie Sun Arduizur (Carli) Richie-Zavaleta Rebekah Doyle… Read more >>
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Announcing Graduate Programs in Public Health Mini-Grant Program

Public Health Mini-Grant The University of New England School of Social Work The UNE School of Social Work prepares students for advanced professional practice and is accredited to offer the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree by the Council on Social Work Education.   The UNE School of Social Work offers several online and on-campus options for those interested in getting their MSW degree. All options use the same curriculum taught by the School faculty.  In addition to our regular 2-year, full-time program and part-time options, we feature an accelerated option that enables eligible students to obtain an MSW degree in a shorter timeframe. Master of Social Work The MSW degree program prepares graduates to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in… Read more >>
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Student Spotlight: Carley Anderson, MPH – Public Health Program

Carley Anderson MPH Student I came to the field of public health nearly by happenstance. I had just finished my undergraduate degree in music which, while fulfilling, didn’t equip me with tangible ways to make a meaningful, practical difference in my community. After graduation, I began working as an administrator in a medical clinic at a military installation, and a year later was assigned to work in the public health program despite no previous experience. I quickly saw public health was a field with unending opportunities – constant opportunities to learn, to benefit the community, and to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. I began networking with other public health staff in similar roles, and soon developed a strong relationship with… Read more >>
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Public Health Credentialing: Seven Public Health Certifications

Public Health Credentialing 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 >>
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UNE in the Maine Public Health Community and Beyond

University of New England at the American Public Health Association This month has been a busy one for the Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE! Various faculty and staff members were in attendance at three different events – two local Maine Public Health conferences, and a national conference in Denver, Colorado. At each event our program staff noticed a strong trend toward students actively seeking out Public Health programs delivered 100% online. Seems that public sentiment is now beginning to reflect what we have known for a quite some time now – online education is equal to – and in some aspects superior to – an on-ground education. Starting with the first event of the month and ending with the most recent, the following is a brief overview of… Read more >>
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Student Spotlight: Amber Auger RDH, MPH – Public Health Program

Amber Auger, MPH Student Doors have flown open for Amber Auger since earning her MPH online at UNE. Growing up in a single parent family, Amber was taught from a young age to to value education. “My mom wanted me to get a great education so I wouldn’t have to work three jobs every day, like she did.” says Amber. Amber took her mom’s advice to heart. It was at a very young age that Amber decided that dental hygiene would be the direction that she would take her career. She’d always been interested in dental health, and she later came to realize that choosing that career came with the added benefits of great pay and a flexible schedule. For her undergraduate education, Amber… Read more >>
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