Epidemiology Personal Statement

Valerie Simmet

Statement of Purpose and Objectives

My decision to enroll in the Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology program at the University of Delaware was driven by my fascination with the role that public health plays in the health of millions across the globe, as well as from my desire to improve the health and lives of others. For as long as I can remember, my life has been centered around the primary goal of helping people. I have always been intrinsically motivated to take care of others when they are unwell, and, throughout my life, this instinct to nurture has guided my actions as I searched for a way in which I could apply my penchant for helping others to a satisfying career path.

Upon first beginning my undergraduate career

While I already know that I am passionate about working in public health, this program would expose me to epidemiology content areas such as cancer and chronic disease, disaster and emergency preparedness and response, and public health surveillence that I have not yet studied thus far. This would be an invaluable opportunity for me to explore the different facets of public health to discover what I find myself gravitating towards. In addition, the applied practice experience and integrative learning experience outlined in the program are especially exciting to me, as they would provide me with invaluable training and work experience to prepare me for working in a public health setting. This real-world experience working in the field would help me learn how to perform as a leader in this environment and prepare me for the various issues that may arise in my future career in the diverse field of public health, which is why this program would be extremely influential in helping me achieve my professional

This was most notably achieved through the opportunities the program provided for internships, learning practicums, and job shadowing, where I have been able to experiment with working in different fields of health sciences to get an idea of what felt like the best fit for me. The experience that was the most instrumental in shaping my approach to public health was the internship I had in the spring of my senior year at UD with Ivy Rehab, a physical therapy clinic in Newark. Through the course of my internship, I was able to get an accurate real-world example of what life would be like working in a clinic-based setting. That internship, among others, gave me the opportunity to discover things about myself that I wouldn't have otherwise known had I not had that experience, and for that, I am grateful. I found my groove working as a physical therapy aid and intern in my at Ivy Rehab and in the process, I was able to quell fears of the lingering voice in my head that told me I should give the idea of becoming a physical therapist a shot. In my time there I learned so much, including the fact that a future as a physical therapist was not for me, but in the