Many different roads can lead to medical school. At the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Denese Kellier found both a path to that eventual goal and a foundation for the type of thoughtful doctor she plans to be.
Kellier looked to diversify her education after earning a degree in biomedical sciences. With the long-term goal of becoming a medical doctor, she landed in January at Stempel College in pursuit of a Master of Public Health degree (MPH).
“I feel like it definitely bridges the gap in knowledge because my bachelor's degree was STEM-based,” she says. “It was math, science, all of that.”
Today, Kellier takes courses that cover human behavior and public policy as well as incorporate real-life scenarios into the curriculum.
The latter fed her interest in looking at public health concerns from different perspectives. For example, when one of her professors asked students about issues they would like to be addressed in class by guest speakers, Kellier brought up the subject of pregnant women who are incarcerated.
That suggestion, which the professor seized on, reflects Kellier’s interest in maternal health — she is enrolled in the college’s Maternal and Child Health track — and her plan to one day work as a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She hoped to hear firsthand how such women are treated before, during and after delivery — they remain handcuffed throughout, Kellier learned — and what happens to the baby.
Kellier is currently researching the association between income and the uptake of breastfeeding. She is also looking at maternal mortality, particularly with regard to black women. According to official U.S. government statistics, that group of mothers has the highest rate of death related to childbirth of any tracked population.
An inquiring nature
Her innate curiosity has not gone unnoticed.
“Denese has a really inquisitive and profound way of thinking about things, like the questions that she asks in class and in discussions,” says Rumi Agarwal, an assistant professor of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
“The angle that she presents and brings up in conversation is really unique and brings a different perspective to what we're talking about in the class. She's not the kind of student who just agrees with her peers. She’s the one who will pause and think, ‘But what about this situation?’ And it really adds to the vibrancy of the class discussion.”
Impressed by her critical thinking skills and active engagement, Agarwal encouraged Kellier to apply for a volunteer ambassador position with the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). The organization promotes education and research, advocates for policies that improve public health and develops initiatives to address pressing health concerns.
Kellier now joins 70 other graduate students at 47 institutions across the country as they share their experiences to recruit new students into the field; host virtual events around related topics; and participate in social media “takeovers” to provide their unique perspectives on various public health career paths.
A personal and professional fit
Diving deep into public health has been nothing short of transformative for the aspiring medical practitioner.
“There's so much you can learn, about yourself as well as about different topics,” she explains of her journey toward the master’s degree. She believes the education at Stempel College is both boosting her knowledge and preparing her to approach medicine with consideration for patients’ different backgrounds and life experiences.
The latter, in particular, means a lot to Kellier as she still remembers a doctor visit that did not go well. The physician asked questions in a manner she felt was disrespectful, both to herself and her mother, who had accompanied Kellier as she was still a minor.
“From then on,” Kellier recalls of the poor encounter that confirmed how she would do things differently, “I’ve said, ‘I want to be better than that.’”
With a strong foundation on which to continue to grow, she’s on her way.