Previous Spotlights
Diane Kim-Meason, Master of Public Health in Community Health Promotion

Year:
First Year
School/Program:
School of Public Health
Master of Public Health in Community Health Promotion
Why did you choose the U and your program?
I chose Minnesota because it was one of the top Schools of Public Health in the country. I wanted a Master in Public Health because when I was growing up, I met immigrants and others with whom I did not share a similar upbringing. I learned about people providing healthcare to immigrants in culturally relevant ways, and it resonated with me because I believe in health as a human right. I want to further this work and provide healthcare and other services to communities in need.
What is something you wished you knew before you started your program?
I wish I knew how more credits were required for my program than for other similar programs within the MPH track.
What resource or service has been essential to your academic success?
My cohort has been amazing! I really appreciate that about the Community Health Promotion program. We've become pretty close in our time together so far.
What are your career goals after finishing your degree?
Stay tuned!
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
The Pioneer Room during seed starting for the Interprofessional Garden! All the seedlings are green and cute.
Carolina Rocha, CHIP Staff, Neuroscience major, with minors in Public Health and Anthropology
Kaueh Boyer-Holanda, Master of Arts in Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching

School/Program:
Master of Arts in Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching program with the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing
What activities at CHIP/BeWELL do you support?
I am currently enjoying my experience interning with BeWell as a Health Coach for health professional students. It provides perspective on what my journey could look like as an aspiring health coach who wants to work with students. However, I also enjoy participating in the PAWS program whenever I am on campus.
Why did you choose the U and your program?
I chose the U of M over other universities because I wanted to be a part of an institution that was known for the communities they build as well as being close to my parents. Choosing my program took some time and self-exploration into my joys in life given my broad degree in psychology. It took about 2 years before I landed on a program that sparked some interest. I found this program by meeting with one of its contributors/founders who highly recommended me being a part of it given my passion for holistic health. It fed my need to help others in their health and wellness journeys.
What is something you wished you knew before you started your program?
I wish I had a list of well-known health coaches to review their material and even sessions to have an idea of what to aspire to. Also meeting with more alumni from this program would have helped in understanding the journey to becoming a health coach.
What resource or service has been essential to your academic success?
A service that has helped me in my journey to academic success is the library and their librarians given their understanding of how to effectively conduct research. I also want to highlight my professor's willingness to make time for students outside of class to provide help and/or guidance.
What are your career goals after finishing your degree?
My career goals are to find a place that works with college students to better my practice working with students. From there build connections to create new opportunities to bring this profession to Latino communities given the lack of variation in holistic care.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
My favorite place on campus is either the Recwell Center given how much time I spent there during my undergrad with friends or the Washington Ave bridge given how much time I spent biking across it during the winter and spring.
Hawking Yam, School of Public Health

Year:
4th Year PhD Candidate
School/Program:
School of Public Health, Health Service Research, Policy & Administration
Why did you choose the U and your program?
I’ve always been passionate about dementia research, and a big part of that comes from my grandma’s dementia progression. The U and our program have a strong research background on dementia and long-term care, which really drew me in. Plus, I love the flexibility of my program that allows me to explore different areas of emphasis and collaborate with faculty from diverse backgrounds, which has been invaluable in shaping my research.
What is something you wished you knew before you started your program?
First of all, I really wish I had known just how cold Minnesota winters can get! But aside from that, I wish I had realized earlier how important it is to manage your own mental health as a PhD student. This journey is long and challenging, and life can be tough, but taking care of your mental well-being is absolutely essential—not just for personal balance but for academic success too!
What resource or service has been essential to your academic success?
I was fortunate to learn about BeWELL during my first year in the program and even had the opportunity to serve as the student co-chair. Through BeWELL I’ve connected with students from different programs and built a broader network. What makes BeWELL unique is that it's the first and only organization on campus led by students, staff, and faculty from across the health sciences and specifically designed to support the well-being of health sciences students. Recently, our division even added BeWELL programming to our resource list to further promote well-being among grad students, which I’m really excited about!
What are your career goals after finishing your degree?
Right after graduating from my PhD program, I’ll be joining McKinsey & Company as an associate. In the next five to ten years, I hope to leverage my industry knowledge and research background to make a meaningful impact in the senior care policy field.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
The tunnels! Honestly, these connected tunnels have been a lifesaver and probably saved me from “hypothermia.”
Mary O'Rourke, Medical School

Year:
MS1
School/Program:
Medical School
Why did you choose the U and your program?
Besides its outstanding reputation, UMN offers so many opportunities and resources to its students and I have the privilege to receive my medical training in an exceptional network of hospitals and clinics from physicians who are committed to advancing medicine and improving patient care. Our faculty make themselves available for questions and are very willing to mentor as my colleagues and I explore our interests and begin to narrow our career goals in terms of specialty practice. I have met such wonderful people at UMN and feel honored to know that the friends I have made will be my colleagues for life!
What is something you wished you knew before you started your program?
I knew medical school would be hard. But I didn't know the mental and emotional toll it would take. It can feel isolating at times, and I certainly have had moments of doubt. I wish I had known how important it is to lean on my people right from the get-go. The academic rigor can make it feel hard to balance everything, but connecting with my support system keeps my energy high and my focus strong.
What resource or service has been essential to your academic success?
It has been an honor to serve as a student co-chair for BeWELL since the start of the academic year. BeWELL offers such great resources for students to detach from academics, connect with one another, and engage in fun activities that inspire creativity and curiosity. It is important to put the flashcards down and engage with these things to help prevent burnout and also make new connections!
What are your career goals after finishing your degree?
After earning my degree I'll (hopefully) match into residency. It is important to me that I bring my passion and tenacity into my career as a physician. I intend to contribute toward advancing my chosen field (which is still tbd!) through investigation and quality improvement initiatives. Before coming to medicine I was a professional dancer, and I am curious to explore the intersection of arts and medicine as my career unfolds. I can't define exactly what that looks like, but I'll figure it out as I go!
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
RecWell! Moving my body fulfills me like nothing else does :)
Isabella Michal, Veterinary Medicine

Year:
3rd
School/Program:
College of Veterinary Medicine
Why did you choose the U and your program?
I took an unconventional route to veterinary medicine. From middle school to junior year of my undergraduate degree, I planned to be a human medical doctor. I was inspired by my mother, Kelly, an incredible nurse; and my sister, Genevieve, who has been unbelievably resilient in the face of chronic illness. Hearing their personal experiences with healthcare, I was impassioned about revolutionizing the field of medicine. At New College of Florida, I started completing medical school requirements while pursuing a Biology degree. I am eternally grateful that I decided to take Dr. Peter Cook's introductory psychology class. Dr. Cook told me about the non-traditional veterinarians he'd worked with on marine and neuroscience research. This was a critical point, though it would be multiple years until I formally switched to pursuing veterinary medicine. In the meantime, I fervently pursued human-related health experiences. I worked on a public health exhibition with the National Library of Medicine, became vice president of the pre-med club, and completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course. Despite making progress toward my goal, I felt a deep nag within. I soothed this nag by taking some courses based solely on my interests in marine biology and neuroscience. New College of Florida empowered me to forge an individual path by offering independent study projects and personalized tutorials. Through these experiences, I was able to get advanced training so that I could assist with Dr. Cook's neuroscience research. My older brother and best friend, Emerson, recognized my enthusiasm for animals and regularly suggested that I make it my career. He was wise beyond his years, but my eyes would not be uncovered until I suffered significant loss. Emerson passed away from cancer in the spring of my sophomore year. I decided to honor him by living authentically and dedicating myself to the service of others. I had an epiphany on how I could do that during my junior year. While studying for the MCAT, a practice question on scrapie in sheep particularly resonated with me. It was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be a non-traditional veterinarian.
Why UMN?
I was born in Minnesota but have lived in Florida for most of my life. That being said, the years I spent on our familial free-range beef cattle farm in Roseau, MN were especially formative for me. Additionally, I still have family ties to MN since I have aunts, uncles, and a grandparent which reside here. I applied to both the University of Florida and the University of Minnesota so I could be near family. When I came to the College of Veterinary Medicine on Admitted Students Day, I fell in love with the campus climate: it was warm, nurturing, and accepting. Coming to the University of Minnesota for me was like coming home.
What is something you wished you knew before you started your program?
I wish I had known how to prioritize self-care with a never-emptying agenda. It felt like there was not enough time since there was always another deadline. "School comes first." I learned that you need to prioritize your well-being first and foremost. By taking care of your physical and mental health through exercise, regular sleep, and a balanced diet you actually have more to give rather than less!
What resource or service has been essential to your academic success?
New College of Florida's Career Engagement and Opportunities has helped me with writing successful applications for fellowships and veterinary externships. I am grateful for the connections I made at my alma mater.
What are your career goals after finishing your degree?
I consider service to be one of my main core values. I am commissioned with the US Army Veterinary Corps and am honored that I will be serving my country upon graduation.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
This might sound odd but my favorite place is the Gortner Avenue Parking Ramp. I have so many memories of chatting with classmates in the stairwell. As a Floridian, I also appreciate the short walk to the classroom during the height of winter.