Student Profile: Brea M.

What made you choose a path and career in community health? 
“During my undergraduate degree I researched the molecular underpinnings of apathy in Parkinson’s disease, and wanted to scale up to interacting with persons living with the disease. The best way to do this was through a program in public health, where I had access to a variety of professors and doctors that work daily with persons with Parkinson’s. It is fulfilling because giving people the opportunity to tell their stories and learn from their experiences is important. I think older adults are often underappreciated, and as scientists we can learn so much by asking them to tell us about their experiences with the diseases we are researching.” 

Why did you choose to attend the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary? 
“I completed a summer internship in 2015 with a CHS student and during this time was introduced to the wide range of research you could pursue within the program. The variety of specializations ranging from biostatistics to health services research was appealing to me because it meant I would be in a program with a variety of different students with different research interests, which always keeps the learning environment interesting.” 

What was it like when you first started? 
“All students start with block week, which is basically five days of introduction to the program, people, and some more general public health content. This was a great opportunity to meet my cohort. Faculty are also present during block week and they even attend the social events. I found this really helpful because you had the chance to chat with faculty in a more casual setting before you start classes. This made the first day of the semester much less intimidating! Block week really set the overall tone of collaboration and support - both in the learning environment and overall student attitude.” 

Looking back, what made the experience unique? 
“I enjoyed the variety of students at different points in their career, all with unique perspectives on the healthcare system that largely contributed to meaningful discussions both inside and outside the classroom.” 

What are your thoughts on the CHS academic experience and research environment? 
“The CHS academic experience provides the unique opportunity to complete a number of courses ranging from biostatistics to epidemiology and qualitative research methods. This enhanced my academic experience by providing me with a variety of research environments and collaborators to work with - opening the door to more collaborative projects.” 

What was your extracurricular involvement? 
“I was involved with the Student Executive team for three years (two years during my MSc, and one year during my PhD). It was a great opportunity to get to know my fellow students, plan events and interact with faculty and staff to get them involved in student lead initiatives.” 

Did any specific faculty or classes help shape your future interests and educational path? 
“I have been working with my supervisors and thesis committee since 2015, when I did an undergraduate internship all the way through to my PhD. They are an amazing group of physicians and researchers that support me at every step in my career development. I left every meeting feeling recharged and encouraged to continue working through the mess that can be completing a thesis based graduate degree.” 

In what ways did Community Health Sciences prepare you for your professional career? 
“It is my goal to become a clinician researcher, and my time here has prepared me to critically think about how to execute quality research with real life outcomes that are focused on the needs of those most directly affected by the research topic. Community Health Sciences has also provided me with the training to know what methods to employ, and how to critically appraise those methods so that I understand the strengths and weaknesses of my own research, and the research within my field.” 

How did studying in Calgary affect your opportunities for professional development? 
“Going to school in Calgary helped shape my academic networks. Through the Calgary Movement Disorder Clinic, I was able to build strong connections with doctors and persons with Parkinson’s disease (as well as their caregivers). Researching with key stakeholder is an 
important part of any public health research, and the relationships I have built over time continue to develop and grow into meaningful projects with real life outcomes.” 

Looking back, what advice would you give your past self - or to future students starting the program? 
“Use your course work as a means to generate content for your thesis. CHS is a very course intensive program, and using the courses to your advantage will help a lot as your progress from the coursework into thesis work and research.” 

Looking ahead, what are your future goals? 
“I recently was accepted into the Leaders in Medicine program at the University of Calgary, where I will complete a joint PhD/MD. Overall, I aim to be a clinician researcher that works to improve the overall quality of care - and quality of life - for seniors living with neurodegenerative diseases.”