SPHIS Home » News » Q&A with SPHIS Alumna Ruby Young
Q&A with SPHIS Alumna Ruby Young
Name: Ruby Young
Degree: BS in Public Health, BS in Psychology
Graduation Date: 2023
How did you find out about UofL SPHIS?
I was a pre-med student during COVID and felt like it wasn’t really my calling, so I took Dr. Brian Guinn’s Intro to Public Health course on a whim and fell in love with the content!
How did you get interested in the field of public health?
I had a few friends in public health when I was a pre-med student and knew that I wanted to work within the healthcare field due to personal experience with rural healthcare accessibility and affordability as a child. I thought that being a doctor and working face-to-face with patients was the best way to tackle those systemic problems. However, the Intro to Public Health class really opened my eyes and helped me realize that working upstream was a better solution.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I have been studying at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to obtain an MS in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. I graduated in May and am currently job searching for a full-time position in health policy.
How did your experience at SPHIS prepare you for life after graduation?
My SPHIS advisors and courses were INCREDIBLE! Going into grad school, I felt very well prepared academically. I had been exposed to a variety of different professional experiences through my SPHIS advisors and professors which made it possible for me to continue my education.
What advice would you give new students just beginning their public health journey?
- Don’t compare yourself to others – everyone’s journey and aspirations are different
- Stay engaged with major agencies and public health authorities
- Take care of yourself
- Know when to take a step back.
- Always be open-minded and willing to learn
What advice do you have for recent public health graduates?
Network, network, network! And keep your head up! This is a crazy time for public health work and opportunities, so try to stay positive and give yourself grace.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Ruby, feel free to reach out to her onLinkedIn.
