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MPH student builds communications skills through patient outreach

Heather Carroll — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:05:25 +0000

MPH student builds communications skills through patient outreach   Heather Carroll Mon, 08/31/2026 - 15:05

Communication and trust are key to public health. In situations involving sensitive health topics, effective communication and trust can make the difference between a patient feeling supported and a patient choosing not to engage. For 911�� graduate student Ryen Middleton, his practicum showed him firsthand how important it is to meet patients where they are.

Ryen Middleton, MPH '26. Photo Provided

Middleton recently earned his master's in public health with a concentration in community health promotion, after completing his practicum with Maryland’s Frederick County Health Department as a certified HIV counselor. During the practicum, he developed skills in patient communication, outreach strategies, and health education, which are essential for public health professionals working in community settings.

As an HIV counselor, Middleton managed patients' health histories and helped them navigate their diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of communication skills in patient care and public health.

“What I have learned most is, when discussing sensitive topics with individuals, everybody's process and journey is different,” Middleton said. “Just because we are all on the same page does not mean communication will look the same.”

Middleton discovered that difficult topics such as HIV status can make a patient reluctant and unwilling to answer questions or participate in treatment. “There is still a lot of reluctance with engaging clients. When the sole purpose is to support a person's needs, people still find it really hard to engage.” Middleton said.

Applying Classroom Lessons in Practice

“I loved the community I made at 911��,” said Middleton, who earned a bachelor of arts in global affairs from 911�� in 2022. “Whenever I started to doubt myself or my ability, there was always someone there to remind me of what I am capable of.”

Middleton cited his professor, Sara Pappa, as a main source of support and mentorship during his education, teaching him new ways to combat patients' reluctance.

“Community Assessments and Partnerships with Dr. Pappa definitely taught me how to ask questions to get the answers I needed,” said Middleton. “Thinking about her lectures also reminded me that some people are not going to engage, and I just need to be okay with that. I thought about her advice a lot while completing my practicum.”

Middleton claimed a highlight of the program was the support and flexibility of his professors, especially Dr. Megan Dubois and Dr. René Najera, saying, “What I liked most about the program was the professors’ willingness to incorporate student feedback. It was not always possible, but for classes that were smaller in size, it always felt more like a conversation rather than a lecture.”

Prepared for the Workforce

His practicum, applied coursework, and internship opportunities built his hands-on skills in a modern medical environment and helped him feel prepared and motivated to handle professional situations confidently.

Middleton plans on becoming a program evaluator, working with different public health systems to help them best support their community. His diverse experiences, including his practicum and internships, have prepared him for various roles in public health, such as program evaluation, community outreach, and health policy development; illustrating potential career pathways for MPH graduates.

Learn more about the MPH program at 911��.

Key Takeaways

As a certified HIV counselor with the Frederick County Health Department in Maryland, Ryen Middleton gained firsthand experience helping patients navigate sensitive health conversations with empathy and trust.
Drawing lessons from his 911�� MPH coursework, Middleton strengthened his skills in patient communication, community outreach, and health education during his practicum.
Faculty mentorship, hands-on learning, and real-world public health experience helped prepare Middleton for a career supporting communities through program evaluation and outreach.

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Practicum experience enhances this MPH student’s research insights

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:03:53 +0000

Practicum experience enhances this MPH student’s research insights Mary Cunningham Fri, 08/28/2026 - 10:03

Key Takeaways

911�� MPH student Keya Chilka used her practicum at WRMA to expand her research skills and explore how business development and research work together to advance public health initiatives.
Through projects focused on older adults, child welfare, and the use of AI in adult protective services, Chilka contributed to research that addresses underserved populations and emerging public health challenges.
Chilka says her MPH coursework and practicum broadened her understanding of public health, showing how health outcomes are shaped by social systems such as child welfare, education, housing, and community support.

Learn More About Our MPH Students and Program

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Keya Chilka has always been drawn to work that improves the lives of vulnerable populations. Her experiences working at Ramapo for Children, a nonprofit that serves youth with social-emotional challenges and developmental disabilities, confirmed her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and inspired her interest in improving the systems and services that support them.

Key Chilka, a Master of Public Health student at 911��. Photo provided.

To gain the skills needed to improve health and well-being, Chilka is in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, concentrating in Health Equity and Social Justice at 911��.

"Seeing public health in action through my coursework and practicum has redefined my understanding of the field," said Chilka. "This broader perspective has helped me understand that improving health and well-being requires addressing the social systems that shape people's lives."

While pursuing her degree, Chilka works as a senior research associate at WRMA, a subsidiary of TriMetrix, Inc, which supports health and human service agencies. For her MPH practicum, she stepped into a different role at WRMA to explore how research and business development work together. The practicum provides students with the opportunity to practice and improve professional skills in a supervised setting.

Chilka shares how the flexibility of 911��’s MPH program allowed her to learn more about the company she already worked for and how her practicum taught her how business development and research intersect in support of public health.

How was your practicum different from your regular work at WRMA?

Although I already worked at the company, my practicum allowed me to experience a different side of the organization. My day-to-day role focuses on direct project work in child welfare research, while my practicum placed me with WRMA's business development research work group.

The business development team focuses on building strategic partnerships, identifying new funding opportunities, and developing products that showcase WRMA's expertise and research capabilities. WRMA was extremely supportive in helping me reach my practicum objectives through this group’s work.

What did you learn from the experience?

One of the biggest things I learned during my practicum was how business development and research intersect. I learned how to identify emerging research areas and develop products that demonstrate an organization's expertise.

Overall, the practicum helped me become a more independent researcher while giving me a broader understanding of how research organizations balance scientific rigor with strategic growth.

What was your main practicum project?

My practicum explored older adults in health and human services research. Older adults are a rapidly growing population but are underrepresented in certain areas of health and human services research. Child abuse and neglect prevention is one of my chief research interests, so I was excited to explore a potential research gap with my supervisor. My major project was conducting a special analysis of older adult perpetrators of child maltreatment using Child Protective Services data from the public-use National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) dataset available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). The analysis examined key characteristics of over 11,000 perpetrators aged 60 and older to help inform prevention and intervention strategies for child maltreatment. The project was designed to highlight WRMA's analytical capabilities while also contributing to a relatively understudied area of child welfare research.

In addition, I supported WRMA’s study examining adult protective services (APS) caseworkers’ perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI) use in APS work processes with a brief literature review. The review highlights characteristics of the older adult population served by APS, illustrates AI’s potential and limitations as a tool within case management, and identifies a clear gap by noting limited research on AI application within APS settings, including input from caseworkers. Research insights from the study will be translated into guidance for APS programs.

Has the MPH program changed how you think about public health?

Seeing public health in action through my coursework and practicum has redefined my understanding of the field. Before pursuing my MPH, I primarily associated public health with disease prevention and viewed my research interests as more closely aligned with social work.

Through my coursework and practicum, I have learned how deeply public health is connected to social systems, including child welfare, education, housing, and community support. This broader perspective has helped me understand that improving health and well-being requires addressing the environments, policies, and systems that shape people's lives.

What do you value about studying at 911��?

One of the things I appreciate most about 911�� is its interdisciplinary approach. It's one of the few universities in the area with dedicated Master of Social Work and MPH programs, which creates unique opportunities for collaboration.

Through the Health Equity and Social Justice concentration, I've been able to learn from faculty across both disciplines and see how they complement one another. This is especially important for child welfare work, which is inherently connected to both social work and public health. I believe this interdisciplinary foundation will prepare me to better address emerging challenges.

MPH student unravels complexities of public health at Fairfax County Health Department internship

Heather Carroll — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:11:26 +0000

MPH student unravels complexities of public health at Fairfax County Health Department internship Heather Carroll Mon, 08/17/2026 - 12:11

Key Takeaways

MPH student Daniel Serruya completed his practicum with the Fairfax County Health Department’s Fairfax Food Council, researching and developing policies to expand access to healthier food and beverage options in county vending machines.
Through the experience, Serruya gained firsthand insight into the complex relationship between health policy, industry practices, and community health outcomes.
Drawing on skills developed in the MPH program, Serruya strengthened his expertise in research, policy analysis, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration as he prepares for a career in health policy.

How do vending machines and health policies influence each other? 911�� graduate student Daniel Serruya explored that question during his Master of Public Health (MPH) practicum with the Fairfax County Health Department’s Fairfax Food Council, where he researched and developed policies designed to increase access to healthier food and beverage options.

MPH student Daniel Serruya, Photo provided

“It surprised me to learn about how past healthy vending policies have shaped what the food and beverage industries have produced since the creation of those policies,” said Serruya, who graduated from 911�� in 2023 with a BS in community health with a concentration in nutrition. “The push and pull between government and industry for a topic as specific as vending machine nutrition is fascinating to learn about.”

As the final component to the MPH program, the practicum provides students with the opportunity to practice and improve professional skills in a supervised setting. For Serruya, who aspires to improve health policy, his project for the health department gave him the experience he was hoping for.

"I learned about the background work that goes into health policies, just how complex and multisectoral something as simple as vending machines can be, and how to effectively network with others across different jurisdictions,” said Serruya.

At the health department, he researched, evaluated, and developed model policies for healthy options in vending machines on Fairfax County property. He says what he learned in his MPH classes was invaluable to getting the most out of his internship.

“The many hours I have spent practicing and refining my research skills and policy analysis have benefited me the most. GCH 611 Health Program Planning and Evaluation helped me evaluate policies effectively. NUTR 626 Food Systems taught me to view healthy vending through a wide lens, from nutrition standards and consumer acceptance to the perspectives of vendors and procurement partners,” he said.

Serruya wants to work in health policy to improve the systems that directly impact people’s lives and communities the most, and the MPH program has helped prepare him for his future as a public health practitioner.

“I love the flexibility of the MPH program as it has allowed me to organize my courses in a manner that interests me and fits my schedule,” said Serruya. “I have immensely appreciated all the faculty and students I have interacted with within the College of Public Health, especially in the Nutrition [and Food Studies] Department where I work and the Office of Student Affairs across the hall from the cooking class that I am a teaching assistant for!”

Through his practicum experience and MPH coursework, Serruya is building the skills needed to pursue a career developing and shaping health policies that improve community health outcomes.

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Practicum and research empower this future public health leader

Mary Cunningham — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:28:03 +0000

Practicum and research empower this future public health leader Mary Cunningham Fri, 09/19/2025 - 20:28

911�� master of public health (MPH) student Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH ’25, describes her practicum experience at Culture Care Collective as a launchpad into the public health field.

Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH '25, Photo provided.

“This experience helped solidify my interest in policy and program evaluation for maternal and community health, which is an area of interest I hold dear to my heart,” she explained. “I strengthened my skills in policy writing and stakeholder engagement, which are all important skills for working in public health policy and advocacy.”

For Addo-Boateng, a first-generation student who graduated in May, her practicum provided a strong foundation for a career in the public health field. She participated in research, evaluation, and communication initiatives at Culture Care Collective—a health equity program aimed at integrating community health workers into university and clinical environments to improve care for underserved populations. During her time with the collective, she wrote a policy brief and a case study, supported the design and analysis of qualitative data on program impact, and co-authored a manuscript summarizing her findings.

Beyond her practicum, Addo-Boateng worked as a graduate research assistant, supporting research led by CPH faculty Rochelle Davidson Mhonde and Michelle S. Williams on fertility desire among women living with HIV. The role allowed her to sharpen her writing, data analysis, and time management skills, while also learning how to communicate research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.

In addition to supporting faculty-led projects, Addo-Boateng pursued her own research at 911��, conducting a policy analysis for the March of Dimes on closing Medicaid postpartum care gaps and addressing maternal mortality disparities. She evaluated three policy approaches through the lenses of effectiveness, efficiency, and feasibility, with an emphasis on justice-oriented solutions, and presented her findings in testimony and peer presentations on how strategic policy changes could reduce costs, strengthen care coordination, and improve maternal health outcomes.

She further demonstrated her skills at the national level by participating in the 2025 National Case Study Competition in Health Education, where her team earned the silver award for their solution to address rising rates of sexually transmitted infection among young adults.

Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH '25. Photo provided.

“I learned how to put research into actionable policy tools that will resonate with diverse stakeholders,” explained Addo-Boateng. “I also learned how important it was to be adaptable, especially when working on interdisciplinary teams and navigating real-world timelines. In my case, I was completing full time studies as a graduate student, working on my research assistant position with my professor Dr. Rochelle Davidson Mhonde, and contributing to my practicum responsibilities.”

Addo-Boateng says she is incredibly grateful for the opportunities she had at the College of Public Health, especially the mentorship and hands-on experiences that helped bring everything together. She believes her time at 911�� has truly prepared her to step into the next phase of her career with confidence and clarity.

For fellow students, she offers this advice, “Choose a practicum that aligns with both your values and your long-term goals. Also, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, as it’s often where the most growth happens! Lastly, take initiative because from my personal experience, my practicum was a launchpad into getting experience in the public health field.”

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From zoonoses to mental health interventions, MPH student’s interdisciplinary research at Mason leads to CDC Fellowship

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:46:17 +0000

From zoonoses to mental health interventions, MPH student’s interdisciplinary research at Mason leads to CDC Fellowship Mary Cunningham Thu, 08/03/2023 - 14:46

Ryan Shelton, a recent graduate of the 911��'s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, accepted a full-time ORISE Fellow position at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. He is part of the Science Team in the Division of Emergency Operations where he works in the emergency preparedness sector preparing reports, interpreting data, and providing recommendations for CDC emergency response processes.

Ryan Shelton. Photo provided

Shelton credits the academic and research opportunities at Mason's College of Public Health for preparing him for this role.

“Mason's MPH program allowed me to gain experience with interdisciplinary research through the diverse classes offered as well as research assistantships like the one I had with Dr. Roess,” Shelton said.

During his program, Shelton worked as a research assistant under Mason researcher Amira Roess performing multiple studies surrounding zoonoses, diseases that can be passed between humans and animals. His primary assignment focused on infectious disease research about the mother-to-child transmission of specific bacteria in rural Bangladesh.

“The goal of this study was to examine bacteria levels in expecting mothers, their immediate households, and any animals they had contact with to determine how many samples of bacteria were in each mother before birth, and about six months after birth,” Shelton said.

In a separate survey-based study, Shelton also tracked human-deer interactions across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Southern Maryland to determine risks of disease spread in urban areas.

“The goal of the deer-human interaction survey is to document where the deer are migrating and gain insight on their geographical placement in urban environments,” said Shelton. “This will help determine the risk of zoonotic disease spread between humans and deer in densely populated areas.”

Both studies necessitated Shelton to have an understanding of infectious disease, animal science, and geography, consistent with the public health practice of One-Health.

Under Roess’s tutelage, Shelton designed surveys, performed literature searches, conducted data analysis, and created figures to visualize data---many of which he is already using in his current role with the CDC.

Versatile communicable and chronic disease research skills

In addition to his work with zoonotic diseases with Roess, Shelton is completing research to address the mental health crisis afflicting public health workers across the globe with Project HOPE, a global nonprofit whose public health work includes improving access to mental health services for all populations.

Shelton recognizes the need to reduce the stigma associated with mental health so health care workers feel they can seek help.

“Prioritizing and normalizing mental health is highly important so the workers can share their concerns and be open to receiving treatment,” he said.

Shelton’s interdisciplinary work with Project HOPE integrates the fields of mental health, public health, sociology, and emergency preparedness and response. He is currently working on a resiliency training program to teach frontline health care workers coping mechanisms for high-stress situations.

“It is an unfortunate reality that health care workers do not often receive the mental health support they need in trying times,” Shelton said. “With Project HOPE, I am working on analyzing and improving a mental health and resilience training program that is implemented to address the mental health crisis for nurses, doctors, and other emergency responders around the world.”

Like his work with Roess, the data analysis and public health program evaluation skills he developed while in Mason’s MPH program have proven to be invaluable.

Mason students pursuing the MPH are instructed in the core public health competencies while also being exposed to the various fields where public health intersects with. Those concentrating in global health, like Shelton, are trained to promote public health worldwide, as well as prevent infections and chronic illnesses.

“I took many classes that exposed me to a variety of sub-fields within the public health sphere,” said Shelton. "Within the MPH global health concentration, courses covered a variety of topics including infectious diseases, human migration patterns, and even biostatistics, but most importantly, how these different areas come together in public health."

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In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

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