Hybrid format allows fire captain to juggle school, family, and a full-time job.
Why did you choose to attend the Yale School of Public Health’s Executive MPH program?
I chose the program because the hybrid format is really attractive. As someone with a family and a full-time job, it’s nice because much of the curriculum is available asynchronously, allowing me the flexibility to watch the lectures on my own schedule. The weekly synchronous sections are great because they tie the content together and allow the opportunity for dialogue with the professors. In addition, the opportunity to have small group discussions with amazing guest lecturers, as well as on-site intensives, is something I wasn’t able to find elsewhere when researching other MPH programs.
What is your current occupation?
Fire/EMS Captain & Director, Mobile Integrated Health Program, West Metro Fire Rescue, Lakewood, Colorado.
What are your favorite aspects of the Executive MPH program?
I love the collaborative spirit of the cohort. The curriculum, faculty, and structure are great; don’t get me wrong. But the relationships I’ve made with the group will last far longer than my time at Yale. I also value the professional experience and expertise of both the faculty and my classmates. The curriculum is so much more meaningful when it can be tied to real-world examples. This program strikes a perfect balance between delivering academic knowledge and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit.
How do you balance working full-time with the demands of the program?
It’s difficult. Time management is another skill that is developed as a byproduct of the program. Luckily, the road map for the semester is laid out from the beginning, allowing you to work ahead and plan accordingly. Also, the content is so interesting, it kind of becomes your personality. Whether it’s group texts with the cohort or watching public health TikToks (it’s a thing), you really become fully immersed in the academic atmosphere. Probably most important for success, though, is that you need to have a great support system. My wife has handled more than her share of solo dinners and bedtimes to make my education possible. I’d be remiss not to mention that success in this program is truly a team effort.
How do you hope to apply the training and education you receive through the EMPH program to your future endeavors?
I’m already using the education to think about problems facing the fire/EMS industry with a completely different mindset. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency management and public health response are truly interconnected. Drawing on inspiration from the program, I’m looking outside of my current role at the fire department to form relationships with other community partners with similar missions.
Would you recommend the Executive MPH program to others, and why?
I fully endorse this program for anyone looking to increase their formal education to maximize their impact at their organization. I’d recommend the EMPH program to working professionals who have experiences from which they can draw to make conversations and projects more robust. As much of the curriculum can be specialized to your current role, the coursework can be immediately beneficial to your job.