Student Spotlight: Jon Yee, MPH ’23 (Health Care Management)

Why did you choose the Yale School of Public Health?

I chose the Yale School of Public Health because because I felt being a part of the community would offer opportunities to learn and engage in conversations with like-minded people dedicated to finding innovative solutions to bettering our health systems. As a first-generation college student, this also felt like an opportunity to pay my experiences forward by inspiring other students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue their dreams in advancing their education.

What were you doing before enrolling at YSPH?

Prior to YSPH, I spent my time working at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I supported their rehabilitation medicine department, specifically working with their regional clinics located throughout Western Washington. My focus areas included working on patient access, process improvement, and COVID-19 change management. I was also actively involved with supporting my department as Seattle Children’s rolled out its Anti-Racism Organizational Change plan.

What are your favorite aspects of the YSPH academic program?

My favorite aspects of the YSPH academic program include the opportunities to explore the various intersectional topics with public health and the strong alumni network. I have enjoyed taking courses in the Jackson School of Global Affairs and the Yale School of Management, as it allows the opportunity to stretch my thinking and engage with peers from richly diverse backgrounds about how topics such as business and international relations play a role in the U.S. health care system. I have also found the alumni network quite valuable in helping expand my understanding of various career opportunities, because alumni so often come back to Yale to share their experiences and provide mentorship.

What was your most impactful experience outside of class?

I think being involved with the Yale Health Care Conference has been my most impactful experience outside of class. I am passionate about providing a platform to bring together a community of health care professionals, especially underrepresented backgrounds, together to talk about the current state of our health care system, and how we can work together to make sustainable and impactful change.

Do you have a favorite Yale place or New Haven food?

I love getting brunch; Bella’s Cafe has some of the best brunch I’ve had. Make sure to get there early because there is always a line out the door!

What do you hope to do after graduation?

I plan to explore roles in various settings within the health care industry, so I can continue gaining perspectives about how different players are doing impactful work. I enjoyed my internship experience at CVS Health because I was able to apply concepts I’ve learned in my courses to solve business problems, while also utilizing my past experience working in a hospital setting. This is an example of the growth I want to continue after graduation: I want to be in new environments where I can apply my experience and think outside the box to find innovative and sustainable changes to better the health care system.