Following years of virtual sessions and panels, the return to face-to-face interactions signaled a hopeful step forward to foster in-depth relations. 

Hosted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Department of Public Health Sciences, the Capstone and Career Meet & Greet on April 8, 2024, served as a vibrant networking platform for graduate students and local community partners. Esteemed faculty members set the tone, emphasizing the pivotal role of community partnerships in guiding students' academic and professional journeys. Their words highlighted the importance of such events in facilitating students' growth and success in both their academic and professional endeavors. 

“The Meet and Greet event was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the critical public health impact our community partners have and the opportunities for our students to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom to support their ongoing efforts,” said David J. Lee, Ph.D., professor and department chair. 

“These partnerships are instrumental in our pursuit of health equity, as they allow us to leverage strengths from each other, to address the most critical and pressing research and practice gaps,” said Viviana E. Horigian, M.D., M.H.A., professor in the department. “The event was a truly invigorating networking opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and partners of the department,” she added. 

A diverse array of eighteen organizations, alongside nearly thirty graduate students specializing in public health, converged at the event. Among the organizations present were Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Firefighter Cancer Initiative, Florida Department of Health, IDEA Exchange, Lotus House, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, and UHealth Infection Prevention and Control Department.

Ranging from local nonprofits to renowned health institutions, these partners showcased numerous opportunities for students to explore and engage with. 

Among the attendees were M.P.H. alumni representing organizations such as the American Heart Association and PhilanthropyMiami, Inc. Fernanda K. Jorgensen, M.P.H. ’05, executive director at PhilanthropyMiami, shared her excitement, describing the event as a full-circle moment. 

Having once navigated the challenges of capstone project selection herself, Jorgensen now aims to help students. “I'm here to support and guide students through this journey, bridging theory and practice to create meaningful impact in public health and their careers.”

Encouraged by the success of this year's Meet & Greet, the department looks forward to organizing similar initiatives in the future, continuing to bridge the gap between academia and real-world practice in the field of public health.

Written by Deycha Torres Hernández, published on April 16, 2024.