Joining Public Health’s Stage Crew: Mikayla Thompson

Interestingly, Thompson’s father worked at UB, so she “grew up on campus. We used to go to all the UB basketball games, and I remember looking at the student section and how excited they were. I decided this is where I want to be.”

Thompson just received her master of public health degree via SPHHP’s 3+2 program, which offers bachelor’s and MPH degrees in five years. When she began at UB, she was part of the Honors College and was in the pre-nursing program. The change came in 2018, when Thompson took part in a study abroad experience in Jamaica. Having already completed a number of clinical hours, she could readily see the difference in the U.S. and Jamaican health care systems.

“In our country, we live in a reactive healthcare system,” she said. “But lots of problems are preventable, and I realized I’d rather prevent problems.” Her time in Jamaica “made me realize public health was what I wanted to do.” One of the professors on the trip mentioned the public health program; Mikayla found the 3+2 program and switched majors when she returned to UB.

Studying abroad was a “pivotal moment,” Thompson explained. “It changed my perspective on what I wanted to do and how feasible it was. I was so excited to get the BS-MPH acceptance notice that I printed it out, so it was the first thing my parents saw when they walked in the door.”

Her public health pursuits are wide ranging. The Environmental Health Study of Western New York, which is led by SPHHP researchers, piqued Thompson’s interest in environmental health. She was also involved in a UNICEF study on reproductive health, another focus area.

Thompson found the environment in the MPH program interactive and accommodating in the extreme, which supported her diverse interests: “The professors are phenomenal—they make sure you’re learning what you want to learn and are open to your answering questions,” Thompson said. “Kim Krytus [assistant dean and director of SPHHP’s MPH program] never considered any idea too out there. I wanted to do two internships, and she said I could. My concentration is health administration services, but I wanted to go into health policy. My advisor, Professor Katia Noyes, allowed me to take courses in that. She ensured I could get those skills.”

“I like that you can address so many different areas. Public health is like stage crew in a play—you don’t see them, but you need them,” she said.

Thompson’s internships give a flavor of her diverse public health interests. She took part (remotely) in MD Anderson Cancer Center’s cancer prevention research training program, which matches mentors and mentees. She also participated in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health law program as an education/communications intern, where she got additional experience with topics around cancer and global health.

Thompson believes part of the power of public health is in addressing different sides of problems, from examining root causes to helping provide solutions.

“Public health has the ability to address big problems and to affect people throughout their life span. Seat belts, vaccination, fluoridation—those are all public health interventions,” she said.

“Public health has the ability to address big problems and to affect people throughout their life span. Seat belts, vaccination, fluoridation—those are all public health interventions,” she said.