When the first cohort of students entering Brock’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Health (MPH) concurrent degree program started their studies in fall 2019, they had no idea that they would be graduating during the biggest public health crisis of their generation.

On Friday, Oct. 15, the first five students from the program that prepares grads to be public health administrators received their degrees during Brock’s Fall Convocation ceremony, which was livestreamed for graduates and their families to safely watch from home.

Offered through the Goodman School of Business and Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the two-year program develops health leaders by providing students with a strong foundation in both management principles and public health.

The graduates are already using their knowledge to make an impact in the field.

Beth Swenor (BPH ’19, MBA ’21, MPH ’21), who is currently working as a Risk Specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, said the program expanded opportunities to her that she previously thought were unattainable.

“Working as a Risk Specialist in a health-care field, I need to critically understand different aspects of health care while also carefully monitoring all aspects of enterprise risk within the hospital,” she said. “This program helped me develop my critical-thinking skills, leadership skills and problem-solving skills.”

Jacqueline Gates (BPH ’19, MBA ’21, MPH ’21) is applying her knowledge as a Strategic Projects Co-ordinator in the Medical Division of Niagara Region Public Health. Her work focuses on the co-ordination and execution of health equity-focused projects.

“Working in a public health unit, our work is inherently rooted in content taught in the MPH program, such as the social determinants of health and continuous quality improvement,” Gates said. “The MBA program has allowed me to integrate business concepts, such as those taught in business strategy and organizational behaviour, into my daily work.”

Gates recommends the program to any students interested in a career in public health or health-care administration.

“The combination of content within the program equips students for the changing field of health and allows for flexibility in future career paths,” she said.

In addition to Gates and Swenor, the first cohort of MBA MPH graduates also included Joelle Deschâtelets (BSc ’19, MBA ’21, MPH ’21), Sean McCrorie (MBA ’21, MPH ’21) and Raahyma Ahmad (MBA ’21, MPH ’21).

More information on the program can be found on the Goodman School of Business website.