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Building a Global Perspective on Patient Care: Carleigh Drill, MPH '25

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For Carleigh Drill, MPH '25, a career in healthcare is about balancing science, research, and meaningful patient connections. Today that commitment has taken her across the globe, where she is gaining experience with a new healthcare system while continuing to serve patients.

Currently living in Melbourne, Australia, Drill is working as a health assistant in stroke rehabilitation and training to volunteer in a local hospital's dementia unit. The experience has allowed her to continue developing her patient care skills while broadening her understanding of healthcare delivery on an international scale.

"These roles allow me to harness my hands-on patient care skills and get to know the locals in a new country," Drill says. "Additionally, it is giving me the opportunity to compare their health system with that of the United States."

Before relocating overseas, Drill worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Oncology, a role that combined many of the elements that initially drew her to healthcare.

"I was drawn to the field because it combines quantitative thinking, biology-based lab work, and patient-facing responsibilities," she explains. "There are few roles that cover each of these areas in such a combination."

As she transitioned between clinical research and direct patient care, Drill found that her experience in Dartmouth's Hybrid MPH program provided a strong foundation for navigating complex healthcare environments. In particular, she credits the program with helping her develop both a patient-centered mindset and a broader public health perspective.

"There are so many things that I learned at Dartmouth that have prepared me for my current work," says Drill. "Two significant things that come to mind are having a patient-first mentality and seeing the bigger picture. There are a lot of choices I must make for the patients I work with that may be in their best interest but not necessarily the most fiscally rewarding for me or the institution at hand. In the same breath, when making these decisions for my patients, taking the perspective of public health's zoomed-out lens is always an advantage."

Among her most memorable experiences at Dartmouth were the relationships she built with her classmates and the Applied Practice Experience (APE) she completed through the International Institute of New England. Working with female refugees gave her a firsthand understanding of how public health policies and systems affect individuals and communities.

"My APE, working with the female refugees at the International Institute of New England, was simply an experience I will never forget," Drill says. "Hearing the stories of these young women and learning firsthand how public health choices made within our systems impact them was incredibly meaningful."

Drill also found inspiration in her classmates, whose professional backgrounds and ambitions expanded her understanding of the field's possibilities.

"I was fortunate to have classmates with a wide variety of career paths and interests," she says. "They were such an inspiring group of people. Seeing the things they have achieved and continue to achieve reminds me that the world of public health is ever-growing and waiting for me to explore."

Reflecting on her time in the program, Drill encourages incoming students to make the most of every opportunity available to them.

"I would advise the incoming cohort to become involved as much as possible and take advantage of everything Dartmouth has to offer," she says. "Take advantage of online involvement opportunities and get out there as much as you can during the intensive weeks. You won't regret it!"

Whether working in oncology research, supporting patients through stroke rehabilitation, or learning from healthcare systems abroad, Drill continues to apply the frameworks she learned at Dartmouth – centering patient care while considering the broader public health impact.

 

Written By: Mia Soucy

POSTED 6/18/2026 AT 01:11 PM IN #alumni