PRACTICUM
Practicum Highlight: Ana Davila-Palafox, MPH’26
Ana Davila-Palafox centered her Applied Practice Experience (APE) on an issue connected to both her academic interests and her lived experience. Through her practicum work, she explores the ways racism becomes embodied and how belonging can function as a form of medicine.
PRACTICUM
Practicum Highlight: Jillian Berch, MPH’26
As a clinical research coordinator in the University of Virginia’s neurosurgery department and an MPH candidate in Dartmouth’s Online Master of Public Health program, Jillian Berch approached her Applied Practice Experience (APE) project with a goal: to merge her professional skillset with her lived experience to support mothers.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Student Spotlight: Vincent Busque MD '26
For Vincent Busque, the desire to become a doctor took shape early. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to become a doctor,” he reflects. He came to Dartmouth seeking something new. Having spent his life in the Bay Area, he was ready for seasons, winters, and as much skiing as possible, but what truly drew him to Geisel was the community. The close-knit environment, attention to humanity in medicine, and reputation stood out.
EVENT
Geisel Hybrid MPH Students Gather in Hanover for December Intensive Learning Week
Last week, candidates enrolled in Geisel’s Hybrid Master of Public Health (MPH) program returned to campus to take part in their December Intensive sessions.
EVENT
Community at Dartmouth: See How They Run!
This story follows three Dartmouth Master of Public Health Online Hybrid students as they balance marathon training with the demands of graduate study. Spread across cities and time zones, they discovered shared discipline, meaningful parallels between endurance and public health, and a community that supported them through every mile and every module. Their journeys reveal how purpose, connection, and steady effort shape both stronger runners and stronger public health leaders.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Student Spotlight: Audrey Byrne, MS’27
For as long as she can remember, Audrey Byrne has wanted to become a surgeon. What began as a childhood fascination with mathematics and technology eventually evolved into a deeper understanding of how data shapes modern medicine. Through her experiences as both a clinical and basic science researcher, she saw how much information the healthcare system generates every moment, from vital signs to radiographic imaging to intra-operative metrics, and how often that data goes under-utilized. “As a pre-medical student, we aren’t taught how to unlock the value of that information,” she says. Pursuing data science felt like the missing piece in her academic trajectory, offering the tools to provide more individualized, evidence-based patient care.
ALUMNI
Alumni Spotlight: Peter Tatum, MPH ’24
For Peter Tatum the path to public health began with art. Before launching his career in healthcare and community advocacy, Tatum spent decades as a professional fine artist, musician, and muralist. “Art has always been about connection for me,” he explains. “The people I met through the art world, especially the street artists in Philadelphia, eventually became my partners in something larger than any of us imagined.”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Student Spotlight: Dayna Albitz, MS ’27
For Dayna Albitz, the question of why evidence-based programs struggle to take root isn’t abstract; it’s the tension of her daily work. As an Implementation Specialist supporting the practice of Implementation Science within government agencies, she has seen organizations invest heavily in training only to find that intentions don’t always translate into high-fidelity practice.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Student Spotlight: Kennedy Price, MPH ’26 (Hybrid)
For Kennedy Price, the journey to public health began with a passion for serving her community and advocating for underrepresented populations. As a birth doula and maternal health advocate, Kennedy witnessed firsthand the systemic issues and disparities that shape health outcomes, particularly in maternal care. These experiences ignited her commitment to improving health equity and inspired her to pursue a Master of Public Health.
AROUND CAMPUS
Geisel Health Sciences Alumni Inspire Future Graduates at 2025 Panel
The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College hosted its Master’s in Health Sciences Alumni Panel on Friday, October 24, bringing together recent graduates to share their journeys from the classroom to professional success. The virtual event provided current students with valuable insights into navigating the transition from academic study to the workforce.
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28%
There is a 28% projected increase in data science jobs through 2026.