Grace Legris, MPH24
Can you share a memorable experience from your time at Tufts that has left a lasting impression on you?
Volunteering at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center's Community Resource and Wellness Center left a profound impact on me. Interacting with Spanish-speaking patients and assisting them with navigating vital community resources like SNAP/WIC, housing, and immigration support was not only personally rewarding but also highlighted the importance of equitable access to healthcare and social services. This experience showed me the immense difficulty many individuals face in accessing what should be basic services and reinforced my commitment to maintaining health equity as a basis for my quantitative health work.
If you could go back to before you started at Tufts and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
It would be to actively engage with professors and peers from the outset, while also seizing every opportunity to participate in Tufts-sponsored events. As a younger student in the Bachelor/MPH program, I initially felt apprehensive about fully immersing myself in the program. However, as I near the end of my MPH, I realize the immense value of diving in from the start. Tufts is a hub of invaluable resources, offering rich opportunities through exceptional professors who serve not only as educators but also as professional mentors, as well as through student-led clubs, groups, and guest speaker events. Reflecting on my experience, I am grateful for the genuine connections I've made with professors, and that those connections have helped me along my career path.
What are your aspirations and goals beyond graduation, both personally and professionally?
Post-graduation, my primary aspiration is to use quantitative analyses in public health research to address health disparities both locally and globally. I hope to make evidence-based recommendations for policymaking and community initiatives based on my quantitative work. Chronic and infectious disease work particularly interests me. On a personal level, I am passionate about paying forward the mentorship I have received from public health professionals. Throughout my education, many people generously took the time to answer my numerous questions about the public health field and provide guidance. I look forward to extending this support to future students once I am established in my career.
What advice would you offer to prospective students based on your own experience?
My advice is to embrace every opportunity that comes your way with an open mind—the field of public health is incredibly dynamic and Tufts offers a variety of courses that may be outside your comfort zone. I found that venturing into unfamiliar territory was invaluable. While MPH students select a concentration, there's flexibility in choosing electives based on interest and career goals. You never know what you might find a passion for!
How have your research interests evolved throughout your MPH degree program, and what impact do you hope your research will have on your field?
During my undergraduate studies at Tufts, I delved into the social aspects of public health, focusing my research on mental health and substance use. As I approach the end of my MPH, my interests have shifted towards the biological facets of public health. Currently, I am involved in global health research on infectious diseases with the NGO Move Up Global, and I aim to pursue a similar trajectory after graduation. Regardless of the research area, I am passionate about adopting an analytical approach, utilizing my quantitative skills to analyze and derive insights from data. By applying quantitative analysis to identify and tackle the root causes of health disparities, I aspire to support evidence-based public health policy and foster more equitable healthcare systems both locally and globally.
How has your experience in the MPH program shaped your understanding of public health issues, and how do you envision applying this knowledge to address current and future challenges in public health?
My experience in the MPH program at Tufts has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of public health issues, particularly through my concentration courses in epidemiology and biostatistics. These courses provided me with the analytical tools necessary to critically assess health data and understand the patterns and determinants of disease within populations. By learning how to interpret epidemiological studies and apply statistical methods to public health research, I gained insight into the complex interplay between the many factors that influence health outcomes. Moving forward, I envision applying this knowledge to address current and future challenges in public health by conducting rigorous research to identify and mitigate health disparities.
How has your MPH program prepared you to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities to address public health disparities and promote health equity?
Throughout my MPH journey, a combination of coursework, practical experiences, and engagement with diverse communities through volunteer work has deepened my understanding of social determinants of health and emphasized the crucial role of cultural competence in public health practice. Courses such as Public Health Action have provided valuable instruction on strategies for effectively engaging stakeholders from varied backgrounds. Emphasizing the importance of community engagement in public health work, we learn to prioritize the needs and preferences of the community, ensuring our efforts have the greatest impact.