When Public Health Becomes Personal

Just one week after graduating from the Tufts University School of Medicine Master of Public Health program in the Spring of 2026, Girlieh Mae Barit was preparing for job interviews and looking ahead to the next chapter of her career.

Instead, she received life-changing news.

After months of searching for answers about symptoms she knew were not normal, a biopsy confirmed she had Stage 3 lung cancer.

"I knew something was wrong, but the tests said otherwise, until a biopsy confirmed the lung cancer diagnosis," Barit said. "I do not smoke or drink, and I eat healthily, so it was very alarming news."

The diagnosis came as a shock. As a young, otherwise healthy person, cancer was not something she expected to face. Yet even in one of the most difficult moments of her life, Barit found herself drawing on lessons she had learned as a Tufts MPH student.

"The program helped me process the news quickly because I have context about public health and science and how it plays a role in my diagnosis," she said.

For Barit, pursuing an MPH was rooted in a desire to understand complex problems and uncover their causes.

"I am an analyst and have a strong interest in finding the root of an issue," she said. "It wasn’t until my own experience as a patient that I explored how data saves lives. I always had an interest in investigating the root of my own medical journey, which led me to Tufts."

During her time in the program, she gained a deeper understanding of how healthcare systems operate and how public health data shapes patient outcomes. Just as importantly, she found a supportive community that helped her navigate personal health challenges while completing her degree.

"The most meaningful experience as a Tufts student was experiencing the constant support and accommodations made while navigating my medical journey," Barit said. "The curriculum opened my eyes to the entire healthcare system and the intricate parts within it."

Courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, healthcare, and law in public health would later become more than academic subjects. They became practical tools she used while navigating appointments, treatment decisions and conversations with her healthcare team.

"My courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, healthcare law and public health guided my conversations with my healthcare team and having background knowledge on these topics helped me advocate for myself with my physicians," she said.

That ability to advocate for herself became especially important because, for years, Barit felt her concerns were not always taken seriously.

"I was told time and time again, 'You are fine. You are a young healthy individual,'" she said. "I knew in my gut my body was off, but I was not heard."

The experience reinforced a lesson that would come to define her understanding of resilience.

"Resilience is to seek out the root of the issue no matter how long it takes," Barit said. "I needed to advocate for myself and find ways to be heard no matter how long it took and that to me is resilience."

The timing of the diagnosis made the challenge even harder. Just days after earning her degree, she found herself putting career plans on hold to begin treatment.

"The biggest challenge I faced was the stages of grief," she said. "I was diagnosed a week after graduating from the MPH program and was undergoing the job interview process. After the news, I had to cancel my rounds of interviews to prepare myself for chemotherapy and that was disheartening. Having goals and not knowing when I can resume them is very hard."

Yet throughout treatment, Barit continued to rely on the knowledge and perspective she gained through public health.

In class, she had studied diseases such as lung cancer. She never imagined those case studies would one day become personal.

"In class we would use lung cancer as an example, and I just never thought I would have it," she said. "Being able to use those examples and speak with my physician and oncology team helped me navigate the science and advocate for myself as a patient."

Her education also helped her understand that disease is often influenced by factors beyond an individual's control.

"There were moments where I questioned how I got cancer even if my lifestyle seemed healthy," Barit said. "However, there are other environmental factors that could have impacted my risk and environmental factors that are beyond my control. It helped me realize that I can’t blame myself for having cancer."

As both a public health professional and a patient, Barit gained a new perspective on healthcare and the challenges many people face when trying to navigate it.

"Public health has changed how I’m experiencing the healthcare system as a patient, and I think of others who don’t have the knowledge or background to be able to converse with their physicians and feel heard," she said.

She believes compassion and listening are essential parts of quality healthcare, particularly for younger patients whose symptoms may be overlooked.

"Milestones and being heard matters," Barit said. "Chemotherapy is not easy and I have been having conversations on how to celebrate the wins along this journey. We need a bit more compassion when it comes to understanding the patient experience, especially since they are young and sometimes being categorized as young hinders one’s ability to be further from their diagnosis."

Recently, Barit reached a milestone worth celebrating.

"I recently rang the bell and completed chemotherapy, and this gives me hope and motivation that I can still have dreams and goals, and it’s all achievable," she said.

Today, she is focused on the future while continuing to redefine what resilience means in her own life.

"Tufts is tough, but it also made me tougher," she said. "Tufts gave me the preparation I needed to be mentally aware, adapt to my new situation, and advocate for myself in rooms that I am new or unfamiliar with."

Looking ahead, Barit hopes to pursue a health administration fellowship, travel and help other patients find their voices within the healthcare system. She also hopes her story reminds others that difficult circumstances do not define who they are.

"During my experience at Tufts, we would talk about how the disease does not define the person," she said. "Instead, we say, the individual with a disease that helped me navigate my own experience with lung cancer that lung cancer is not my identity."

By sharing her journey, Barit hopes others facing their own challenges will find encouragement and strength.

"It is important for me to share my story because knowledge is power and compassion and equality goes a long way," she said. "I wanted to share that even during a storm, there is hope."

And for current Tufts MPH students navigating uncertainty, she offers a simple message:

"To believe in yourself and trust your gut. You might surprise yourself in whatever outcome it may be."