Zyna Bakari found the perfect fit in the Online MPH program with its supportive cohort, focus on social justice, and flexibility that allowed her to work at the UW’s center for Anti-racism and Community Health. In this Q&A, she shares her experience and takeaways from a master’s of public health.
Online learning as a working professional
How does the Online MPH program’s format fit into your life?
I work part time right now and I’m also doing my practicum, about 30 hours a week combined, while on the full-time track for the Online MPH program. We have prerecorded video lectures, modules, and assigned readings that are hosted within our online learning platform. We can engage with that content on our own time, completing it before we convene as a group in our synchronous session.
What is a typical day like for you?
I keep a diligent calendar blocking out my school, work, and personal time. In an online program, there is a lot of keeping yourself motivated and accountable. I usually work for half of the day in the morning, and then I do my schoolwork in the later part of the day and into the evening. I usually focus on all of the readings and videos earlier in the week and then do my assignments on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. I try to keep Sunday free for myself.
Everyone has a different approach to how they balance their time. Some people are up really late at night doing their schoolwork, while some people wake up super early to do their schoolwork in the morning. Some people like to do everything on the weekends, which makes sense if you work intensely Monday through Friday. That’s just a benefit of this program; you can make it work for you.
What do you do for work?
I’m a graduate research assistant at the Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health, or the ARCH center, which is an academic hub and research center housed here in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health within the University of Washington School of Public Health. The center is focused on dismantling racism, here at the UW, but also in systems outside of the university. We work in partnership with communities most disproportionately impacted by legacies of white supremacy, finding solutions to close gaps in racial disparities and health outcomes that are a result of structural and systemic racism.
In my role I work with our community advisory boards and do qualitative research and collation management. I also support the center’s operations, communication efforts, and event planning. This is an amazing opportunity, and I feel super fortunate to be employed at the UW while I pursue my master’s, as it supports funding for my program fees. It feels awesome to be able to immediately apply what I learned in the courses, for example program evaluation, to my work.
Could you tell us about your practicum?
For my practicum, I’m conducting a health equity assessment for Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Specifically, I’m looking at cancer care and using the health equity transformation assessment through the American Hospital Association. I’m analyzing the results and coming up with recommendations to push equity forward. I’ll present them to leadership at the Hutch through a memo and a presentation.
How are you funding your studies and how do you justify the investment in a master’s degree?
If it weren’t for the role I have at the ARCH center, I would be pulling from federal loans, which I was willing to do because my education is really important to me. My parents were both immigrants, and they came to this country to make sure that me and my siblings had every opportunity, and education was one of the main values that they instilled in us.
I really saw the value in a master’s degree after having worked in the field of public health for a few years. I knew that the professional experience that I was getting on the ground was so valuable, but I also knew there was more to learn and develop that could really take my career to the next level. I wanted to make it work to get my MPH even with financial barriers, and I hope that those same barriers wouldn’t stop anyone from considering this program.
Some of my colleagues in the program have been diligent at looking for scholarships, and I’ve seen how those bits of funding really add up. Those opportunities and awards are available, you just have to put a little extra energy and effort into seeking them out. There are two awards that Online MPH program applicants are prompted to apply for directly within the application, the HSEED award and the Public Health Leadership Promise Award.
“You’re learning as a group and collaborating as a team. Even though we’re mostly virtual, it feels just as community oriented as if we were in person.”
Finding community in the cohort
What other types of professional roles do students in the Online MPH program have?
I love that the Online MPH program is designed for working professionals who have been in the field for a while and who are subject matter experts in their own areas. We have nurses, clinical research coordinators, epidemiologists, lab assistants, people who work at community-based organizations, and more. We’re not just learning from a textbook or just from the instructors; we’re also learning from each other and we get to bring our own experiences and expertise into the classroom, which is one of the best parts of the program.
How do you get to interact with your cohort and instructors in the Online MPH program?
In the Online MPH program, we have a few live, in-person sessions. The first one was our in-person orientation, which was really valuable and a lot of fun. It was a great opportunity for us to meet one another face-to-face, which I think set a great foundation for the program so our classmates weren’t just like, names on a Zoom screen. Instead, once we started taking the classes online, we already knew each other and it made us a stronger community.
Something that I experienced, and something that other students shared at orientation, was feeling nervous to get back into school after having been working for a while. A feeling of imposter syndrome, which I think is a very common and normal way to feel when starting a graduate program. When we met in person, we realized that we weren’t alone and were experiencing similar feelings. I loved that the orientation allowed us to feel comfortable, safe, and like we were part of a group of like-minded people. We did some team-building activities, got to know the instructors, and started learning different software that we would be using in the program. I can’t imagine jumping in without the in-person orientation.
In what ways do you collaborate with your classmates in the Online MPH program?
This program is unique with the level of collaboration that happens for being an online program. At first, I imagined that I would be going through this program largely on my own. I didn’t imagine that I would be part of a community where I get to work with people, like, all the time, and in real time. You’re learning as a group and collaborating as a team. Even though we’re mostly virtual, it feels just as community oriented as if we were in person. And since so many of us are used to remote work and Zoom calls since the pandemic, it feels natural to engage with people in that format.
Group projects can be tricky because we all have different work schedules and commitments, but it helps us to have a sense of what it’s like working in teams in the real world. Public health as a field is a team effort, and we can’t do it alone, so groupwork is important. I would say to prospective students: come to this program ready to work with people and see group projects as an opportunity to grow.
Do you have any favorite courses or projects from the Online MPH program?
I genuinely have liked all the classes, but something that comes to mind that I’ve really enjoyed in this program is taking advantage of the instructors’ office hours. I like to go to them as often as I can, not even just for course-related questions, but to chat with the instructors and learn from their experiences. I never would have thought that just talking about environmental and occupational health on a Friday morning would be just as energizing as a cup of coffee.
My favorite projects were the ones where we got to pick our own topic. Choosing and designing projects for myself is something I’ll carry with me.
How have you grown as a leader with the Online MPH program?
One way that I’ve grown as a leader in this program is having greater belief in myself and what I bring to the table. Being seen, valued, and treated as someone with unique expertise in a classroom setting has been really empowering for me, and the practice we get as leaders in this program has made me feel confident to speak up in a way that I wasn’t expecting.
The Online MPH program has a strong focus on leadership toward the end of the program. In the leadership courses we learn organizational management, as well as the science and theory around leadership, which I am so grateful to have now. While I have been in management positions before, I wish that I had taken these classes before. I’ve grown so much, and I feel excited to lead programs and teams in the future.
“There is really progressive, innovative, and equity-focused work happening across the state that makes Washington a really inspiring and energizing place to be for the field of public health.”
Choosing the right graduate program
What are your professional goals within public health?
The Online MPH program is perfect for my goals and interests in public health, which have a lot to do with health equity, social justice, closing gaps in racial health disparities and outcomes, implementing and evaluating public health interventions, specifically in partnership with communities. This program has really highlighted all of this, and I feel very prepared to use the new tools that I’ve gained.
Did you consider any other programs before enrolling in the UW Online MPH program?
I didn’t look at any other programs. I knew that I wanted to go to the University of Washington since I’m based in Seattle, and I feel really invested in this community. When I discovered that there was the Online MPH program, I felt like, wow, this is this is too good to be true, like a dream scenario. It’s an incredible opportunity to have an experience from the nationally and globally-ranked UW School of Public Health available online.
What aspects of the Online MPH program do you think might have an advantage over an in-person program?
The format of the Online MPH program works with a whole range of student situations. For example, if you have a family or a lot of different commitments, or you live outside of Seattle, or you have a job with really demanding hours, or if you’re just someone that prefers to learn more independently, then this program could be a great fit for you.
I prefer the online format so I can work through the content on my own before coming to the group. I also like how all the content for the course is available from the very beginning. There are classes where I’m just super into it and I just want to continue going on to the content for the next week and the week after that.
For someone who’s not based in Seattle or even Washington state, what do you think makes the UW a great place to study?
There is really progressive, innovative, and equity-focused work happening across the state that makes Washington a really inspiring and energizing place to be for the field of public health and can offer a lot for people from all over. The UW School of Public Health is an extraordinary school with strong ties to other local institutions. For example, here in Seattle we have the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, where I’m completing my practicum, which is recognized for its impact worldwide, in addition to so many community organizations that are working on creative solutions to close gaps in health systems and outcomes.
Who should apply to the Online MPH program?
I highly encourage you to apply to the Online MPH program at the University of Washington if you value social justice, health equity, and if you need flexibility in your schedule.
If you like working with people, but are skeptical about an online program, then you should consider the Online MPH program at the UW because even though it’s mostly online, it is a community-oriented program with a team-based learning approach. One of the best parts of this program is meeting wonderful, inspiring, like-minded people who you get to work with and learn from. I have made lifelong friends in this program who are some of the most amazing, driven, hardworking people I’ve ever met.
Is there anything that you wish you knew before starting the Online MPH program, or any advice you have for incoming students?
One thing I would recommend is to start thinking about practicum opportunities early on. That way, when it does come time to start identifying a practicum, it doesn’t feel like rushed or forced, but it can be something that you’re excited about and passionate about. The practicum can be a really fun and meaningful opportunity, and I’m really excited about mine. It can really help you grow and tap into networks, so start thinking about what you would want to do and take steps toward that earlier than you think that you should.