Our Public Health program prepares professionals who are dedicated to improving the health of individuals, communities and whole populations – regionally and around the world. Our alumni pursue careers in direct service, public policy, community-based clinical care or healthy choice campaigns.
Meet Sam Meluch, a Health Education Specialist at Lorain County Public Health
Sam Meluch, a native of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, pursued a dual degree - a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ (ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½). Recently, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ revised the degree Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) to the Master of Social Work (MSW). Sam graduated in 2020 and currently works as a Health Education Specialist at Lorain County Public Health (LCPH). When asked why she chose to pursue an MPH degree, Sam explained that she was drawn to the opportunity to work with different communities and sectors to prevent disease and injury through policy, systems, and environmental changes.
While earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Mount Union, Sam enjoyed working with people from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. She believes that every person has something unique to offer, whether it's a new perspective, idea, or resource. Sam chose to pursue additional education through ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ primarily because of the opportunity to earn a dual degree in public health and social work. She discovered her passion for public health during her undergraduate studies, but also wanted to learn more about the intrapersonal factors that influence an individual's health and livelihood.
One of Sam's favorite memories from her time at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ was studying in the Dingle student lounge in between classes. As a dual-degree student, she spent a significant amount of time at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, and studying in Dingle at the School of Medicine, allowed her to feel a part of the MPH community. She found the space conducive to studying, as well as a comfortable place to connect with classmates and friends. Sam served as an MPH student representative for the MPH program, attending faculty meetings and planning social events and activities for National Public Health Week.
In her current position at LCPH, Sam's typical week is dynamic and varied. She facilitates a community collaborative, oversees and coordinates grants including budgeting and reporting, interfaces with consultants from the Ohio Department of Health, and manages quality improvement projects. Her main topic areas include chronic disease, maternal-child health and substance use, communications.
Reflecting on her ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ experience, Sam believes that the group work in many of her courses prepared her well for her career, as it taught her to work collaboratively with others. She recognizes that working with multiple teammates and partners can be challenging, yet this type of work results in the most learning and growth. Her advice to current students is to get to know their classmates, instructors, and other professionals in their field; networking and building relationships can open doors and create opportunities for growth and success.
Sam's dual degree in MPH and MSSA from ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ has provided her with the knowledge and skills to pursue a fulfilling career in public health. One of her goals for the future is to earn her independent license in social work (LISW). Sam wants to continue building her strengths and knowledge to advocate for populations or communities. During her free time, Sam enjoys being in nature at the Metroparks and at Huntington Beach.
Lauren Cruz, MPH 2020
"I really think that the curriculum here promotes a well rounded student. You have classes about qualitative research. You have serious classes about quantitative research and that can really be applicable not just in my track, population health but also all the other tracks in the MPH program."
Timothy McCue, MPH 2009
"Public Health is really broad and public health changes and evolves all the time."
The Master of Public Health program has many exceptional alumni that we would like to you to learn more about.