DrPH Students and Faculty Energized by D.C. Residency

Members of the inaugural cohort of Fairfield University’s Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program met with policy advisors and public health leaders during the three-day event.

Graduate students in Fairfield University’s online DrPH program came together in Washington, D.C., for their first annual doctoral residency, where they learned from prominent public health scholars, talked with senior leadership at the American Public Health Association (APHA), and met with congressional staffers from the offices of U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

The residency took place just four weeks into the fall semester, less than one month after the start of the DrPH program, the latest degree offering in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. Ironically, though, the newness of the program was obscured by the knowledge and experience that students brought to the residency. The students, all public health professionals, shined brightly in D.C.

“I’m a firm believer that graduate courses should be a co-learning environment where students learn from their faculty, faculty learn from their students, and students learn from each other,” said Professor Anthony Santella, DrPH, MCHES, CPH, director of Fairfield’s DrPH program. “This is an especially important feature of doctoral programs that target working professionals and was on full display during the residency. Each participant brought unique expertise, perspectives, and experiences that enriched learning for everyone.”

On Capitol Hill, students met with a policy advisor to Jeffries and a legislative correspondent to Himes. All well-informed public health practitioners, the new graduate students presented their concerns and engaged in dialogue with the congressional staffers. First-semester doctoral student Patrick McCormack presented on the topic of public health funding and workforce transitions, which inspired an open discussion on the state of the political environment and its impacts on public health. The discussion also offered specific insights into Connecticut’s 4th District.

McCormack left the meetings feeling confident that he could leverage knowledge gained through congressional outreach in his own work. “After learning about the top five healthcare concerns of constituents,” he said, “I realized that I may be able to engage congressional leadership in the future for insights that can inform my work within communities.”

True to his teaching philosophy, Dr. Santella also walked away with renewed insights on the value of such conversations: “Meeting with congressional staff on Capitol Hill reminded me of the importance of advocacy and the need for public health professionals to engage in policy discussions that shape the conditions of health at the population level.”

After the meetings on Capitol Hill, the group made its way to APHA Headquarters to meet with Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD, and Associate Executive Director Susan Polan, PhD. The public health leaders discussed the organization’s advocacy priorities, increasing and protecting funding for vital public health agencies, and strengthening the nation’s public health infrastructure.

For DrPH student Gianne Gerena, having the opportunity to speak with Drs. Benjamin and Polan was a highpoint of the residency. “Just getting to sit down with and absorb knowledge from such public health trailblazers was really a highlight of my professional and academic career,” she said.

Rounding out the residency was a series of lectures related to research and practice: Maranda Ward, EdD, MPH, associate professor at George Washington University, discussed health equity; Angela Shen, ScD, MPH, adjunct associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke on the importance of translating research into practice; and Dr. Santella talked about balancing academic, professional, and personal responsibilities while in the DrPH program.

The D.C. residency was an overwhelming success. The packed agenda provided ample opportunities not only for learning but also for building community, a crucial element of support in a doctoral program.

“While the academic sessions and professional development activities were invaluable, being able to connect with peers in person allowed us to share experiences, exchange perspectives, and establish trust,” said Dr. Santella. “Networking over meals, traveling to meetings as a group, and reflecting together created a foundation of collegiality and mutual support.”

Gerena agrees: “The energy was positive and uplifting; the vibe was collaborative, supportive, and inspiring.  I am excited to continue to foster relationships with my peers as we make this DrPH journey together.”

Fairfield Egan’s DrPH program is a 36-month online degree program with annual residencies that rotate between Washington, D.C., Fairfield, Conn., and Austin, Texas. Housing and meals during residencies are included in the program’s tuition.

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