Two semesters ago, Ellie Jacob switched her major to public health. Two weeks ago, she was accepted into the highly competitive BYU 4 +1 Master of Public Health program.
Although the switch was a leap of faith, Jacob knew public health was the right path. Initially interested in becoming a nurse, she began to question if that career was meant for her.
“I find the most fulfillment in helping people,” Jacob said. “And when I was introduced to public health, I felt like I could make a more dramatic difference than one-on-one care.”
Combining her ambition to help others with her passion for politics and policies, Jacob became immersed in the public health world. She kicked off her journey with a research project on sex education in rural Utah and its effects on adolescents.
Building on that experience, Jacob plans to perform research on gender issues in rural Malawi, Africa, this summer.
“I’m really excited to apply my knowledge in the real world and just meet incredible people,” she said.
Jacob noted that it is easy to sometimes feel insignificant and question whether your work has an impact. However, she said public health has the power to reveal how even small efforts can influence entire populations.
“I think that public health has been so fulfilling because it is just trying to make the world a better place for everyone,” she said.
Jacob has found her purpose in public health through her passion for helping others. Moving forward, she is excited for what the future holds.
The BYU 4 +1 MPH program allows admitted students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health in five years, rather than the typical six.
“I’m so excited because the public health professors at BYU are some of the most impactful and Christ-like people I’ve ever met,” Jacob said.
While she has countless aspirations in the public health field, Jacob primarily hopes to focus on global health. To do this, she plans to strengthen public health systems in local communities, believing that global health starts with making incremental changes at home.
Because of her background in women’s health and research with sex education, Jacob also has a special interest in the effect of female disparities on health. One of her long-term goals is to create a nonprofit that highlights vulnerable populations and works toward a more equitable world.
Jacob encourages other students to pursue their interests boldly, even if it requires making a major change.
“There are plenty of resources in the public health world; you just have to work for it and put yourself out there,” Jacob said.
Ellie Jacob’s leap of faith into public health has set her on a path to make a meaningful impact both locally and globally. With her acceptance into BYU’s accelerated MPH program, she is eager to turn her passion for helping others into lasting change.
