“Social justice is a foundational principle of public health,” said Cougar Hall during a Health 210 lecture.
That one phrase was all it took for BYU student Emma Semus to change her major to public health and never look back. Now, she’s graduating from BYU’s Public Health department’s 4+1 program with an emphasis in health science.
The 4+1 program integrates the Bachelor of Science with the Masters of Public Health program at BYU. This allows for an efficient pathway to graduating with an MPH.
Unlike most, Semus discovered her passion for public health in elementary school. After participating in a school Olympiad event, she felt a strong pull toward the field and knew it was the path for her.
Though she briefly considered biology, Semus soon returned to her public health roots and started getting involved in the field through internships, research, and assisting professors with courses. During her time at BYU, Semus enjoyed working closely with Dr. Lori Spruance as a teaching assistant.
“It was such a good experience to see a female professional who is just so good at her job and passionate about what she does,” Semus said. “It’s really inspiring, and she has been a really incredible mentor for me.”
Semus also gained valuable real-world experience as an environmental health and safety intern for Danone, a yogurt company. In this position, she got a broad view of what the public health world looks like.
“I feel like it was a really good example to me of what my future in the public health field could look like,” she said.
Although Semus chose an emphasis in health science, she has loved every aspect of public health and combining multiple different disciplines to make a big impact. Now, she works in health communication for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality in the Water Quality division.
“It is exactly the job I wanted to get, and I just think it worked out so well,” she said. “Even though it isn’t exactly what I emphasized, I have been able to branch out.”
Semus’s job involves both health promotion and environmental health. Even though this isn’t what she originally emphasized in, she wouldn’t change it for anything and advises others to do the same.
“Don’t feel constrained by your emphasis,” Semus said. “My emphasis has nothing to do with my work now, but I don’t regret that emphasis because that path got me to where I am now.”
Semus also noted that her professors were very welcoming to her passion for public health and allowed her to explore other fields without having to switch her emphasis.
From elementary school to BYU, Semus has continued to create lasting changes through her passion and determination. By embracing an interdisciplinary approach, she’s already proving to be a powerful force in the field — and she’s just getting started.
