Michelle Nguyen

What inspired you to study public health? 

As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, I have witnessed members of my immigrant community deliberately delay care because they cannot afford treatment, only to end up needing more costly, urgent care. Through witnessing this reality, I realized that the change I wanted to see in my community had to be done through systematic and policy reforms to address the root cause of these inequities. This reality serves as the impetus for my commitment to continue contributing to the public health field; specifically within health policy. I firmly believe that policy changes and reform wield the greatest potential to profoundly impact the wellbeing of the most vulnerable communities.

What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far? 

The single most rewarding experience of my career and studies so far have been the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built. It is an extraordinary feeling to be around people who are just as motivated as you are to better the health and wellbeing of their community. Whether that is through health policy, epidemiology, or biostatistics, we all play a role in the public’s health.

Where did you do your practicum? What was it about? 

I completed my field placement at Mathematica, as a Medicaid Policy Advisory Services Analyst which is where I currently am employed now. I work as an analyst on Medicaid projects, where we are contracted with CMS to support state’s Unwinding efforts.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career? 

In my career, I want to continue working towards bettering the Medicaid program, with hopes that one day we will have universal healthcare in the United States. I firmly believe that healthcare is a right and we all deserve to be able to access equitable healthcare.

Advice: 

Keep an open mind! Explore different avenues of public health, because you never know what you might like or find interesting. And try to find intersections between all of these topics! You’ll be surprised at how interconnected we all are. Also, ask lots of questions! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you think it is silly.

If you are working, what is your job? 

Mathematica Inc., – Medicaid Policy Advisory Services Analyst

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