Rebecca DiSarro MPH ’20
Program: Master of Public of Health
Year of Graduation: 2020
Hometown: Woodbury, CT
Age: 29
Graduate SHUdent Spotlight: A Master of Public Health Paved Way to Career in Dentistry
A personalized approach to career goals drew this graduate to SHU’s program
As Rebecca DiSarro pursued her Master of Public Health degree at Sacred Heart University, the experience helped her to zero in on the work she wanted to do once she graduated.
“In 2016, I volunteered for the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic and saw firsthand the overwhelming need for affordable dental care,” she stated. “I remember that people were lined up at 4 a.m., just to get a cleaning. I was always interested in dental care, and that experience changed my trajectory toward public health dentistry.”
While a student at Sacred Heart University, DiSarro embraced the opportunities for experiential learning, as well as the program’s holistic approach. As an aspiring health care provider, she was encouraged to look at nonmedical factors that might affect an individual’s health outcomes, such as job security, access to healthy food and availability of quality health care.
DiSarro shares how her master’s degree in public health (MPH) has led to a fulfilling job helping others as a licensed dentist in Maine.
Where did you get your bachelor’s degree and where did you go to school for dentistry?
I received a Bachelor of Science in biology at UConn. After earning my Master of Public Health from Sacred Heart, I attended the University of New England College of Dental Medicine, where I received my Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree.
What is the work that you are doing now?
I am the dentist at a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural western Maine. We provide comprehensive and emergency dental care for patients of all ages in the surrounding communities. (Federally Qualified Health Centers are nonprofit health centers or clinics that provide services to underserved areas and populations and use a sliding scale fee system.)
Why did you pursue a master’s degree in public health?
After completing my undergrad degree, I wanted to take some time to prepare for the Dental Admission Test and strengthen my application before applying to dental school. I also wanted to pursue a degree that interested me and provided me with good career options if dental school didn't work out.
Watch a video of Rebecca, while in the program, talk about her dreams of becoming a public health dentist.
What specifically drew you to Sacred Heart’s Master of Public Health program?
What initially drew me to Sacred Heart's MPH program was the size. I had just finished at a large state school, where classes were often 400+ people. I was a part of the first MPH class, which at that time had about 12 students. I was able to get individualized attention and have personal connections with professors that I wasn’t able to have previously.
Because the professors knew each student well, we were able to really tailor the program to each of our individual interests. I was able to learn about public health through a dental lens with the assignments and projects given to us.
How did your studies at SHU prepare you for the work you are doing now?
We often could choose the topics for research and projects/programs on. Most of my work was on rural dental health and dental health for people with special needs. While doing the work for these assignments, I learned the skills needed to be a public health professional. I was learning information that was related to my future career.
Through this research, I gained an in-depth understanding of the unique needs of the population I work with now. I can confidently say that the background knowledge I gained during graduate school has made me a better provider for my patients.
How can a public health professional create safer and healthier communities?
Public health-minded medical and dental practitioners are vital to creating safer and healthier communities. From a wider perspective, it is helpful to understand the larger health care systems that we are working in, as well as the flaws in the systems that can be addressed. Narrowing it down to the patient/provider relationship, understanding concepts like social determinants of health are necessary for maximizing individual health outcomes.
What did you like about the MPH program at SHU?
I enjoyed the connection and access to professors at SHU, as well as the ability to tailor the program to personal career interests. I was also able to work almost full time while I was in school.
How has your degree helped you to advance in your career?
My MPH degree made me a competitive applicant for dental school, and what I learned during the program translated well into my career. My degree also made me a competitive applicant for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program. I was awarded the scholarship in my second year of dental school, meaning I had three years of tuition and expenses paid for. Anyone that is or has been interested in medical or dental school knows how significant that is!
Who do you think would benefit from pursuing a master’s degree in public health through SHU’s Master of Public Health program?
For anyone interested in going into health care, Sacred Heart’s MPH program will absolutely make you a competitive applicant to medical or dental school. In the long term, you will be a more understanding and effective provider for your patients.
Considering a career in public health?
With a Master of Public Health at Sacred Heart, graduates can pursue careers as a public health director, health education specialist, clinical trial coordinator, medical and health service manager and others. Students may also earn an MPH to serve as a foundational degree for further medical degrees. Sacred Heart also offers a dual degree program in public health, meaning you can earn your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years or less.
Students may be eligible for scholarship support. For more information about Sacred Heart University’s MPH program, schedule a meeting with Cristen Meehl, or reach out at meehlc@sacredheart.edu or 203-416-3031.
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