London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Tell us a bit about your background

I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Religion in 2019 from Drake University in Iowa, in the United States. While I knew early on in my degree that I wanted to continue my education in public health, I also knew I wanted a small break from academia. I worked in senior living as the Life Enrichment Manager for a while and then did some seasonal work in the outdoor industry before I came to London to start my MSc.

Why did you choose to study in the UK?

I chose to study in the UK as I have always wanted to live abroad and I didn’t have much interest in doing my master’s in the states, so it seemed like a good time to make the move! I’ve really enjoyed getting to explore the UK and train my brain to look the other way when crossing the street!

One of the coolest things about LSHTM is that students really come from all walks of life. You’ll be in class with a doctor, a midwife, a sexual health consultant, and someone fresh out of undergrad.

What did you decide to study the MSc Demography & Health at LSHTM?

When I was applying to master’s programs, most of the programs I applied to were for public health degrees, but then I came across the MSc Demography & Health course at LSHTM and thought it sounded really interesting.  Since I came from an anthropological background, I really appreciated that the demography program has so many anthropologists on it because I think it helps to put faces to the numbers, especially when looking at policy and changes that impact real people.

I did not do much of any math during my undergraduate degree (I took one class called ‘The Spirit of Mathematics’ so I could graduate) so jumping back into statistics, epidemiology, and demographic methods was quite challenging, but has been rewarding. I had anticipated that those courses would be the most challenging for me, but I wanted to add quantitative skills to my more qualitative background so that I can go into the world with understanding of how the numbers on a table impact individual experiences. I have learned so much about the importance of demographers in formulating conversations and change regarding health and health systems. I am now really looking forward to finding a MSc project that I am passionate about and then putting together my own research with the help of staff and students at the School!

One of the coolest things about LSHTM is that students really come from all walks of life. You’ll be in class with a doctor, a midwife, a sexual health consultant, and someone fresh out of undergrad. While that may sound like it could be intimidating, it makes you realise everyone brings their own strengths to the table. 

What are you plans after you graduate?

I would be lying if I said I had a plan after my studies, but I am interested in continuing to work with people and better understand how their surroundings and community impact their health and/or their understanding of their health. I have also always enjoyed working with seniors, so I am hoping to be able to do work on ageing, especially as we see major shifts in age structures across the world.

Discover more about the MSc Demography & Health.