The USF College of Public Health (COPH) celebrated the 2024 fall graduates virtually and in person on December 13.
This semester, 437 undergraduates, 63 students seeking their master’s degree and fourteen doctoral students graduated and entered the public health profession.
The COPH welcomed master’s and doctoral students to a graduation ceremony presented at the college (and also livestreamed) to family, friends, students, faculty and staff.
Graduates and guests enjoyed a reception before and after the graduation celebration. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Keough)
The celebration for the Class of 2024 began after a greeting from interim Dean Dr. Jay Wolfson.
Every year, the COPH Excellence in Teaching awardee offers words of inspiration reflecting on their journey and reminding graduates of the power they hold to make a lasting impact on public health. This year’s speaker, via video, was Dr. Gillian Stresman, assistant professor of epidemiology.
“Today marks a significant milestone in your lives, the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance,” Stresman said. “As you start this next chapter, I'd like to take this moment to remind you that although you have completed this phase of formal learning, your role as a lifelong learner is just beginning. Let's commit ourselves to never stop learning, to share our knowledge and experiences. Together we can create a brighter, more innovative and inclusive future for generations to come.”
Graduates were then introduced by their degrees and presented class gifts. Dr. Amy Alman recognized the doctor of philosophy in public health graduates, followed by Dr. Janice Zgibor who recognized the doctor of public health graduates.
Graduates received a gift and an invitation to upcoming alumni events. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Keough)
Then, Dr. Jaime Corvin shared a message for all graduates in the room that was inspired by a conversation she recently had with a student who asked for book recommendations. “The book that truly inspired me to my core, amongst all the other scholarly books on my shelf that were pivotal at some point in my life is Dr. Seuss’ ‘Horton Hatches the Egg’,” she said.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Corvin explained that it follows the journey of an elephant named Horton that touches on the core value of perseverance, a value she found that also drives public health professionals.
“When I think about the graduates in the room and how much they have gone through to get to this moment, I am reminded of Horton who sat through storms, who didn’t pay attention to nay-sayers and decided he was going to accomplish what he set out to do,” she said. “In public health, we agree to do the hard things, oftentimes when others aren’t looking, we persevere, we are responsible, we are trustworthy and we do what we say we will do. We don’t quit and we don’t let anything stop us, just like what all of you are going to do in public health.”
“I am so proud to be welcoming you to this field, and into this next phase of your journey,” Corvin said. “I cannot wait to see the good that you are going to continue to do.”
Corvin then invited all masters’ students to join her at the podium and share the name of their special project research.
After all names were called, the college’s newest alumni enjoyed a video message from the COPH Alumni Society.
The graduation celebration concluded with a declaration and commitment to public health by all graduates in the room led by the newest doctoral graduates and Dr. Wolfson.
On December 14, the undergraduate studies team celebrated BSHS and BSPH graduates with a stop-in photo booth session before the USF Health commencement ceremony at the USF Yuengling Center.
(Photo courtesy of Elissa Santos)
Many graduates showed off their creativity by decorating their grad cap, also a campus-wide tradition.
(Photo courtesy of Elissa Santos)
Here are some of the stories from the Class of 2024:
Dowensly Jean Brice, MPH (Photo courtesy of Brice)
Dowensly Jean Brice’s passion for public health was sparked during a high school health exploration tour with the Area Health Education Center. After earning a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a certificate in medical anthropology from University of Florida in the summer of 2022, Brice said meeting professionals who held master of public health (MPH) degrees inspired her to pursue a career in the field.
“When I was considering my next steps, I realized it had to be public health," she recalled.
Choosing the COPH for its dual-concentration MPH program, Brice said it proved to be a transformative experience. She immersed herself in symposiums and research groups, building a foundation in maternal and child health and epidemiology.
However, the journey wasn’t without challenges. "Imposter syndrome was tough," she admitted. "I doubted myself constantly and compared myself to others. It wasn’t until I shared my accomplishments with someone outside my circle that I realized how much I had achieved."
As Brice graduates with a MPH in maternal and child health and epidemiology, she’s preparing to apply for PhD programs, focusing on prenatal health and social connectedness. Looking forward, she hopes to gain more research experience and pursue a career as an epidemiologist or public health analyst, with aspirations of teaching and mentoring future professionals. "I’ll miss the college and staff so much," she added.
Harsha Puri, MDS, MPH (Photo courtesy of Puri)
Harsha Puri’s transition from dentistry to public health marked a significant career shift. Armed with a bachelor and master’s degree in dental surgery from the Government Dental College & Hospital in India, Puri said she became deeply interested in preventive care and public health, driven by her passion for research and understanding health disparities at its core.
"I wanted to impact broader populations and explore preventive care," she explained. “I was drawn to USF for its reputation in public health and its commitment to fostering student success. The COPH’s resources, interdisciplinary opportunities and inclusive culture were key deciding factors.”
During her time at the COPH, Puri balanced her studies with parenting and adapting to the U.S. education system. Nevertheless, she maintained a 3.75 GPA, as well as contributed to research on adverse childhood experiences and their impact on autism care, which led to two publications of her findings in respected journals. She participated in internships with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) NIOSH and EpiDriver program, and volunteered as a mentor for incoming students as a graduate ambassador which she said was a fulfilling experience. Balancing a rigorous academic program while parenting in a new country presented challenges, but Puri credits her resilience and support from her family and mentors for helping her succeed.
After graduating with her MPH in epidemiology, Puri plans to work as a health care analyst or a public health analyst.
“If possible, I’d also like to pursue a PhD in epidemiology as well as environmental and occupational health in the future,” she added.
"My time at COPH has been transformative," she reflected. “The MPH program has broadened my academic and research expertise while deepening my commitment to advancing public health through evidence-based practices. Along the way, I’ve formed lasting friendships and found joy in the learning process.”
Jacqueline Zalizniak, MHA (Photo courtesy of Zalizniak)
Jacqueline "Jackie Sunshine" Zalizniak earned her MHA from the COPH. Zalizniak was first introduced to public health through her background in biotechnology and a career in hospitality and product management. "Health care administration reconnected me to science and evidence-based innovation while providing the connectivity and collaborative environment I thrive in," she said.
“As a mid-career professional, I had never experienced virtual learning,” Zalizniak said. “I chose the COPH because of the on-campus and in-person curriculum and the interprofessional learning opportunities, such as competing in last year’s USF Health IPE Day focused on Provider Wellbeing.”
During her time at the COPH, Zalizniak actively pursued opportunities for growth.
“I participated in internships at Tampa General Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, served as co-chair of the USF Diversity and Inclusion Student Action Committee, contributed to research for the CDC with Dr. Claudia Parvanta, sat as a board member of the COPH Activist Lab and served as a teaching assistant for three professors,” she said. “I also was able to join the American College for Healthcare Executives, where I currently serve as a member of the diversity and inclusion committee, and Eta Sigma Gamma.”
Zalizniak earned USF Health Awards in 2023 for Commitment to Diversity as well as Program of the Year for a panel discussion titled "Health, Ethics and Religion". The latter was organized in collaboration with USF Religious Studies Department. Zalizniak served as moderator for the hybrid discussion.
After graduation, Zalizniak said she plans to pursue a career in operations and project management in the Tampa Bay health care sector.
“I hope to bring a service-oriented mindset to health care provision in ways that nurture the needs of patients and providers to improve outcomes, ensure value and ignite joy," she said.