Sue Atherton

Prior to enrolling in the MPH I worked for 5 very full years as Executive Director of the Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW for the Department of Health. And before that I enjoyed several years doing evaluation work with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Newcastle. My previous academic training included degrees in Economics, Psychology, and Philosophy honours. By returning to full time study, I wanted to expand the breadth of my skills and knowledge of health beyond the hospital medical system and beyond the Australian context.

The program at UNSW offered an impressive range of options and electives. I was also attracted to the UNSW program, knowing that many of the academic staff are actively involved with the Public Health Association of Australia. During initial contact I found that the course coordinator and admin staff are exceptionally helpful, flexible, accessible and 'student friendly'. Subsequently, the program exceeded my expectations. Within the MPH, I have taken challenging courses across all three Schools of Medical Education, Community Medicine, and Health Services Management, as well as completing an independent study.

Classes are interactive and conceptual models are made directly relevant with practical application to the student's workplace, country of origin, or area of research interest. With significant numbers of international clinicians in the program, student presentations are often intriguing and illuminate pressing public health issues. Not surprisingly a recent external quality review team strongly endorsed the program. Students have a voice and their concerns are taken seriously. As one of the MPH student reps on the Public Health Management Committee, I am able to observe the Schools responding appropriately and efficiently to student feedback.

With new skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, consulting, IT, research and evaluation methodology, I am now refining an area of work for my major project. At UNSW this is the culmination and integration of the MPH coursework for each student. Senior academics are generous with ideas and support and I have identified new research interests in community development, and in international equity, governance and health economics. Participating in the MPH program at UNSW continues to be a stimulating and professionally valuable experience.