Public Health Mentors
Public health mentors, assigned to you on admission to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, are invaluable to your Applied Practice Experience (APEX). Your public health mentor will provide insight, guidance and encouragement throughout the program. With their support, you can focus on building your public health network, turning your public health interests into tangible skills, and planning for the next steps in your career. You may also have the chance to learn about a particular area of public health from a top expert in the field.
Interested in mentoring an MPH student? Contact the MPH program at mph@mailplus.wisc.edu.
Parvathy Pillai, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health Sciences
“Serving as a public health mentor has been a really rewarding experience for me. It’s exciting to see how students’ projects align with their interests, to be able to support them in making potential public health connections and to see how all of this connects back to some of their key MPH coursework. I help them reflect on how their public health skills have grown throughout the program, which is wonderful. I also enjoy getting to work with other faculty advisors and meeting the preceptors. It has been a great opportunity to make connections to others working in public health. I would definitely encourage other faculty to do this.”
Matthew Walsh, MPH, PhD
Teaching Faculty and Statistician, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
“The best part of being a public health mentor with UW–Madison is experiencing a small part of the journey our learners take from when they enter our program to when they graduate. It is so exciting to see the connections made and pathways forged. I also appreciate the unexpected routes learners sometimes take to make their own mark in our world. Being part of each learner’s culminating reflection and poster session towards the end of the program are highlights of my year.”
Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for Public Health and Community Engagement
“Mentoring students pursuing their MPH through the UW School of Medicine and Public Health — whether exclusive or dual degree — is a wonderful experience, allowing one to witness the melding of public health and medicine. I find the depth and sophistication of our students’ appreciation for the role of systems thinking, health equity, and evidence-based practice to be refreshing and motivating. This is an excellent opportunity to establish good and fulfilling working relationships with our core of exceptional MPH students.”
Sally Jolles, MA, MS
Health Services Research & Evaluation Scientist and Adjunct Instructor, Division of Infectious Disease Researcher, Department of Medicine, William S. Middleton VA Hospital
“It has been a privilege to work with MPH students and serve as a public health mentor over the years. Contributing to their academic and professional development has been profoundly rewarding. Whether it’s helping them narrow their focus, guiding them in mastering new skills or methods for data collection and analysis, or engaging in meaningful dialogue about their future roles in public health — both in the U.S. and globally — each interaction is an opportunity to support their growth. The scope and substance of the projects our students undertake never cease to impress me, and I am continually inspired by the depth of insight, dedication and passion reflected in their final presentations.”
Hannah Hayes, MPH, BSN, RN
Community Health Nurse, Access Community Health Centers
“What I enjoy most about public health mentoring is supporting students in exploring and pursuing their passions as they enter the dynamic world of public health. It is a rewarding experience to see students learn, develop new and creative ideas, and contribute fresh perspectives to our field. Mentoring has also given me the opportunity to build meaningful connections with students as well as both new and longtime colleagues, which inspires and energizes my own work. It is exciting to see our students’ growth and know that the program helps prepare them to make a real difference in our community.”