Alumni Profiles: Master of Science
Michelle Gyenes
Graduation Year: 2015
Certificate/Concentration: Master of Science in Sociomedical Sciences
Current Position: Medical Student
WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY WORK AND WHAT TYPE OF WORK DO YOU DO THERE?
After graduating from Mailman, I began working in clinical research at a hospital in Toronto, Canada. My role was to obtain normative data for an assessment designed to detect cognitive impairment in older adults, and help to translate the assessment to a more accessible iPad version that can be more readily used in a variety of clinical contexts. Later, I worked on a study designed to test the use of transcranial direct current stimulation as a potential prevention for Alzheimer’s dementia in at-risk individuals. These experiences, combined with the strong public health background that I formed at Mailman, shaped my strong desire to work in medicine, and so I recently started my medical degree at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING THIS WORK? WHY DO YOU ENJOY IT?
While studying Sociomedical Sciences at Mailman, I had the opportunity to write my thesis under the supervision of Dr. David Weiss in conjunction with Columbia’s Robert N. Butler Aging Center. It was fascinating for me to understand how public health initiatives can impact the lives of older adults globally, particularly during the next several decades as our society rapidly ages. My passion for supporting the needs of older adults continued after graduate school in the workforce and as a physician, I hope to serve geriatric patients.
HOW HAS THE "SMS LENS" (SEEING PUBLIC HEALTH AS EMBEDDED IN SOCIAL/CULTURAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL CONTEXTS) INFLUENCED YOUR PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDES AND APPROACHES IN ADDRESSING ISSUES IN YOUR WORK?
My Sociomedical Sciences degree opened my eyes in recognizing many of the barriers that contribute to poor health. I will never forget how some of my courses, such as Urban Space and Health and the Global Politics of Aging, changed the way that I view the world around me through the understanding that our environment is so closely linked to our health. In my aging-specific courses, I learned that older adults often bear the burden of belonging to multiple stereotyped groups, and as a result can experience discrimination on multiple levels. Both in the workplace and outside of it, I used my public health background, and my “SMS lens”, to inform my interactions with aging individuals on a day to day basis.
HOW HAVE YOU APPLIED THE SKILLS YOU LEARNED IN YOUR SMS COURSES TO YOUR CURRENT WORK?
As a medical student, I use what I learned at Mailman daily. I am taught throughout my courses to use a patient-centered approach, and I feel as though SMS has provided me a more thorough understanding of what that means. The ability to critically evaluate existing health programs, to understand the nuances of ethical dilemmas in health care, to integrate the social history of a country’s health care system into current care provision, to use epidemiology to understand the global and local burden of disease – I learned all of these skills as an SMS student at Columbia. Health is so much more than the absence of disease – it includes social, behavioural, and cultural determinants. Ultimately, my time at Mailman helped me to develop a deep and holistic understanding of health care provision and access to care, skills that I know I will take with me as a health care provider.
HOW HAVE YOUR INTERESTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH CHANGED (OR NOT) SINCE YOU WERE AT MAILMAN?
My interest in public health has only grown since studying at Columbia. While at Mailman, I was able to engage in an internship that involved advocating for the rights of older persons at the United Nations, with the goal of ensuring the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals had inclusive language for individuals of all ages. That opportunity encouraged me to continue to act as an advocate following graduation, first through participating in research initiatives that contribute positively to human health, and now, as a future physician. I hope to continue to pursue public health research in medical school and beyond, and I know that my time at Mailman helped to foster this passion.