USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Jean Mitchell

Degree: Master of Public Health

Current Position: Occupational Therapist, Faulkton Area Medical Center

Like many professionals, Jean Mitchell, an occupational therapist at Faulkton Area Medical Center, had planned to continue her education after OT school. Then, life happened.

"I got married and had children and I was working," says Mitchell. She was also living in rural Redfield, where access to higher education can be a challenge.

When Mitchell eventually did have the bandwidth to go back to school, the University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences' online program offered her an affordable way to earn another degree without having to leave her family, her rural community, or her full-time job. 

"I considered getting a doctorate in occupational therapy, but I figured I'm already a practicing OT, so I didn't see much benefit in that," says Mitchell. Instead, she settled on the School of Health Sciences' Master in Public Health program, a program she hoped would help support her work on the board of the Northeast SD Area Health Education Center (AHEC).

"AHEC works to ensure a healthy workforce, support healthcare workers, and encourage kids to go into healthcare," says Mitchell. "I thought this degree would help me run better community education classes and start new programs in our community."

In fact, Mitchell was doing that even before she graduated. As part of her applied practical experience, she initiated a partnership that helped bring two evidenced-based exercise programs to Faulkton - programs that are still running today.

"The MPH helped make me aware of all the different players on the field and get good at bringing them together for coordinated services," she says. "If we can affect the group, we are going to affect the individual."

Congratulations to this USD School of Health Sciences success story!