Christian Muragijimana
Globe, Culture and Public Health: A Milestone for Career Growth
It is a great honour to be part of the graduates’ community at our University, University of Eastern Finland (UEF). I remember back in 2020 when I took a long-haul flight from Kigali-Rwanda, East Africa, to this beautiful relaxing city of Kuopio that offers a great taste of the natural beauty of Finland, I had one mission that was to acquire knowledge, real-life skills required for sustainable impact-driven public health interventions to improve health, well-being, and quality of life for the remote vulnerable communities as part of our current Global village.
Adjacent to my previously acquired work experience with the remote drought-prone socially disadvantaged communities living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in the horn of Africa, my study plans were wrapped around my burning desire that was to have a good grasp on Global Health concerns, and practicalities for research-driven adjustments (or reinforcement) prerequisite of our modern Public Health approach, to tackle pressing health concerns including lack of basic human needs such as access to water and sanitation and resilient WASH systems among the world’s most deprived communities.
The diverse areas of Public Health studies at the University of Eastern Finland promoted and reinforced my personal growth, interpersonal skills, and gave me a unique perspective of not only our current Global and Public Health burden but also the necessity of Culture that frames and shapes our perceptions and experiences. My past two years of studies as a student in MPH/ Globe, Culture and Public Health, gave me an invaluable perspective that at a personal level I consider to be the key guiding component for the rest of my career. The study materials, knowledge, and skills reflecting the on-ground Global and Public Health realities, alongside the delightful learning environment at the University of Eastern Finland, provided me with a great opportunity to not only enrich and focus on my studies but also find my career meaning through guidance, help, and support from our department.
As an MPH graduate, looking forward to my next career opportunity working with Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations managing public health-driven interventions to improve health and quality of life in the horn of Africa, at the same time reflecting on the exigency to alleviate and address our current health burden and disparities alongside the growing climate emergency focusing on the most vulnerable amongst us, I am deeply honoured to have had this great opportunity to join the University of Eastern Finland and fulfill my dreams by acquiring the updated public health tools and high-quality expertise that should allow me to contribute to fulfilling our greatest quest for providing more equitable, resilience-driven, and sustainable Global and Public Health interventions.
On a final note, this has been so far the most rewarding and fulfilling decision of my life, and it would be a great honour to further my studies here at our University of Eastern Finland. If you have passion towards Global and Public Health improvement, with a burning desire to acquire more rigorous research-driven skills for more impactful Global and Public Health action to improve not only the conditions but also behaviours that affect health, look no further! You are in the right place. I encourage you and wish you all the best in acquiring the most wonderful and rewarding experience for the next phase of your career, where aside from learning more about yourself, every class and school-based interactions will be a new adventure for your personal, intellectual, and professional growth.
Welcome to our beloved and esteemed University of Eastern Finland.
Behnam Tajik
MPHN, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, UEF
I found my passion for the career I want to pursue when I was still in high school. I started taking health and nutrition classes my junior year, and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the health field and I did my undergraduate degree in Nutrition Sciences in the University of Science and Research, Tehran, Iran. During my bachelor, I gained a basic understanding of the complex and varied nature of public health and nutrition issues affecting people today. Hence, I decided that I wanted to pursue higher study in the public health nutrition field which is how I came across the MPHN program and the UEF had this really fantastic looking program, and I was really excited to do it. So, I applied and got accepted and travelled a long distance to follow my scientific goals at UEF I completed my master’s degree programme in Public Health Nutrition at UEF in late 2015.
During my master’s study, I developed a very big interest in the research in health science. I have gained scientific research skills, including scientific writing and independent data analyses, which helped me a lot during my PhD study and my postdoctoral fellowship. I received my doctoral degree in health science in early 2020 and since that time I have been working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of public health and Clinical nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland working in the area of cardiovascular disease’s prevention.
I think one of the best things about this program is that there is really something for everyone. There is such a board range of specializations or majors that you can do and even border range of subjects to choose from. Another great thing about the MPHN program is the incredible teaching and research teams. They are masters in their fields. During my study at UEF I had a great chance to study and work in a stimulating international environment and interacting with different scientists and international students. Apart from making such great friends during my master study, this program really helped me what I want out of my career and how to make it happen
We all might be regretting some of the mistakes that we’ve made and wanting to turn back the hands of time to do things over again. But honestly, Studying MPHN at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life, and I will never regret my decision to study here. this program has provided me with a wealth of professional growth opportunities during my PhD, for example guest lecturing, research experience, and teacher assistant experience, which will definitely help me in my career in future as a researcher and lecturer.
So, to finish up, I believe if you are looking for opportunities to enter public health careers focused on making real differences to people’s life and if you have a passion for public health, this could be the degree for you. So, best of luck for the prospective master’s students in MPHN at our beloved UEF.
Masoud Isanejad
I started my master’s degree in the University of Eastern Finland in 2012 and since May 2019 I have been working as researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University of Liverpool working in the area of nutrition, musculoskeletal ageing, frailty and falls. I like to snap-capture my research as ‘Adding Life to Ageing Years’.
After graduating in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Science and Research, Tehran, Iran, I made the long journey to Kuopio, Finland. At the UEF, Kuopio, I received my Master of Sciences in Public Health Nutrition, and then a PhD on the role of nutrition in musculoskeletal disorders among older women, that further shaped my postdoctoral fellowship for one year. I have lived in Finland for 7 years, and proudly became a part of this amazing society (Suomen kansalainen). This time can be portrayed as an extraordinary life experience from the cold winters, vast forests, and blue lakes to very nice people living in this country, not just the natives but surprisingly many small international communities which one may never think are living in small town of Kuopio. I could not be happier with my choice of moving to Kuopio, Finland, that made me a better person and a competent researcher.
For me the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio was definitely the right choice, and I highly recommend coming here if you are a fan of nature, sports and cozy studying atmosphere.
Simonetta Zieger
Simonetta Zieger
Doing an exchange semester was always a dream of mine. So, I started informing myself about possible exchange universities. This is how I got to know about the UEF in Kuopio. After checking the course options for exchange students, I also started a quick research about Finland. From this moment on, I fell in love with the idea of studying there. As the UEF offers many English courses which cover public health as well as nutrition topics, this university just seemed perfect for me. As a next step I had to write a motivation letter. Quite easy for me, because I already had a long list of personal reasons! So here they are (and by this time already approved by experiences of my current stay in Kuopio): experiencing Finnish lifestyle with sauna, winter sports and all kind of outdoors activities; studying with Finnish and other international students; learning more about Finnish health care and educational system; doing lots of sports at the UEF sports program ‘Sykettä’ (this is amazing as it costs just 35 € per semester and you can choose different sports classes daily).
Sushil Basnet
After graduating with Master’s Degree in Public Health on 2014 from the University of Eastern Finland, I returned back to my home country, Nepal and started working in different National and International Organizations which are directly involved in improving health system. I was associated with Helen Keller International, Research Triangle Institute International for few years. Currently I am working in Nick Simons Institute, a non-governmental philanthropic organization which aims to enhance the rural healthcare services in Nepal. Under Nick Simons Foundation at New York, USA, Nick Simons Institute has been working to improve health care services to the people residing in rural areas through training to health workers and capacity building of government hospitals through hospital support program all over Nepal since 2006.
The exposure I got during my Master’s Degree in Public Health has always been guiding my professional career. It has always guided me to perform my professional duties at my best and build my future career. I am confident it will further help me to flourish my academic career in future.
Noel Barengo
After I graduated from the UEF Medical School, I decided to start an MPH at the University of Eastern Finland. This was probably one of my best decisions taken at that time. As I used to be involved with IFMSA, I was already exposed to some public health project and some very basic concept. The courses of the MPH program shaped pretty much my future and laid the groundwork of all my work in the past 20 years. Specially, the health promotion course and the public health seminars were well received by me. The MPH also provided me with the necessary foundations of statistical analysis and epidemiological concepts that I managed to apply for my PhD. The MPH program laid the groundwork to my entire professional career. The people I met, the countries I lived and the experience I gained in Public Health – nothing would have been possible without the decision back in 1999 to obtain the MPH degree.
Floro Cubelo
Studying Master’s Degree Programme in Public Health at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition and Department of Nursing Science at the University of Eastern Finland was one of the best decisions I have made in my professional nursing career. The programme broaden my horizon in understanding the role of nurses in the global health arena, health promotion, nursing policies and evidence-based practices and in international mobility and migration. Nurses play a crucial role in achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We can never achieve the goal to eradicate or lessen the cases of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) without the nurses being part in the policy and decision-making process. The world’s education system is ever-changing, and the definition of nursing student is not anymore limited in the bachelor’s level but also the scope has expanded to graduate and post-graduate levels. The nursing profession is dynamic and has to cope with the demands of the healthcare system. Nurses face endless challenges may it be during endemic, epidemic or pandemic times. Constantly educating ourselves will make us resilient no matter what catastrophes will come through in the public health arena.
During my studies, I was able to meet nursing leaders and public health experts from different parts of Europe and around the world. The application of nursing science in public health became significant in raising the identity of nursing among other healthcare and allied health professionals. The education system in Finland gives you endless opportunities to show your competence and grow as a multifaceted young professional. The best part of the degree programme is being heard as a student and the different pedagogical approaches utilised by the professors and university lecturers. The experience of having classmates from the field of nursing, medicine, veterinary, physical therapy, nutrition, dentistry, pharmacy and social sciences make the learning avenue richer. The Finnish education system encourages critical thinking and constructive criticism. Finding the solution based on evidence is one thing I learned which I will carry as a nurse and an educator.
My internship in public health opened new portal of opportunities for me to advance another milestone of my nursing career. I was hired as a lecturer right after graduating from the master’s degree programme. I am currently teaching international nursing students with diverse background from different parts of the world. It is a humbling experience as I was once in their shoes chasing dreams which I have achieved. When there is a nursing shortage, I also do part-time job as a registered nurse in city district and university hospitals. The field of nursing experiences I have are internal medicine, acute care, infectious diseases, gerontology, nonpharmacological pain management and rehabilitation. Balancing both the academic and clinical experience can be very challenging, but it is a rewarding experience. Who would have thought that a young naïve guy from the global south is experiencing these opportunities which I thought were once bubble dreams?
I highly recommend University of Eastern Finland as your key pathway to understand deeper about nursing and beyond. It is the only institution in Finland that offers Master’s Degree in Public Health with specialisations in nursing science. The university has reputable global rankings in both public health and nursing science fields. In the future, I would like to pursue postgraduate studies to understand more about Policy Delphi studies and conduct research on the needs of foreign-born nurses who are working in the Nordic healthcare systems. I am also actively advocating in the empowerment of international nursing students and migrant nurses who are working in the Nordic region. They are considered vulnerable groups of the society and so their needs must be attended with diligence and audacity.
Believe me or not, I still can’t believe I am living in Finland. Although achieving these dreams weren’t easy, I have made the best decision in my life. It is my pride and honour to be part in one of the world’s best education and healthcare systems.
May the force be with me!