Ethan Feldmiller

How do you define public health? What does it mean to you? 

For me, what public health really comes down to is improving the overall health status of communities. This could be through policy, intervention, disease prevention (like we have seen over the course of the pandemic) and a variety of other evidence-based means to comprehensively improve health. This is a field that has the ability to have a profound impact on the lives of people who need it the most. Public health aids in mitigating health disparities we see in populations such as those in rural West Virginia. It truly is a gratifying field to be a part of and is all-too-often overlooked. 

Why did you choose WVU for your public health education? 

I am part of the inaugural cohort for the WVU MHA program. Having just earned my B.S. in Public Health, with minors in business administration and communications, and knowing I wanted to pursue further education in an MHA program, WVU offered me the perfect opportunity to stay at a university I loved by establishing this program. I have also always loved the people of Morgantown and the WVU campus, so it was a no-brainer to continue my education here! 

Have any of your professors influenced you in a unique way? 

Over my time as an undergraduate and graduate student at WVU, I have taken three courses with Dr. Nicholas Castle. I feel as though I learned a great deal in his courses and felt as though they all perfectly built upon each other. I also learned a great deal about healthcare quality over the course of these classes. In fact, my internship last summer was in the quality department at Mon Health, and I feel as though I was able to really apply a lot of the curriculum, he taught in his courses to the work I did as part of my internship. 

You’re ending your academic journey during a unique time in our history. What has been both good and bad about studying public health and completing your college degree during a pandemic? 

I believe one of the good things was seeing a field that is so important, yet oftentimes in the past has been overlooked, come to the forefront of national attention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing that public health professionals across the country have led the charge in moving through this pandemic has brought me a lot of pride being part of WVU’s School of Public Health. 

I think the most difficult part for me has been the transition from in-person learning to remote learning. It takes a different type of discipline and has made me adapt to learning in a different format that I have never been accustomed to. 

Tell us about your internship experience.

Last summer, I was lucky enough to get to work with the quality department at the Mon Health Medical Center. My internship experience was unique in that it wasn’t as much project-based as it was experience-based. I was able to get a multidisciplinary, all-encompassing type of experience with a lot of different types of exposure -- from getting to observe more clinical settings, like the operating room and cath lab, to sitting in on board meetings and spending a significant amount of time shadowing professionals within the organization. Not only did I learn a great deal about quality from the individuals in the quality department but other aspects about healthcare in a hospital setting that I did not anticipate going into the internship. 

What are your plans after graduation? What is your ultimate career goal?

I’ll be heading directly east to Hagerstown, Maryland, and will be working at the Meritus Medical Center as their administrative fellow starting this summer. Personally, the ultimate career goal is to one day be a hospital CEO. It’s a lofty goal, but I feel as though the work I will do as an administrative fellow will be the perfect first step in eventually fulfilling my ultimate goal. 

What would you tell prospective students about WVU and the School of Public Health?  

I have nothing but good things to say about my time here with the school of public health. That’s why I not only got one degree here, but two! I would tell prospective students that an education in public health is extremely unique. The WVU School of Public Health has a vast curriculum that caters to a lot of different interests. Personally, I was more interested in the administrative side of healthcare and the school was able to tailor my curriculum to fit my specific interests. The School of Public Health here at WVU allows students to openly explore their specific interests and puts them on a direct path to a future career that they will love! 

What advice would you give to your freshman self? 

I would say there are two words of advice I would give to my freshman self. The first would be to always be confident in your capabilities as a student. I firmly believe that the first step to being a successful student is to have confidence in yourself. Second is to appreciate every moment as a student. Appreciate all of the ups and downs because being a student here at WVU is a once in a lifetime experience, so be sure to never take it for granted. 

What will you always remember from your time at WVU? 

Honestly, WVU was my first real home away from home. All the memories I have made here whether it be storming the court after a huge basketball win, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, or just my daily life being a student; I’ll remember it all and always know that I’ll have a home here in Morgantown! 

What do you think is the best tradition at WVU?

For me, it has to be the “Let go Mountaineers” chant. There’s nothing like a close football or basketball game and hearing that chant echo from one side of the stadium to the other. It will never cease to give me chills! 

What are you looking forward to most after graduation? 

I think I’m most looking forward to really put the lessons I have learned into practice and honing my skills as a professional in the field of healthcare administration. It’s a field that requires continuous learning, so the fact that I will basically be able to expand upon my education on a daily basis in a professional setting is something I am really looking forward too. I am also looking forward to coming back to visit for a football game as an alum every now and then! 

Is there something people would be surprised to learn about you?  

I think a lot of people would be surprised that I really love musical theater and Broadway productions. I would bet that if you were to look through my top 100 songs played on iTunes, you’d see quite a bit of Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera!