Emily Spotloe

Briefly describe your current role as a public health practitioner.

I serve as an advisory services analyst supporting federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) quality improvement initiatives. I partner with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help strengthen how states measure, report, and use healthcare quality data. My work includes project coordination on large federal health contracts, supporting data quality efforts, state-facing technical assistance, and internal process improvement initiatives.

Why did you choose WVU for your public health education?

WVU felt like home to me. With deep family roots in West Virginia, attending WVU was both a personal and meaningful choice. I was also excited by the public health curriculum and the courses available, which gave me a great foundation for my career.

How did WVU and your experiences in the School of Public Health prepare you to be a public health professional?

My experience at WVU gave me both the technical and practical skills I use every day. Project-based coursework helped me build strong project management skills, including tools like the Gantt chart that I now rely on in my work. Public health writing courses prepared me to develop clear, strategic content for federal proposals and reports, and my healthcare systems and policy classes gave me a deep understanding of how programs like Medicaid and CHIP function.

Tell us about your field placement experience or other hands-on experiences.

I completed my field placement at WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital as a performance excellence intern, where I gained hands-on experience in quality improvement and project management. I supported process improvement initiatives and learned how data-driven strategies can enhance patient care and operational efficiency.

What advice would you give today’s public health students?

Explore every avenue. Public health is such a broad field, and there are more career paths than most students realize. Stay open, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to pursue paths you may not have originally considered.

What does public health mean to you?

Public health, to me, is about strengthening the systems that support entire communities. It’s not always visible work, but it’s impactful. Using data, policy, and collaboration to improve access, quality, and outcomes for people who rely on public programs.