Sydney Durrah

Briefly describe your current role as a public health practitioner.

As a project coordinator supporting behavioral health strategic initiatives at Nationwide Children's Hospital, I coordinate multidisciplinary projects aimed at improving behavioral health care delivery and patient outcomes.

Why did you choose WVU for your public health education?

I choose WVU for my public health education because of the faculty. The endless support and opportunities that they have provided me have truly shaped the trajectory of my career. I was looking for a program that would prepare me to address real-world health challenges and provide opportunities for research and community engagement. My undergraduate experience helped confirm my passion for improving health outcomes at a population level, which ultimately led me to pursue my Master of Public Health.

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

WVU prepared me with both hard and soft skills to become a public health professional. I left with a strong foundation in the core principles of public helath while emphasizing the importance of addressing health disparities, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Through coursework, collaborative projects, and community-based learning, I developed skills in data analysis, health education, program planning, and evidence-based decision making. WVU also taught me how to work across disciplines and consider the social determinants of health when developing solutions.

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

My biggest piece of advice is to say yes to opportunities that challenge you, even if they seem outside your comfort zone. Public health is incredibly broad, so take advantage of internships, research, volunteer experiences, and networking opportunities to discover what you're passionate about.

I also encourage students to build both technical and interpersonal skills. Learning how to analyze data is important but so is communicating findings, collaborating with diverse teams, and understanding the communities you're serving. Finally, remember that relationships matter. Many of the opportunities I've had came from mentors, professors, and colleagues who believed in me and helped me grow.

What does public health mean to you?

To me, public health means creating systems and environments where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. It's about looking beyond individual health and addressing the social, environmental, and structural factors that influence well-being.

Public health is proactive rather than reactive. It's about preventing illness, promoting equity, and using evidence to improve the health of entire communities. Whether I was evaluating maternal health programs during my MPH or now coordinating behavioral health initiatives at Nationwide Children's Hospital, my goal has remained the same: to use data, collaboration, and innovation to improve lives and create lasting, meaningful change.