Melissa Tolbert Yeso

For prospective students who aren’t familiar with this field, how do you define public health? What does it mean to you?

Healthcare is forever evolving. It is important that future leaders in healthcare understand there needs to be a seamless blend between healthcare, health systems, public health and population health. When I think of public health as a whole, it requires individuals in leadership to keep a patient-centric approach while having the finesse to adapt to health challenges and meet the demand of the public and their health concerns.

The beauty of a Master of Health Administration: you are exposed to both the leadership qualities it takes to tackle health system challenges, while understanding how public health, public policy and population health impact the success and failures of healthcare and health management.   

Why did you choose WVU for your public health education?

Over the last several years working as the Developmental Health System Account Manager, I have had the pleasure of working with the WVU Health Science Leadership team. I have listen to their vision for health care excellence and I watched their ability to impact change throughout the State of West Virginia. When choosing an MHA program, there was something special about being the first class to come out of the WVU School of Public Health program, to help set the standard and a precedent in terms of what the program would bring to the state and University.

Have any faculty or staff members influenced you in a unique way? If so, who and how?

I don’t think there was one professor, per se, though I do think there were classes that really challenged me to push beyond the limits of my healthcare knowledge. But, I have to give kudos to Kara Forst and Professor Carlton. Kara kept me on track, made sure my questions were answered, and got me to the finish line in two years! Professor Carlton was a great sounding board who was willing to listen to the class' concerns and adapt based on unforeseen circumstances. This is a demonstration of great leadership, especially under pandemic circumstances and the new program development.

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?

Our MHA class was in a very unique position studying public health and health systems during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic gave us a front row seat to the importance of public health and the value health care leadership can have an impact on patient care, population health, and health system management during a crisis. These were personal experiences we were able to tap into throughout our studies.

Tell us about your internship experience.

I was currently employed by Novo Nordisk at the time of my field assignment. The company asked me to use this time to create a Health Systems Playbook that would be rolled out as a learning tool to the 3,500-person sales forces. Not only was I involved in the development of the playbook, but I designed Learning Models around population health, health systems, quality metrics, and implementing health system guidelines.

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

During my MHA, I transitioned into a new role with McKesson/CoverMyMeds as its I senior manager of business development for emerging biopharma. I now have the pleasure of working with over 350 new biopharma companies who are bringing first pharmaceutical products to market. There has been nothing more rewarding than when they get FDA approval for a life-saving medication, and then helping them bring the product to market.

Because of my love for public health and public affairs, I am part of a team to help McKesson have a positive impact on their distribution role within the opioid epidemic. Our team is working with states that have the highest rates of opioid overdoses, and we are helping to set up Narcan Loyalty Script programs so that at-risk patients have access to life-saving medication.

If you would have asked me two years ago, I probably would have said CEO/COO of a hospital or working in an academic health system to help bridge the gap between medicine, health science and pharma. Right now, I am just finding ways to apply what I have learned in the MHA program to my leadership style.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

If you are currently not in a healthcare role, start looking for a field opportunity early. Also, start reaching out to different health care leadership individuals early. There are so many different facets of Healthcare Administration, CEO and COO aren’t the only titles worth exploring. Healthcare and Health Systems are enormous fields and successfully networking will help open one’s eyes to additional opportunities.

What will you always remember from your time at WVU?

I was blessed to join a working group early in my journey at WVU. I will forever be blessed for what I learned from each of them, their support, and to their insights into healthcare. We all had different backgrounds, so it was fun learning about their perceptions and views on healthcare. I will be forever grateful for their friendships.

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

My grandparents William and Angela Tolbert, along with my parents, aunts and uncles always stressed the importance of community. I have carried that teaching throughout my life and believe we have to be more than just our careers. I am actively involved with the American Heart Association; I also sit on the Board of Wheeling Health Right, and chair the Martins Ferry Strawberry Festival and WinterFest. During the pandemic, I helped the City of Martins Ferry find a buyer and reopen East Ohio Regional Hospital, which was closed in 2019 due to the Alecto scandal that plagued the Ohio Valley and impacted access to care.