Ryan Kirk

When did you know that you wanted to study public health?

I knew I wanted to study public health when I found myself at a crossroads in my education. I knew I did not want to continue with medical school, but I also knew that I still wanted to help contribute to the overall health of my fellow West Virginians. This led me to choose public health as a future career, and I knew it was the right fit when I got my internship through the WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital and immediately realized it was the type of work I always envisioned doing.

Why did you choose WVU for your education?

Proximity to my family, a lot of my friends went to school here and it just felt like home from the moment I visited.

Who at WVU has had the biggest impact on your college experience?

Scot McIntosh, assistant dean for student affairs in the School of Public Health, has always been so understanding of my own struggles and the issues that my cohort goes through. He is a constant reassuring voice and guiding light, and I don’t know if I would be hopeful for my future career without him.

Tell us about your internship.

I was an intern with the quality management department at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. I was able to work on projects surrounding infection control, clinician education and patient access to health records. I learned how to communicate with a large variety of individuals clearly and effectively in a clinical setting and learned how fulfilling working towards improved health outcomes can be.

What are you plans after graduation?

I am applying for data analyst roles within different healthcare settings. Ultimately, I would like to continue working in quality and patient outcomes and see myself in a coordinator role in the future.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Surround yourself with individuals who share similar goals to you.

What will you always remember from your time at WVU?

The kindness of strangers.