Victoria Nist

What does public health mean to you?

Public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of entire communities, not just treating individuals after they become sick. It focuses on preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, improving access to care, and creating environments that give people a fair opportunity to live healthy lives.

Why did you choose to study public health at WVU?

I chose to study public health at WVU to understand health beyond the individual patient and to learn how biological, environmental, social, and economic factors shape community health. As I work toward becoming a physician, I believe public health complements clinical medicine by emphasizing prevention, health equity, and population-level outcomes. Through my Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics, I am developing the skills to analyze health data, conduct research, and contribute to evidence-based solutions that improve the health of individuals and communities.

Have any members of the faculty or staff influenced you in a unique way?

Professor Bethany Barone Gibbs, chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and my faculty mentor, has influenced me by guiding and encouraging me throughout my MPH journey. Associate Professor Caroline Groth has also significantly shaped my education through her teaching and helped me develop a stronger understanding of biostatistics. These experiences have helped me build confidence in my statistical and analytical skills and have encouraged me to think critically about how research and data can be applied to address real-world public health challenges.

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

My field placement experience was with the Monongalia County Health Department, where I worked alongside Dr. Brian Huggins on tick surveillance and Lyme disease prevention. I helped collect and identify ticks and examined tick populations to better understand the potential prevalence of tick-borne disease in the community. This experience let me apply epidemiology and public health concepts beyond the classroom and better understand how local health departments conduct disease surveillance and prevention.

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

I would tell prospective students that the WVU School of Public Health is a place where you can truly grow both personally and professionally. My experience has given me opportunities to learn from faculty who genuinely care about their students, apply what I learn in the classroom through hands-on experiences, and explore areas of public health I am passionate about. If you are considering WVU, I would encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities, ask questions, build relationships with your professors, and step outside your comfort zone. My experiences at WVU have shaped my goals and given me a clearer understanding of the public health professional and future physician I want to become.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

Say "YES!" Say yes to opportunities, new experiences, getting involved, meeting new people, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Not every opportunity will lead to something meaningful, but you will never know unless you take the chance. Some of the experiences that shaped me most came from saying yes to opportunities I wasn't sure about at first.

How have your experiences in the School of Public Health helped prepare you for your future?

My experiences in the School of Public Health have prepared me for the future by deepening my understanding of how research, data, and community-based interventions can improve health. Through coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics, research, and applied practice, I have developed skills in data analysis, public health research, and applying what I learn to real-world health challenges. As I pursue my goal of becoming a physician, I know the perspective I have gained through public health will help me look beyond treating individual patients and consider the broader factors that influence their health and their communities' health.

What do you plan to do upon completion of your degree?

I plan to work in public health for a year and then apply to medical school.

Are you involved in any additional activities or programs?

I am a member of the WVU School of Public Health Student Association of Public Health, student representative for the WVU School of Public Health Bylaws Committee, member of the WVU Health Sciences Center Graduate Student Organization and the WVU Graduate Women Advocating Science organization, vice president and national team member of the WVU Swim Club, and a GTA in the Honors College Research Apprenticeship Program.