Aaliya Burke, who is enrolled in the SPH’s 4+1 BS/MPH program, has a passion for learning about health equity and disparities and for finding ways to close those gaps through the use of new laws and policies, as well as the management of programs and healthcare facilities.
Name: Aaliya Burke
Hometown: Lilburn, Georgia
Undergraduate degree and institution: Bachelor of Science in Public Health, GSU
Expected dates of graduation: BSPH 2023/MPH 2025
Why did you choose the Georgia State School of Public Health?
Originally I was a nursing major, and while I liked science the classes weren’t something I was really excited or passionate about, so I started looking at majors that would excite me. That’s when I discovered public health, which allowed me to work in healthcare but on a more big-picture scale dealing with whole populations and communities. The classes were so interesting that I was excited to learn more and make this my future. I chose the School of Public Health because it spoke to my need to help people in a way I didn’t know existed and excited me for my future career.
Why did you choose the Accelerated 4+1 Program?
I chose to do the 4+1 program because it provided the best opportunity to get a head start on my MPH and get into graduate school. I plan on eventually getting my Ph.D. Going through the program has made it easier to prepare for that goal by essentially letting me streamline my MPH while getting more concentrated advice from professors in my concentration of interest.
Which MPH concentration did you choose, and why?
My MPH concentration is in Health Management and Policy. I went this route because I have a passion for learning about health equity and disparities and for finding ways to close those gaps in healthcare through the use of new laws and policies, as well as the management of programs and healthcare facilities. I’m especially interested in women’s and reproductive health, and global health policies that involve humanitarian aid and helping other countries strengthen their health infrastructure.
What has been your favorite class in the SPH so far, and why?
My favorite class so far has been “Health Equity and Disparities” because I got to learn not just what disparities are but why they exist—whether they’re racial, socioeconomic or geographic—and what I can do as a public health professional to close that gap.
What advice would you give undergraduate students considering pursuing an MPH at Georgia State?
I would tell them to go for it and to do the 4+1 program if they can. It will help them narrow down what aspect of public health they want to work in, and since it’s an interdisciplinary field they’ll still develop skills related to other concentrations. It also will help them narrow down where they want to work, like NGOs, government agencies or non-profit organizations.
Tell us about your campus involvement.
In undergrad, I was a part of the Undergraduate Public Health Club, which was focused on campus involvement and volunteering opportunities, and the ENGin program, where I was a tutor for Ukrainian students who wanted to learn English. Right now, I’m in a research club headed by Dr. Armstrong-Mensah and, along with a few other classmates, working on a paper we plan to publish under her guidance.
What’s your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the second-floor common area of the Urban Life Building. It’s perfect for studying, close to the professors I may need to talk to, an easy place to meet classmates and it’s quieter than the library for the most part. I like to sit in the corners near the windows and read or get ready for class on my laptop in the mornings.
What’s your career aspiration?
There are so many things I want to do with my degree, like protecting women’s reproductive rights in the wake of Roe v. Wade, creating and implementing a national standard for evidence-based sexual education in schools, creating programs centered around lowering Black and Hispanic maternal mortality, and so much more. My immediate plan after getting my master’s is to balance working in health management while applying to a Ph.D. program for Health Policy and Management.