Student Feature: Finding a Place in Public Health Through Passion and Purpose

For Julianna Lopez, public health was more than a career path—it was a calling she discovered long before she knew exactly where it would lead.

As a first-year Master of Public Health student in the Health Promotion Sciences program at the Hudson College of Public Health, Julianna’s interest in health began with a curiosity about the systems and communities that shape people’s well-being.

Growing up in The Woodlands, Texas, Julianna always felt drawn to health care. But it wasn’t until a high school pathophysiology course that she began to see health beyond the walls of a clinic.

“One day, I walked out of class knowing I wanted to be a public health professional,” she said.

A lesson on the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis introduced her to epidemiology and sparked a realization: health is influenced by much more than individual care—it is shaped by communities, environments, policies, and access.

As Julianna explored public health further, she recognized that many of the volunteer experiences she had participated in for years were already rooted in public health principles.

“I realized that the things I had been doing had a name,” she said. “They were public health initiatives.”

That passion led her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where she discovered the opportunity to continue her education through the Hudson College of Public Health.

After beginning an MPH program elsewhere, Julianna realized she was searching for a program that better aligned with her goals and values. She returned to Oklahoma to continue her graduate education at HCOPH.

Choosing HCOPH was an easy decision. As the only accredited school of public health in Oklahoma, the college offered the rigorous training, diverse areas of study, and hands-on experiences she was looking for as she prepared for a future in public health.

“Continuing my public health education at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus was the best decision for me and my future as a public health professional,” Julianna said.

Since joining HCOPH, Julianna has found opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. As a graduate research assistant on a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) project, she has gained experience contributing to initiatives focused on improving community safety and well-being.

She has also participated in interprofessional education opportunities and built connections with faculty and classmates who share her commitment to improving health outcomes.

For Julianna, finding her place in public health has been about discovering the many ways health can be improved—and learning how to turn passion into action.

Her advice to future students? Stay curious, explore the possibilities, and don’t be afraid to find the public health path that fits you.