Amy Bacon, MPH Student
In 2009 Amy suffered an unexpected sudden cardiac arrest. Eight years later she’s excelling in UM-Flint’s Master of Public Health. Read Amy’s story below…
On March 19, 2009, I suffered an unexpected Sudden Cardia Arrest that changed my life forever. This led me to need a heart transplant; I was transplanted with a new heart on 6/26/2012. This experience has totally changed my views on life and I knew at that point God had saved me for a reason. Even if I really wasn’t sure what that reason was.
After I went back to school to get my Associate in Applied Science as a Medical Insurance Specialist, I realized that my calling was to educate the public on the importance of preventative health. I did not want anyone else to go through what I had experienced with my heart failure. So I made the decision to continue on and get my Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration with the end goal of acquiring my Master’s Degree in Public Health.
After I was accepted to the University of Michigan-Flint’s MPH program, I knew that I was “home” and I had made the right decision. Since being a student at UM-Flint, I have met many students and faculty members that have helped to catapult me in the direction that I want to go. I am a member of ETA SIGMA GAMMA, which is a national honors society for health educators. I have been a part of a blood drive, and two solid organ and tissue donor drives, one of which I initiated with ETA SIGMA GAMMA. It was a huge success. I am currently working with both Dr. Suzuki and Dr. Hayman on both Qualitative and Quantitative surveys with residents of low socioeconomic status here in Genesee County.
I am determining children’s eating habits (CHESS) through Qualitative Surveys with Dr. Hayman, as well as Prenatal Access at Hamilton Community Health Care Network through Quantitative surveys with Dr. Suzuki. I believe that UM-Flint has given me the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the community in health education. I am looking very forward to what the future holds for me as I have decided to make Genesee County my permanent residence.
Read more on the Master of Public Health by visiting the homepage: https://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/public-health-mph.