For Omar Morales-Haro, pursuing a degree in public health while training to become a doctor made sense.
“When we’re in the business of helping people improve their lives, we need to step back and reassess the ways in which we operate,” he said.
Omar recently graduated from UC Irvine with his MD and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees, where he pursued a second MD/MPH program by participating in the UC Irvine PRIME-LC program ( which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year). A three-time UC Irvine anteater alum, Omar said public health aligns with his values. “A public health perspective offers an opportunity to help make adjustments in our health care system that can work better for everyone.”
UC Irvine recently received approval from the UC Board of Regents to transform its program in public health into the Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health. It is the first school of public health in Orange County and UC’s newest school of public health. The school is founded on community commitment, and its establishment helps strengthen public health services in Southern California and beyond.
Through the transition of UC Irvine’s public health program to the school, more students, like Omar, are gaining the knowledge and training needed to address critical public health issues in California and promote equity in good health.
The impact of public health programs on society
Like Omar, Chris Weir is driven by a passion to create change and improve public health. He is pursuing an MPH degree in health policy, also because it is the gold standard, a professional degree for those seeking a role in the larger public health sector.
From a multiracial population, Chris focuses on eliminating the process of collecting unique health and socioeconomic data from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. This approach can silence the health of this community when it is lumped into the larger, commonly used Asian American label.
“When data reflects lived experiences and ultimately highlights diversity, people are better equipped to seek equal representation, resources and services that meet their needs,” said Chris.
COVID-19 deepened the existing health divide, disproportionately affecting certain communities in California. In response, a new generation of students emerged eager to address this inequality and support their communities. At UC Irvine, this resulted in increased applications to the public health program and, as a result, enrollment.
In 2020-2021, the public health program had 58 students enrolled in the MPH program. Three years and a pandemic later, enrollment has risen to 105 — an increase of nearly 80 percent. The new school hopes to enroll 150 MPH students during the next enrollment cycle. .
Members of the UC Irvine public health department have also been involved in the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the region, partnering with the Orange County Health Care Agency and sitting on several task forces to provide tips on handling contacts, reducing the spread of the virus and more.
As the sixth largest county in the country, Orange County is home to a diverse population. The region faces many unique day-to-day health challenges, many of which have been exacerbated by the epidemic – such as mental health issues, opioid use, and the disproportionate impact of chronic and communicable diseases, and the need to focus on them. successful aging. Public health professionals, such as UC Irvine graduates, help state and local organizations develop policies and programs to address these needs.
Addressing public health issues in Southern California
The move to the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health will expand its role in the region’s public health system.
Collaboration with government and community agencies and organizations, integration with faculty, dedicated students and a mission to engage with the community through the lens of health equity, means that the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health is well suited to help solve some. of Southern California’s public health challenges.
The four areas of the new school: environmental and occupational health; epidemiology and biostatistics; health, society and morality; and population health and disease prevention, form the basis of public health. The faculty will develop collaborations with neighboring communities and will promote understanding of population-level, biological, behavioral and environmental aspects of health.
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