Some say, “There is no shortcut to success.”

Three graduates of the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health (COPH) who participated in the COPH’s 4+1 Program might disagree.

The 4+1 Program, which is a partnership between UAMS and several Arkansas institutions, enables academically motivated students to earn a bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s degree in public health (MPH), in just five years.

Today, one of the former 4+1 scholars is a consultant for a large federal health agency, another is pursuing a Ph.D. in bioinformatics, and the third is working for a health nonprofit in Little Rock while completing a master’s degree in public service (MPS) at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Three of Arkansas’ historically black colleges and universities — Philander Smith College and Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff — have sent some of their best and brightest to the innovative COPH 4+1 Program. The private, selective Hendrix College in Conway is also a 4+1 partner.

Taking on graduate studies while still a college sophomore or junior is not for everyone, but for these three 4+1 scholars, it jump-started their careers in public health.

One is Michael Grier, MPH, now only in his mid-20s, who works as a consultant on HIV policy for the Health Resources and Services Administration, a large federal agency in Washington, DC. Mr. Grier learned about the 4+1 Program from his advisor, Cynthia Burroughs, Ph.D., at Philander Smith College. The program enabled him to count some MPH course credits towards his biology degree, saving him time and money. Support from both Dr. Burroughs and COPH helped him adjust to the new demands of the program.

“I had a view of graduate school — inaccessible professors who focused only on their research,” Mr. Grier said. “The College dismissed those fears in seconds of walking through the door. I felt welcomed and found professors who knew I was an undergrad and wanted to cultivate my talent and develop me into a successful student.”

The COPH’s engaging atmosphere also resonated with Etienne Nzabarushimana, MPH, who is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the School of Informatics and Computing with a specialty in Bioinformatics at Indiana University Bloomington.

“One of the great things about the 4+1 Program and the COPH in general is the fact that you have a great opportunity to interact with faculty and staff in a way that encourages hands-on and engaged learning,” said Mr. Nzabarushimana, who came to the United States in 2009 as a Rwandan Presidential Scholar. While majoring in chemistry at Hendrix College, he learned about the 4+1 program. At COPH, Mr. Nzabarushimana completed a preceptorship in the lab of Igor Koturbash, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the COPH Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. He was part of a team researching the epigenetic effects of radiation.

“For me, the 4+1 program is unique for it afforded me an opportunity to interact with public health professionals (both in academia and outside) while still doing my undergraduate studies,” Mr. Nzabarushimana said. “It put me in an interdisciplinary atmosphere that cultivated and stimulated both my intellectual growth and discovery.”

When LaKaija Johnson, MPH, was biology major at Philander Smith College, her advisor encouraged her to consider the 4+1 program. Although a strong student, she found navigating graduate school while still an undergraduate a bit challenging at first.

“While it was very difficult at times, I quickly found a source of support and tips on adjusting in the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs,” Ms. Johnson said.

She says she would recommend a public health degree to other science majors.

“I would encourage any student with an interest in STEM to learn more about the wide array of opportunities that exist in public health,” she said.

Ms. Johnson aspires to work in health policy to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. She will complete her MPS at the Clinton School this spring and has her sights set on a doctoral program in public health leadership.

Ms. Johnson, Mr. Grier and Mr. Nzabarushimana are typical of the students attracted to the 4+1 program, said Kevin Ryan, J.D., MA, COPH’s Associate Dean for Professional Programs and Co-Director of DrPH Programs.

“Without exception, they want to do big things — go on to other graduate programs, start new programs, go back to their hometowns and make something happen,” Prof. Ryan said.

High academic achievement is also typical of 4+1 students. Although many are first in their families to attend college, they excel.

“Here they are, 20- or 21-year-olds who have not even earned a bachelor’s degree, able to hold their own,” Prof. Ryan observed. “They have to be the stronger students, able to take on more course work in what is akin to skipping several grades, going from elementary to middle school.”

Despite the challenges of the program, all three former 4+1 students said they are grateful for its defining impact on their lives.

“Without the 4+1 program, I would have never interned at the Arkansas Department of Health and started my career in public service,” Mr. Grier said. “I’m not sure where I’d be or what I’d be doing, but I know I wouldn’t be 26 with an MPH and a career in a field I’m passionate about in a city I love.”

College of Public Health students were treated Feb. 17 to a workshop on the basics of a successful job interview, led by Mary Cantrell, MA, the Executive Director of the UAMS Centers for Simulation Education.

The COPH Office of Student Affairs organized the event, which is part of its 2015-16 Professional Development for Students series.

Ms. Cantrell has worked at UAMS for more than 20 years. She built its standardized patient and simulated education programs and founded the International Association of Standardized Patient Education. She has degrees in drama and organizational communication. She has interviewed countless job applicants and medical school candidates.

The workshop was packed with pithy bits of advice from this astute observer of human behavior.

Do your homework — research the company before the interview and come with a set of written questions. “You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you,” she said. Students had the chance to try out questions that they might ask at an interview and get Ms. Cantrell’s feedback.

With a friend, practice your answers to the stock, tough interview questions: “Why did you leave your previous job?”; “Where do you want to be in 5 to 10 years?”; “What do people say about you?”

If asked, “What is your preferred salary range?” the best reply is, “It’s negotiable.” Don’t talk about salary in the first interview unless the interviewer brings it up.

To answer the inevitable “Tell me about yourself,” don’t bore with a life history (even a short one). Create and rehearse a compelling story from your life experience that reveals your values, personality traits, what motivates you, your strengths and weaknesses. “People like stories — short and sweet stories. You can tell them the details later.” NEVER lie. Be yourself.

You don’t want to be late or remembered as the candidate who got lost. Find where you are going in advance and carry a phone number to call in case you are delayed.

On wardrobe: Be conservative, dress simply and professionally, “but stand out so they will remember you.” Ladies, a large handbag carries the psychological meaning of lots of baggage. A small purse connotes simplicity and tidiness. Men, don’t go with pockets bulging or filled with change.

Ms. Cantrell “did an excellent job of explaining specific techniques interviewees can employ to make a good impression throughout the process — from preparation to job interview to employer follow-up,” workshop attendee David Vrudny said.

The 2015-16 Professional Development for Students series included workshops last fall on working with the IRB and APA style and formatting. Another workshop on the IRB is planned for the spring.

Lowry Barnes, M.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Musculoskeletal Service Line, has named health literacy researcher Kristie Hadden, Ph.D., the second Carl L. Nelson Chair of Orthopaedic Creativity at UAMS.

The chair was established and endowed by Dr. Nelson, who served as Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1974 until his 2005 death, to recognize and promote creative solutions through research in orthopaedics. Larry Suva, Ph.D., was appointed as the first chair in 2009 by then-College of Medicine Dean Debra Fiser, M.D., and then-Orthopaedic Surgery Chair Richard Nicholas, M.D..

As the new chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at UAMS, Dr. Barnes said he wanted to optimize creativity in the department by converting the chair appointment to a rotating basis. A new chair will be named every two years.

“Creative innovation is how we do business in orthopaedics at UAMS, so it seemed fitting to take a creative approach at recognizing and supporting collaborative faculty who help us with innovative solutions through research,” he said. “Dr. Hadden is working with our faculty on research that helps us understand how patients understand the information we give them, how we can improve that information and how that will affect outcomes for our patients.”

Hadden’s primary faculty appointment is in the College of Medicine in the Department of Medical Humanities, and she holds secondary appointments in the Department of Orthopaedics, and the colleges of Nursing, Public Health, Health Professions and Pharmacy.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to dedicate a portion of my faculty time and effort to research in health literacy and orthopaedics,” said Dr. Hadden, Director of the Center for Health Literacy in the UAMS Division of Academic Affairs. “I look forward to working with other faculty in the Department of Orthopaedics to establish UAMS as a leader in research that focuses on the importance of orthopaedic patient understanding and behaviors.”

Dr. Hadden earned her Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the College of Public Health (COPH) in 2012.

Pat Edgerson, MPH, a College of Public Health alumna, took a new job last fall at Shorter College in North Little Rock, AR. She is the Director of Student Success Counselors in the division of Student Affairs at Shorter College, an HBCU founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1886. She is enjoying her new role in student affairs, which is “involved in all aspects of student life, recruiting, retention, providing services to veterans and accommodations to those with disabilities and more.” She says what she is most excited is her role on the Our Healthy HBCU campus taskforce.

“The first weekend of November I attended a mental/behavioral health policy conference in Charleston, SC, and by December, I developed an action plan for Shorter College,” Ms. Edgerson says. “The taskforce has been working for over a year (before I came), and we have developed two policies that will be reviewed and hopefully approved by our Board of Trustees—a smoke-free, vape-free campus policy and a mental/behavioral health policy. Add to that, I am into the planning for a health and wellness center here at Shorter.”

(Shorter has hired UAMS College of Medicine alumni Dr. Kristopher Stepps to serve as the interim medical director of the center.)

She adds, “Our mental health/behavioral health plan is in action as we have local training scheduled, and a cadre will be headed to a SAMHSA training in New Mexico, next month. Yes, I am going to Santa Ana Puebla, NM. I am pretty excited and in a great place.”

After graduating from COPH in December 2004, Ms. Edgerson worked for the UAMS College of Nursing as a Research Assistant and Program Coordinator for five years and then as Director of Outreach for the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs for almost six years.

Molly Miller, MPH, CPH, who is working on a Master’s in Public Service (MPS) from the University of Arkansas’ Clinton School of Public Service, was a table discussion facilitator at “Diabetes in Arkansas: A Community Conversation,” which was held Feb. 9 at the Clinton School. The event piloted a discussion format and guide developed by Clinton School professor Dr. Christy Standerfer, Clinton School student Akaylah Jones, and Clinton School graduate David Monteith, which may be used in community conversations around the state to bring Arkansans together to talk about how to best address growing and costly diabetes rates. The approaches presented in the discussion guide are based on information gathered throughout the state from health care providers, policy makers, payers, and the general public.

Ms. Miller is a student in the joint MPS/MPH degree program of the Clinton School and the College of Public Health. She earned her MPH in December 2015 and will graduate from the Clinton School this May. She got involved in the diabetes project because of her passion for fighting chronic diseases in Arkansas. After graduation, Ms. Miller is interested in working to improve access to affordable, high quality health care for marginalized populations, especially in rural Arkansas.

Yusuf Nawawi, M.D., a second-year Master of Public Health student, submitted two abstracts and both were accepted. Dr. Nawawi is a Fulbright scholar from Indonesia.

One abstract, “Racial disparities in breast cancer rates in Arkansas,” was accepted as a poster presentation and will be presented at the Fulbright Seminar on Global Health at the University of Kentucky. The Global Health Innovations Seminar, “Global Health and the UN Millennium Goals,” will explore a variety of public health topics and trends from a global perspective. During the five-day seminar, which will take place Feb. 24-28, Fulbrighters will have the opportunity to not only engage with fellow Fulbrighters, but with global health professionals and practitioners.

The second abstract, “Identification of a non-canonical micro-RNA in an FGF2-specific SNP region among breast cancer patients,” was accepted as an oral presentation at the MCBIOS-XIII 2016 Conference hosted by the University of Memphis at the FedEx Institute of Technology in Memphis, Tenn., March 3-5.

Austin Porter III, MPH, DrPH, on Feb. 22 successfully defended his dissertation project, “An Evaluation of the Arkansas Emergency Medical Services Registry.” His evaluation of the state’s EMS data system, which is housed at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), focused on the registry’s processes for data submission by EMS professionals, data management and quality control, data cleaning, and data analysis and reporting. His methods included interviews with ADH staff, EMS professionals, national experts, and stakeholders, as well as a review of five years of data to assess the prevalence of illogical or missing data. Mr. Porter will submit to the ADH a report on his findings, which identifies strengths of the registry and recommendations for improvement.