Engaged MPH alumnus to tackle post-COVID-19 world with a focus on health inequities

By: Geron Malbas

For Master of Public Health (MPH) alumnus Natalie Buglioni, the most valuable aspect of her master’s program was the social justice and equity-based approach to public health. Often involved on-campus with the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) graduate caucus and other extracurricular activities, she focused on the importance of public participation in decision making and community-based research practices.

“In the MPH program, I really appreciated reflecting critically on social determinants of health such as gender, race, and colonization, as well as the role of my own social-cultural position in society,” she explains. “I think the phrase ‘nothing about us without us’ is really valuable; there are so many examples of times when well-intentioned interventions, policies, or research projects have been unsuccessful or have had negative consequences for communities due to lack of consultation or participation from community members.”

Buglioni found that the MPH program prepared her to think critically about health inequities, many of which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She plans to carry her equity-based lens forward as she approaches public health work in the future. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic moving academic instruction online, Buglioni’s extracurricular activities were put on hold. Prior to the pandemic she was employed with the City of Vancouver conducting outreach for their Climate Emergency Action Plan, but was forced to put her employment there on hold. Currently, she is working as a research assistant for the EQUIP ED study measuring equity in health care in hospital emergency departments. While the transition to learning from home was difficult, she made the most out of her time to focus on her capstone project, connect with people in creative ways, and strengthen her devotion to help her community.

“I went from conducting community engagement for the City of Vancouver, meeting with hundreds of people in community centres, farmers markets, etc. to working on my capstone at home, which was a pretty difficult transition,” she explains. “However, this experience has solidified my desire to work in a clinical or community-based setting where I can excel at working directly with other people.”

Reflecting on her opportunities to attend the BC Coalition Institute, the Public Health Agency of BC conference, and the Centre for Policy Alternatives Gala, and volunteer with FHS Peer Mentorship and Grad Caucus, Buglioni hopes students take the chance to engage with their community when possible.

“While it may be challenging during the pandemic, I recommend students to make use of the opportunities that present themselves,” she advises. “I was really lucky to get involved with lots of organizations and events, which allowed me to make some great contacts and gain memorable experiences outside of the classroom setting.”