OSU’s public health program prepares students for success

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Media Contact: Kirsi McDowell | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-8320 | kirsi@okstate.edu

At Oklahoma State University, the public health program is shaping the future of progress one classroom at a time. With a curriculum that values both science and service, public health is preparing students to tackle real-world health challenges across communities.

The public health bachelor's degree program offers two options — exercise and health or community health — to ensure that students are selecting the path that’s right for them. For many students, the program presents a clear track toward graduate school, where they can further specialize in their field.

Incoming senior Sierra Winkler is completing her bachelor’s degree in public health with plans to continue her academic journey to medical school.

During her time at OSU, Winkler has researched under Dr. DJ McMaughan — interim head of the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology — analyzing financial trade-offs among college students, which Winkler has found to be a valuable experience.

“It’s eye-opening to see the financial sacrifices that college students often have to make throughout their studies in hopes of more lucrative salary offerings once they earn a degree,” she said. 

Public health student Heidi Moore researches in collaboration with Winkler to investigate these financial trade-offs. Winkler and Moore presented their work at the Fall 2024 Oklahoma Public Health Association conference and OSU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium. 

Along with McMaughan, the students have written a manuscript detailing the research and are excited to share their findings.

Moore praised the public health program for opening so many doors for students to engage in research early in their undergraduate career. 

After her orientation in Introduction to Public Health, Moore approached her professor and asked how to get involved in their research project. She described the professor as being ecstatic that an undergraduate student, especially a freshman, was as eager as Moore to participate in research.

“That set me on my three year research journey, because it was that professor who connected me to my next research project,” Moore said. “The faculty of the program are great because even if the first person you approached isn’t able to have you join their research, they offer referrals and other opportunities for involvement.”

The public health program is providing Moore with the resources necessary for her to be successful on her journey to becoming an occupational therapist. 

Occupational therapy is a health care profession that focuses on helping individuals complete tasks that are essential to their well-being. Therapists help clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve and maintain both cognitive and physical skills needed for daily activites. People of all ages who experience physical, sensory or cognitive problems may require the assistance of occupational therapists.

Moore selected the public health program at OSU as her gateway to occupational therapy because of its holistic approach in considering the full patient profile in determining best treatment plans. 

“You have to look at people as a whole — everything about them,” she said. “I’ve learned about various diverse populations and being conscious of those cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds really factor in when providing patient care.”

Though research is an essential part of any student’s academic success, it is not the only cornerstone of the program. Students studying public health are required to complete 400 hours of an internship before they are eligible to graduate, signifying the faculty's commitment to producing prepared practitioners. 

Winkler and Moore will begin their internships in spring 2026. 

Students are more confident to enter the workforce as professionals after experiencing the hands-on practice an internship provides.

Recent graduate Kentasia Edwards, completed her internship last spring at Stillwater Medical Center’s Total Health Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Fitness.

“I truly appreciated my internship experience and believe it’s an essential part of the public health program,” Edwards said. “I learned various skills and professional techniques I can now throughout graduate school and my career. The internship allowed me to have a true interview experience, and also observe the day-to-day life of the professionals I shadowed.”

During her internship, Edwards was given the opportunity to observe and engage with patients. 

Vanessa Lane, the fitness supervisor at Stillwater Medical, said that interns are able to learn, while gaining hands-on experience, which is crucial to having a successful career in health and exercise.

“Our primary goal of the program is to provide the intern an opportunity to observe a professionally organized and administered program, apply their knowledge in a hands-on manner, and develop the skills that are needed to enter the workforce,” she said. “We will provide the framework and opportunity for learning, but as with many situations in life, you get out of it what you put in. The most successful interns are the ones who ask questions and enthusiastically participate in as many programs as they can.”

Most students chosen to intern for the Medical Fitness Program are often studying exercise science, health and human performance, or public health. For dedicated and determined students, this program offers an array of opportunities and connections to be successful after graduation.

“Public Health interns also bring their own learning goals from their program,” Lane said. “They are responsible for keeping up with their learning goals, and reaching out to staff to initiate the completion of each goal. Total Health staff will do their best to provide the opportunities and supplies when available for them to complete each goal. 

Edwards received her bachelor’s degree in public health from OSU in May 2025. The program paved the way for her to begin her graduate studies at Texas A&M University this fall. She will continue her journey in public health by earning her master of public health in epidemiology and biostatistics.

“Public Health at OSU is a great program that I would recommend,” Edwards said. “I gained so much from my time in the program that I feel great preparing myself for the future and starting my career.”

Prospective students can find more information on the public health program at OSU by going to the College of Education and Human Sciences website.

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu