Three Master of Public Health spring 2017 graduates have passed the Certified Health Education Specialist exam. The NDSU alumni include Elvis Tuffour, Heather Kroeker and Jaden Witt.
The exam measures knowledge in the seven areas of responsibility for specialists regarding health education and promotion:
• Needs assessment
• Planning and implementation
• Evaluation and research
• Administration and management
• Serving as a resource
• Communication, promotion and advocacy
“I pursued the certification because I planned to work in the public health field,” said Kroeker, who is the substance use prevention coordinator for the City-County Health District in Valley City, North Dakota. “I am using what I learned regarding health education daily in my work addressing the opioid crisis and prevention, but also in my interactions with clients and colleagues. Being a Certified Health Education Specialist has helped me shift my mind to thinking healthier in all aspects of life and to be inclusive of all cultural competencies, because only then can I help others change their lifestyles.”
Tuffour, who works for Empire Hospitality in Fargo, said, “I believe having the certification is a supplemental credential that increases the chances of securing a good job in the public health field, especially in health education and health promotion.”
Witt works for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota in Moorhead and is seeking an advanced clinical degree. She said earning the certification will help her career and assist her efforts to create change for a healthier society. “My end goal is to be a primary care or lifestyle medicine nurse practitioner, preferably in rural Minnesota,” Witt said. “I strongly feel health education is vital for everyone's health and well-being. Health promotion is my passion – I am driven to pursue a career that focuses on health promotion, which is so important and is needed in so many areas.”
NDSU’s Master of Public Health program offers specializations in:
• American Indian public health
• Community health sciences
• Management of infectious diseases
The program is offered both on campus and through distance education formats.
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