Emily M Mader

What is exciting about your current position?

I am a member of the small research and development team housed within the Department of Family Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. As part of this position, I am involved in all aspects of the research process, from seeking and applying to grant opportunities, to managing budgets and personnel, to drafting reports and publications. The most exciting part of my position is the team environment – every person has a role, and we have accomplished great things working as a unit. The aspect of my position I am most proud of (and also has the most impact) is the benefit our grant-funded projects provide to our community. I am currently coordinating a grant from the CDC, by way of the NYS Department of Health, that helps primary care practices implement changes to better track their patients who need breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening; we have already seen improvements in the screening rates in our practices, which means that physicians are helping more people in the state receive needed health services. I am also a member of a community-based participatory research project working to improve communication between young women and their physicians on contraceptive choice. These projects have tangible impacts on my community, and I’m excited to be part of them.

How has having an MPP helped your career?

I entered my current position in the fall after graduating from the University of Utah. My spouse is a resident physician, and his training required that we move away from Utah. I did not have a well-established professional network in my new city, and all of my employment applications were cold calls. However, the work I did in Utah, through my graduate research assistant position at the University of Utah, internships with the Utah Department of Health, and work with the Sorenson Unity Center, helped me develop marketable skills that made my application stand out to my current employer. In fact, the skills I gained in the MPP program are some of the most valuable tools I bring to my team.

Advice for those thinking about or going through the MPP program now?

My advice for those who are considering the MPP program is to take advantage of the opportunity in front of you. The MPP program will provide you with a strong foundation in a variety of skills, and provide a platform from which you can pursue a meaningful career. For those who are already enrolled in the MPP program, my advice to you is to get your hands dirty. Take that statistical software packages course, pursue a difficult topic in your capstone, and find an internship that both pushes you and makes you learn new skills. These experiences will prepare you for your career in surprising and valuable ways. And lastly, for someone interested in a position like mine – research and project coordination – my advice would be to use one of your electives to take a graduate-level grant writing course.