Graduate Student Alumni Spotlight

Health Sciences MS

Student Name:  Jason Simmington, MS

Program: Master's in Health Sciences

Graduated: 2013

Employer: End Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas, Inc.

Position: Quality Improvement Specialist

What attracted you to this field?

I wanted to be able to work in the healthcare field, but on a larger scale than simply a single patient interaction. In this field you gain the tools necessary to influence health outcomes of communities and populations.

Why did you choose UT Tyler?

UT Tyler was close to home, offered a program of interest, and was more affordable; not only tuition-wise, but cost of living as well.

What do you like most about UT Tyler?

The greatest strength I have found in UT Tyler compared to other universities is, while often an overused cliche, the one-on-one personal interaction you get with your instructors and professors. Students can be as involved as they want to be. If you really want to drive yourself to learn and completely immerse yourself in a subject, every single professor in the Health and Kinesiology department was willing to deliver exactly that.

What are your career aspirations?

I plan to obtain my PhD in Public Health and work as a public health consultant. I also envision an eventual return to the classroom as a professor.

What's your work experience?

The mission statement of our QI Department at ESRD Network states, "We support quality dialysis and kidney transplant healthcare through collaboration via innovative coaching and the provision of educational and technical resources that ensures optimal patient care." At the most basic level, we are a quality resource in the ESRD community for driving quality patient care through innovation, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Do you have any advice to pass along to other students interested in this program?

Be flexible and try not to fit into any niche too quickly. Public Health is broad and vast....limiting yourself right out of school severely limits your job prospects. Start building your work experience in healthcare as quickly as possible, as most positions you will be interested in will require at least 3 years of healthcare experience.

Find out more about our MS in Health Sciences