Before they walk across the stage at Carnegie Music Hall and shake hands with Dean Lichtveld at commencement, several HPM students reflected on their time at Pitt. Though their stories are as unique as each individual telling them, common threads tie these and all graduating students together: comradery, togetherness, perseverance and growth, both personal and professional.
Graduation is a time to celebrate achievement and look toward the future. It’s also a time for looking back as students end one chapter of their story and begin to write a new one.
“I am a 4+1 student, so this is my fifth year at Pitt, and I am lucky to 
have so many favorite moments to choose from,” says MPH candidate Victoria Soder. “All of my favorite memories have to do with the people I experienced exciting moments with – including the second case competition I did with Shae and Sabrina. It was a lot of hard work, but it was enjoyable to get to hang out and work together.”
The experiences were echoed across the cohort, with most of the students saying the moments outside of the classroom created lasting memories of the bonds they forged.
“My favorite memory would have to be my time on the 2022 National Association of Health Services Executive (NAHSE) Case Competition Team,” says Ngozi Ibe, an MHA-MBA candidate. “Not only did the case push me to think critically, both on a high-level basis and at a birds-eye view, it also allowed me to apply my learned knowledge and creativity while meeting new people, networking and getting to explore New Orleans.”
Every spring the department encourages students to attend the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) annual congress. In 2023, 19 students took the trip to Chicago. The number rose again in 2024 with 33 students, both first and second years making the trip.
“My favorite memory was traveling to Chicago with my cohort to attend the ACHE conference. It was a rewarding experience to meet students and health care executives from across the country. It was also a blast exploring what Chicago has to offer,” says MHA candidate Noah Lohman.
“Traveling and staying with other people in the cohort was such a fun experience,” adds Katie Wallace (MHA). “We are very close but being able to go to congress twice with many of the same people as the first year and reflect on how things have changed and provide advice to the first years was a great experience.”
Sometimes it was the little things – like who a student shared a room with that created memories. “During our trip, I roomed with a third year MHA/MBA student who I hardly knew at the time,” says Shae Wilson (MHA). “Through those few nights and days spent together at the conference, we were able to create memories and forge a strong friendship.”
Travel wasn’t the only source of memories for HPM students, with some making memories as soon as they set foot on campus. “When I visited the campus for the first time, before I had made my decision to continue my education here, the beauty, vibe and scenery of this campus pulled me in,” says Sarah Zogu (MPH).
For MHA candidate Saad Meer, another now annual tradition stands out. “Looking back, the HPMA boat social is where I began to form some of my most important friendships throughout the program,” he says. “It was extremely fun to get to meet so many different people and get to know my cohort much better.”
The end of the year provided plenty of memories too, as soon-to-be MPH graduate Erica Pierce and soon-to-be MHA graduate Natasha Shah noted.
“My favorite memory from my time at Pitt would’ve been the Graduate and Professional Student Government Spring Fling [last spring]. That was a great event full of dancing and laughter with some of my closest friends,” says Pierce. “The end of the year celebration our cohort had at the end of our first-year sticks in my mind,” says Shah. “It was a bonding moment for us where we were able to look back at all that we’d accomplished in the span of a few months, as well as look back on memories we’d created in such a short time.”
While the students certainly had fun at Pitt, they are still quick to reflect on the hard work that they did. “My favorite memories during my time at Pitt would have to be my cohort’s meetup before and after Financial Management last semester,” says Sabrina Lew. “We could always stress together beforehand - figuring out the homework assignments, trying to understand what we were learning and making sure it made sense. Afterwards, we always got together to grab dinner or a drink to celebrate that we got through it.”
In the grand scheme of things, graduate school doesn’t last that long, but in the short time they were here the students we spoke with say they’ve grown closer to the person they want to be.
“I have grown a lot since I first started,” says Lew. “I think a lot of that has to do with the professors in HPM. They give us a lot of trust and responsibility by giving us these challenging assignments and I think that really motivated me to push myself to be the best that I can be.”
Students say their program helped build confidence they will carry with them into the work force. “I am much more confident in speaking with executives and being willing to speak up during meetings. I feel more confident in expressing my opinion and framing it in a way in which people understand and can see why it would make sense,” says Meer.
“As someone who came straight from undergrad to the MHA graduate program, I think I have grown immensely in my overall confidence,” Wallace says, adding the pressure and demands of case competitions and other presentations gave her skills to succeed.
“I once was completely comfortable with knowing my next steps for the next 10 years. However, my journey in this program has taught me the importance of embracing change and remaining adaptable—a lesson that will in no doubt serve me well in my future endeavors,” adds Ibe.
Students say it’s not just confidence they’ve honed, but the desire, passion and perhaps most important, the ability to lead. “Through the various coursework and opportunities, I have better established my leadership skills as a professional,” says Pierce.
“I came to Pitt unsure of how to navigate a professional setting, let alone lead in one. Through various leadership courses and my time spent watching the inspirational leaders at my residency site, I can confidently say that I know what it takes to be a caring and compassionate leader in health care,” says Wilson. “This program has helped me become more confident in my ability to be a leader within the field of Healthcare Administration,” adds Shah.
“My time here allowed me to develop the skills to solve complex problems and create meaningful working relationships,” says Lohman.
Though they leave with the ability and confidence to be the future leaders in the field, students say their studies have also deepened their commitment to public health. “I think I have become even more passionate about public health. As I have learned more, I have come to realize how right this path is for me and how excited I am to see what my future holds in public health,” says Soder.
“Putting it simply”, says Zogu, “From my time and experience here I know I’m in the right field and now I’m prepared to go on doing something I love.”
As their days at Pitt Public Health draw to a close, graduates offered this advice for future students:
Victoria Soder
“Ask questions, learn about anything and everything, and take control of your education! This is the time where you get to dedicate your time to learning, whether on your own, in class, or from professors. It is a safe environment to ask questions, and this is a time where you can really tailor your education to your interests.”
Katie Wallace
“Relationships matter. Becoming comfortable reaching out and having a conversation with a stranger even if its uncomfortable. People in this industry want to help you, you just have to ask.”
Erica Pierce
“Go after every opportunity. You will be supported.”
Saad Meer
“Never be afraid to push yourself to go out of your comfort zone. Too often, we can become complacent which causes us to miss out on opportunities we did not even know we had access to. We are capable of great things, but we can only realize this potential if we make the initial effort.”
Shae Wilson
“Make the most of the limited time you have here. I have grown so much both professionally and personally in the past two years and I attribute it to taking advantage of every opportunity I could get my hands on.”
Sabrina Lew
“Be open-minded and utilize your cohort - I would not be where I am today without my MPH cohort, they have been my support system and my closest friends these past two years.”
Ngozi Ibe
“Balance is key. However, take advantage of every opportunity you can to learn and do something new! You won’t appreciate what you study in class if you’re not able to experience or see it first-hand.”
Natasha Shah
“Take advantage of all the opportunities this program has to offer; the time goes by fast and before you know it you’ll be graduating!”
Noah Lohman
“Start building relationships the moment you arrive on campus. Everyone from your professors to class speakers can make a difference in your ability to find career opportunities.”
Sarah Zogu
“Enjoy every single moment and enjoy the friendships you make.”
-- Mike Friend