It All Starts with a Single Step: Meet Alexa Rabino
“What inspires me the most about public health is how interconnected the field is,” says Alexa Louise Rabino Yu, graduate of Sac State’s College of Continuing Education’s Master of Public Health program. “Because health is influenced by various factors, an improvement in one area has the potential to create ‘ripple effect’ improvements in communities. Seeing this change is exciting and inspires me to do more work in improving health outcomes.”
The Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Policy and Leadership is designed to provide advanced training to address the health needs of diverse communities. Students learn how to enhance their practical skills for the implementation of health policies and promotional tools to reduce health risks and protect populations. They also gain the tools to work with legislators, health advocates and leaders in the profession to impact policies and regulations that affect public health.
While she was in the program, Rabino discovered a passion for teaching. “Obtaining a graduate student assistant position gave me the opportunity to teach undergraduate students through online courses,” she says. “This experience fueled my passion for teaching and mentoring students.”
Going through the MPH program did present challenges, but Rabino credits her classmates and professors for helping her cross the finish line. “The MPH faculty always encouraged me to do my best, trust in my abilities, and take care of myself throughout the program,” Rabino says. “Their insights also encouraged me to pursue a future career in teaching.”
Today, Alexa works at the California Department of Public Health as an Organizational Support Services Section Chief. Yet, she has future plans. “I want to continue to grow in state government and pursue teaching in public health,” she says. “People in this field have the opportunities to make lasting, systemic changes that can benefit communities, and it all starts with a single step.”