Public Health Buckeyes: Millicent Osei-Tutu

I was raised with a strong sense of responsibility to serve others, especially those in need. By helping to provide safe, stable and affordable housing to people experiencing homelessness, I am able to live out those values. Working in homelessness gives me the opportunity to create change that not only transforms lives but also positively impacts health outcomes.

My work has strengthened my commitment and passion for public health. Housing is a social determinant of health because the quality, stability, affordability and location of a person's home significantly impacts their physical, mental and emotional well-being. By working to provide people experiencing homelessness with access to safe, stable and affordable housing, I am upholding my duty as a public health professional to protect and improve population health. The work that I do amplifies why public health is necessary and how this field can ensure healthier communities and longer lives.

This university is meaningful to me, as it is where my interest in public health began. The faculty and staff, particularly within the College of Public Health, are consistently supportive and encouraging. Pursuing a master’s degree is a step toward accessing more advanced opportunities. I enrolled in the MPH-PEP program because much of my work and interests in public health center on strategizing, planning and leading initiatives, which are core components of the program.

I hope to make a greater impact through work that influences population health on national and global levels, and this program will strengthen my leadership and management skills to help me achieve this.

What has surprised me most about the MPH-PEP program is the diversity of students in the program. Individuals from a wide range of careers, cultures and life experiences all come together with a shared goal of improving health and creating meaningful change in communities. It has been especially rewarding to learn from and connect with peers whose work differs from my own, but who are equally committed to advancing the mission of public health.

My future goals include working with leading public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization to drive systemic change on a broad scale. I aspire to lead the implementation of quality improvement initiatives across public health programs while amplifying the voices of individuals who are often underrepresented in decision-making processes. Through my work, I aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create opportunities that improve quality of life for vulnerable populations with limited access to resources. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to meaningful and lasting change that dignifies people, uplifts communities and advances global health equity.