Meet Hannah Mikail - Master of Public Health 2020

| 28 May 2020

How did you come to be in your program?

I am in my first year of the MPH program. I did my undergrad at Queen's, majoring in Life Sciences. In first and second year, that program is very focused on the medical aspects of healthcare and the functions of the human body.

I had more freedom in my course selection in third and fourth year, and I chose to take courses on global health and the social aspects of healthcare, which sparked my interest in public health. I always wanted to do a Masters, so applying to do an MPH was an obvious decision for me. I decided to do an MPH at Queen's because I absolutely loved the school during my undergrad!

What challenges have you had with the pandemic, and how did you overcome them?

Just like everyone else, there have been many challenges that I've had to face on a day-to-day basis. I was supposed to travel to Arviat, Nunavut for my MPH practicum but because of the pandemic, I was unable to do that. This was really hard for me as I have always been passionate about Indigenous health and wanted to work in the community to learn more about Indigenous health and culture firsthand. The pandemic is also preventing me from seeing my friends every day which has been hard!!

I've been able to overcome these challenges by staying positive about my practicum experience - and about the situation in general. I make a huge effort to exercise once a day to help me stay healthy and positive, and I connect with my friends over ZOOM!

What are your hopes and plans?

After I finish my MPH, I want to go to medical school. I want to be either a surgeon, a radiologist or a psychiatrist, and hopefully work in northern/remote regions of Ontario.

Is there anything else that you think would help our readers understand who you are, and what you stand for?

I am very passionate about health equity in our country. I think that Canada is an amazing place to live; however, I've come to realize that there are so many health inequities between people living in the northern and southern regions of the country. This year in the MPH program I learned so much about Indigenous health, and one day I hope to put my public-health knowledge to use as a physician, to help reduce these health inequities.

Post-Secondary Awards

Dean’s List award from 2015-present
Queen's University Excellence Scholarship

TA/RA Positions Held

I was an undergrad TA at Queen's for ANAT 316, The Human Visceral System. I assisted other undergrad students in the anatomy lab while they learned about anatomy specimens

Volunteer Work

Research Coordinator for Queen's Health Outreach
Guyana Peer Educator for Queen's Health Outreach
Graduate Peer Support Centre Volunteer
MEDLIFE Queen's Marketing Executive
MEDLIFE Queen's Fundraising Member
Student Volunteer at Kingston General Hospital

Relevant Employment

Research Assistant at KFL&A
Surgeon Assistant at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital
Veterinarian Assistant at Muskoka Animal Hospital (focusing on public health related diseases)

Publications

Myette, R.L., Webber, J., Mikhail, H., & Leifso, K. "A 4-year old boy with ataxia and aphasia", Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2020, 192(21) E578-E582.

https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/21/E578

Blog

Meet Hannah Mikail - Master of Public Health 2020

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