Tierra Pinkins
MPH,CHES
About Me
I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am a proud alumni of North Central High School where I played the Oboe, ran on the Track team and graduated with honors. I also worked part-time throughout high school. My parents always taught me that working builds up character and your savings account. I was a full time college student and worker for 6 years. Being a full time student and worker means I have always had a busy schedule, but I have learned how to organize and prioritize to keep up with my responsibilities. I still use a daily planner, lists, and an unfathomable number of post-it notes to keep myself on track.
Since graduation, I've become a newlywed and 1st time mom to a collie shepherd mix. My treasured free time is mostly spent with my new family, reading books, making crafts and watching Marvel action movies.
Road to Public Health
I began my educational career with the hopes of becoming a nurse or doctor. Through coursework and shadowing I found that maybe clinical wouldn't be the way for me... I knew I still wanted to work in health care, but I was questioning my path. Health Administration was the next logical step. In administration I could work to improve quality of care for patients without having to touch each person individually. I could impact the health of hundreds in a hospital by providing direction and data for clinicians to improve their practice. Later I would become intrigued and fascinated by public health because I could work to improve health for ENTIRE populations.
We all have an opportunity for good health and a quality life, but the best chance at that is with the facts about health. Public health professionals need the science and the facts to make programs that are effective and provide information to allow community memebers to make the healthiest individual decisions. Knowledge is what determines the balance in our healthcare relationships. When a patient is knowledgable, they have more control in the doctor patient relationship. They will not blindly follow the doctor, but partner with them to prevent and alleviate health issues of all types.
While obtaining my MPH, I accepted an offer to work for the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science at IU School of Medicine. What better place for an MPH graduate than the Center that wants to take research from the bookshelf to the bedside?!
