Jesus Vasquez, M.S., M.P.H. Class of 2023, Plans to Use His Degree to Improve Undertreated Communities
Mr. Vasquez Seeks To Use His Diverse Educational Background In The Field Of Healthcare Management
Jesus Vasquez, a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) candidate in the School of Health Sciences and Practice Class of 2023, grew up in Miami, Florida, after spending a few of his younger years in Bogotá, Colombia. After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in economics at New York University in 2016, he worked in clinical research and healthcare administration. He has several collaborative publications and first-author publications in genetics, surgery outcomes and vascular surgery and co-founded a biotechnology startup, Pneumodex, before the pandemic halted their progress. He became interested in understanding the inner workings of health care structures and decided to pursue his M.P.H. in health policy and management at New York Medical College.
Why did you choose a degree an M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management?
In a field as diverse as public health, it is not easy to choose just one path. However, after taking on several large projects at my full-time job, I was inspired to see how small changes to hospital policies, local emergency medical systems and collaboration among teams of providers could lead to improved health outcomes for people at risk. I became interested in learning if more policy changes can have similar effects and I want to learn the skills to find those gaps in policy to improve healthcare access for communities and individuals who are undertreated.
Who has influenced you to pursue a degree?
I co-founded Pneumodex in December 2018. Our first year was dedicated to further research, proof of concept and collaborations. My group worked with several developers and institutions, securing grant funding and obtaining great mentor relationships. When the pandemic emerged in November 2019, our collaborations in China were halted. My mentors recommended that I should further my skills and education to help me understand the markets, the healthcare system as a whole and explore more areas of interest. I have those mentors to thank for encouraging me to explore the field further and keep an open mind with curiosity and eagerness. I obtained a full graduate fellowship from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, so pursuing the M.P.H. made perfect sense.
When did you realize you wanted an M.P.H.?
My background in math, economics and medical sciences informed my decision to pursue a management degree in public health. Public health is so diverse, flexible, and all-encompassing that the statistical and research skills help take on any healthcare challenge.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
I am pursuing a role in the investment banking side of healthcare. Paired with my classes, I am currently studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential. My education and experiences have shown me how significant improvements can be implemented by funding or underwriting the right groups or companies. This can exponentially increase profitability and create forces for improved, accessible healthcare products while investing in the proper infrastructure designs.
