Epidemiology is the study of epidemics, but it is not a commonly known field. Marissa Brash, DrPH, EdD, MPH, MS, CPH, professor and department chair for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Azusa Pacific University, believes that epidemiology is vital to understanding our world and the people in it. That is why she has continued to grow in her understanding of the field, leading her to value hands-on experience for her students in an environment of positive mentorship.
Brash didn’t intend to go into teaching, but she found herself teaching as part of her doctoral program. When she finished her public health doctorate and knew she wanted to go into education, Brash decided to complete another doctoral degree and dissertation in education in order to be better trained in the education field. While she was working on a board for rare genetic diseases, she felt the need to further grow in her knowledge of epidemiology. “I was talking about data collection and analysis, but if I was going to serve the population better, I needed to have training, experience, mentors, and credentials,” she said. Brash recently finished her master’s in human genetics and genomics.
Brash worked at various universities where she was asked to start programs because of her extensive background. She was asked to set up accreditations, hiring of faculty, and the curriculum. Her career was moving farther from her goal of working in public health. “I thought back to the beginning to see what I loved and cared about in both public health and academia,” she said. “Keeping people safe is what I want to do more than anything. I think of APU as an answer to my prayers.” After applying for an open position at APU, the dean asked Brash to create an MPH program to which she agreed to help start. “It was divine intervention putting me back on my track when I was burnt out,” she said. “The dean believed that I belonged at APU with my skill set. The program is now fully accredited, which has been my dream.” The ability to pray with her students has also been a blessing to Brash. Working at a Christian college is part of what keeps her motivated.
Faith integration comes naturally to Brash.
Brash loves that APU is a place where her students can talk about the religious implications
and spiritual aspects of health and wellness. She finds joy in exploring faith through
the lens of community service and social justice with her students. “It’s impactful
for them to understand that they can have a Christian voice and purpose in public
health.”
Brash helped integrate the Sentinel City simulation software, an AI generated program originally designed for nursing, into the MPH program. Through co-authorship, Brash was able to design a curriculum called Who Is Your Neighbor that has been exclusively taught in the public health program. The program teaches students how to conduct community needs assessments and talk to diverse groups of people. Students conduct simulated health assessments and interviews with community members which allows them to gain skills in the field and have a wide range of important conversations.
Outside of the classroom, Brash played an important role in people’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which she received the American Public Health Association Community Health Planning and Policy Development Spotlight Award. In February of 2020, Brash stepped up as the public health representative on APU’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). By March, she was the public health liaison of the committee interpreting health officer orders and making plans for the university.
Brash also created a partnership between APU’s MPH program and the LA County Department of Public Health to create jobs for students as contact tracers of the virus when the Department was overwhelmed with cases. Each MPH student was assigned five nursing students and a series of cases to trace. The Department of Public Health hired 40 teams from APU which created opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and have a chance to stay actively involved in the field during the pandemic.
Brash’s passion for finding hands-on experience for her students comes from her dedication to promoting mentorship opportunities. “I always tell my students that I see them as my peers because in two years they will be working alongside me, so that is how I talk to and teach them,” she said. Brash’s outlook on mentorship has positively affected many students. APU received a public health scholarship grant for $1.5 million to improve the public health workforce. One important part of the grant is pairing students with alumni mentors. “When I reached out to our alumni, I had more than 40 students immediately respond that they were willing to help current students navigate the workplace, classes, capstone projects, and certifications,” Brash said. “95 percent of our alumni signed up, and the other 5 percent are currently enrolled in medical school or are outside of the public health workforce by choice. We had so many people step up because we have built a foundation of mentorship into the program, and I am so proud of that.”
Brash’s commitment to mentorship and experience has positively impacted the lives of many students. Her strong faith and dedication to staying up to date with new discoveries in her field are a testament to how she shows God’s love and goodness to others through public health.