My name is Alison Schure, and I graduated from the Health and Society program in 2010. Having developed a solid foundation, with a strong focus on the social factors that impact health, I was driven to complete a master’s in Public Health from the University of Toronto and then returned to McMaster to complete the Accelerated Nursing Program. I am now working as a public health nurse, with a portfolio that covers harm reduction and substance use prevention, as well as acting as one of the two Social Determinants of Health nurses, with a large focus around health equity and advocacy. I am also a part-time faculty member in the School of Nursing and have frequently instructed the mandatory Social Determinants of Health course, for undergraduate nursing students.

 The Health and Society program was an ideal fit for my learning style, as it followed a smaller class structure, with the opportunities to fully engage in the course material, while allowing students to critically assess real-world issues, affecting population health. Throughout my four-year years in the program, I felt more confident in my ability to develop plans for large-scale issues that may impact health outcomes. This skill development has greatly benefitted my career path; in addition, without these experiences, I feel that I would not have been as successful in my current roles, nor would I feel as comfortable with the difficult situations that I am often faced with in the field. 

 For students who are thinking about entering this program, or who are about to start their studies, my advice to you would be to constantly question everything that you learn. Never take anything at face value, as there are always underlying factors at play. Lean on your peers, your instructors, and the variety of academic supports available to you at McMaster - they are there to support you. Good luck!