Kara Allard (SPH ’13).

Job Title & Company

Consultant, Strategy Implementation
Analytics, Planning, Strategy and Improvement (APSI)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

What did you enjoy most about your experience at SPH?

The most rewarding aspect of my experience at SPH is the friendships and connections I made with other students, staff, and faculty. I continue to interact with several of my colleagues in different fields and locations and have the opportunity to reach out to them for expertise and insights.

Did you have a favorite professor or class at SPH?

My favorite professor is Dr. Chris Gill- his class Clinical Development of a New Medicinal was one of the most interactive and thought provoking courses I took.

How did your practicum or education experience at BUSPH shape your career goals?

I completed my practicum in Cameroon which focused on performance measurement and quality improvement for several hospitals within a larger health system. This was not an original focus area for me in terms of my career but is now. Quality improvement is a critical component of healthcare and I continually use the skills I developed from my practicum.

What advice can you lend to students as they prepare for the workforce?

Networking is so important, not just when entering the workforce but continually throughout your career. Be open to new and different opportunities that you may not have considered as each experience can bring something that will help you in the future.
In one sentence, what does public health mean to you?

Public health to me means collaborating across disciplines and areas of expertise to provide the best possible support and care to all people, and finding new and innovative ways to do that which are sustainable and continuously improving.