Susan Snyder
Vanessa Oppong thought about delaying her pursuit of a Master’s degree in public health at Temple University, given that classes were moved online this fall as a result of the pandemic. Then, as the devastating effects of the coronavirus raged around her, she reconsidered.
“I felt in a way called to continue my education,” Oppong, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia, said. “There’s no better time than right now.”
And apparently she’s far from alone in her thinking. Temple saw a 120 per cent increase in first-year students enrolled in its Master’s of public health programme this year, from 69 to 152, with interest particularly high in epidemiology and behavioural sciences, said Laura A Siminoff, dean of the College of Public Health.
Applications and deposits are up for the spring semester and the fall is looking good, too, she said. “The pandemic has really shown a spotlight on public health, what it is and why it’s important,” she said.
“I’m so excited that young people are answering the call.” It’s not just public health that’s seeing the spike. Temple and other area colleges say interest in medical school, nursing and other health-related fields also are soaring. Applications are up by double digit percentages to medical schools, a rate of increase not seen in recent years. And that mirrors a national trend. Applications at medical schools nationwide are up 18 per cent, compared to an increase of less than 3 per cent annually in the last decade, said Geoffrey Young, senior director for student affairs and programmes at the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Osteopathic medical schools also have reported larger numbers. “In many ways, we think this increase is unprecedented,” Young said.
Entry to medical school has always been extremely competitive and the higher numbers mean it will be even more competitive this year. Not all of the increase is because of the pandemic, officials say. In times of economic downturn, enrolments tend to rise as students who may have taken a few years off to work seek to continue their education instead. More students are applying to a larger number of schools. And numbers had been on the rise anyway, with a shortage of physicians projected by 2032.
But the fact that Anthony Fauci, the benevolent doctor who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has become a household name and that everyone’s life has been altered by the coronavirus have certainly stoked interest.
“There is a sense of respect and in some cases newfound respect for health care workers, for scientists, for this idea that during a pandemic, when so many other aspects of life were unavailable or deemed non-essential, that the one source of inspiration was the role of healthcare workers, of doctors and nurses on the front lines helping people get through this frightening time,” said Neha Vapiwala, associate dean of admissions for the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and a professor of radiation oncology.
Penn received 7,303 applications to its medical school for about 150 spots, a 20 per cent jump. Prospective students noted on applications the effect the pandemic had on their decision to apply, Penn said. Some said they were
inspired by frontline workers and wanted to make a difference. — dpa
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
