Hoa Vo: Supporting Equitable Access to Healthcare for All

MPH Health Policy & Management, MS Health Informatics, CPH '22

Hoa Vo graduated from Temple in 2022 with an MPH in Health Policy & Management as well as an MS in Health Informatics. Since then, he has been working as an information analyst at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and continues to be involved in programs and organizations that benefit diversity, equity, and inclusion.

How and why did you choose to come to Temple?

I first came to the US from Vietnam for an undergrad program in hospitality management at the University of Houston, but after a semester, I decided to come to Temple to study public health instead. I wanted to get involved in healthcare, specifically helping people in the LGBTQIA+ community and people who come to the US from other countries, to navigate the healthcare system and deal with the stigmas that they face. I focus more on population health than individual care – I’m interested in the larger changes and population perspectives of public health, especially relating to identities such as people similar to me in LGBTQIA+ communities and in the Asian and Pacific Islander community. My work focuses on eliminating the disparities in the care people receive and influencing policies to make healthcare more accessible for marginalized groups.

Can you describe your path to grad school and your main focuses in your field?

After graduating from Temple in 2020 with a BS in Public Health, I wanted to go straight into a graduate program. It was during the pandemic, so Temple was the natural choice for me as I was already in Philadelphia and had great connections here already. The program director for my graduate program was also one of my professors from my undergraduate studies, which made me feel supported and like I had a clear idea of what I would study and what would be the outcome of my degree.

What are some experiences you had at Temple that prepared you for challenges in the field?

One skill I developed and improved during grad school at Temple was my time management strategy. I am always curious to learn and always want to do so much, but there is a limited amount of time in each day and it’s important to learn how to make time for the things that are important. By dividing my time into three categories: foundational, extracurricular, and occupational, I became much better at making time for the things I was curious about. Some of my greatest experiences at Temple happened because I got involved in the IDEAL office, where I worked as a diversity peer during undergrad and then as a Safe Zone facilitator during graduate school. It’s a bit challenging to come to the US from another country and not have the same knowledge of the systems in place, so working at Temple with IDEAL and International Student Affairs taught me a lot.

How did you transition to the field from grad school, and what kind of work are you doing now, after you’ve graduated?

For an international student like me, entering the job market may be a little more work compared to a local student or someone born in the US. I had to apply for an OPT which allows me to work in the US, then I went through the whole application and interview process, and finally got the job at CHOP. I love it, and the team I work with is wonderful. I work as an information analyst, focusing on public health clinical research. I am also an E-board member for the Pride ERG, and I host their social events. It’s great to be able to help the people who are in need of my support, especially helping Asian and Pacific Islanders navigate health care services.

What advice do you have for other potential graduate students?

I used to struggle dividing my time between work and my hobbies, so as I share above I make my time into three categories - foundational, extracurricular, and occupational. Even though those seem separated, if you can make the right connections between them, you will gain opportunities to do the things you want to do.

As my major is Public Health, I found it very helpful to use the public health community planning framework to plan my project, which includes assessing, goal-setting, planning, implementing, and evaluating. If you follow these steps you can make sure that you get most everything done and that you are always improving your work. Especially, if you are an international student like me, there is a lot of paperwork involved and many deadlines you need to meet. It’s important to stay organized so you can participate in all the things you want to do.

Last but not least, I highly value human connections and sharing knowledge, and I believe the more you show up, the more you connect, the better the outcome. You may also spread your passion to others. There are many different paths of life. I hope this advice will help you navigate your journey.