Jennifer Thompson, PhD: From Doctoral Graduate to Faculty Member

Recent graduate Jennifer L. Thompson, PhD, MPH, has completed the epidemiology doctoral program at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and is taking the next step in a career dedicated to research, teaching, and improving public health.

For Thompson, epidemiology offered the perfect combination of science, health, and problem-solving. Drawn to the field's ability to examine not only disease, but also the roles of culture, community, environment, and behavior, she quickly found her calling in public health.

"Epidemiology was the perfect blend of science, health, and detective work for me," Thompson said. "When I found out that it often went beyond just the realm of the clinical...I was hooked."

After earning her MPH at Michigan State University, Thompson was encouraged by faculty mentors to continue her education and pursue a PhD. She chose UTHealth Houston School of Public Health because of its growing leadership in behavioral health, violence prevention, and injury research, areas that aligned closely with her interests.

Thompson arrived with a clear research focus and worked alongside several faculty mentors throughout her doctoral journey. She credits School of Public Health alumnus Professor Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH; Associate Professor Anna Wilkinson, PhD; Professors Steven Kelder, PhD, and Bill Kohl, PhD; and, later, Associate Professor Alexander Testa, PhD, for helping shape her academic and professional development. Her involvement with a gun violence seminar in 2022 helped spark another passion: teaching.

"That helped confirm for me that I really enjoy teaching and wanted to continue that work," she said.

This summer, Thompson will return to Michigan State University as a faculty member, where she will teach Epidemiology and Public Health 101. Alongside educating future public health professionals, she plans to continue her research on violence prevention and animal-assisted interventions that support mental health and trauma recovery.

 Looking back on her time at UTHealth Houston, Thompson is especially grateful for the support of her mentors and the diverse learning opportunities available to students. She describes the public health community as "one of the most welcoming, caring, and supportive groups of people that you can find."