Alumni Profile: Patrick Zornow, MPH '15


July 13, 2017

 

Please list your job title, employer name and employer location.
Senior Project Manager, mProve Health
Part-Time Faculty, @MPH Program, GWU
Washington, DC

What degree did you receive from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University? What was your concentration?
Master of Public Health in Public Health Communication and Marketing.

Please tell us about your current position. Can you describe a typical day?
I lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of mobile application and text message Patient Reported Outcomes and Patient Engagement programs for clinical research studies. A typical day for includes heavy client and internal team management, data analysis and reporting, and strategy development.

Please tell us about your path from the Milken Institute SPH to where you are today. How did you get your first job in the field?
I had a robust background in Communications and Marketing prior to pursuing my MPH. While in the program, I discovered a passion for research methods and data analysis and focused my coursework in these areas. Prior to my current role, I worked at a social marketing and health communication agency in DC, where I largely focused on audience research and engagement. I also did my Practicum there and was hired as a part-time employee during my last year at GW. After graduation, I was offered a full time position.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?
Learn to tell your story as a person, not a resume. People connect with people, and if you can talk someone through your path–traditional or not as much, like mine–then they’ll want to learn more about your unique skill set.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in your field?
No matter what, remain humble. Pursue life experiences in addition to work experiences that allow you to check your own assumptions about the world, people, and your industry.  I am constantly looking for new volunteer opportunities, local social organizations, and travel destinations. 

Also, I encourage people to explore non-traditional options that could help land your dream job in Public Health. Prior to GW, I worked in Fortune 500, Independent Franchise, and Agency environments. It taught me a lot about structure and process that I apply to working in any environment.

What was the impetus for getting your degree from the Milken Institute SPH?
I wanted to learn a more disciplined, evidence-based approach to public health practice.

Can you provide a quote for the website and answer “What was your favorite aspect/memory/etc. about attending GW School of Public Health”?  My favorite memory was working with my mentor, Dr. Monique Turner. My experiences working on grant writing, research, and being a Teaching Assistant provided me with direct outlets to apply my coursework and develop my skills outside of the classroom.

Patrick Zornow Student Speaker at GWSPH 2015 Commencement