The George Mason University School of Public Health began a new doctoral program in public health in 2021 with a cohort of six students. After just three and a half years, Fairfax County Public Schools nurse Kim McNally will become the program's first Ph.D. graduate to walk across the graduation stage at Eagle Bank Her Arena this May.
Virginia's first George Mason School of Public Health will help alleviate the public health workforce shortage by training future public health workers, including epidemiologists, nurses, nutritionists, health administrators, and social workers. , its students and graduates assist individuals and healthcare professionals. Communities become healthy and stay healthy. Since the inception of the PhD program, the university has accepted 27 students.
After earning a bachelor's degree in social work from Rutgers University, McNally took a job in child protective services, but ultimately decided it wasn't for her. She went back to school and earned her bachelor's degree in nursing and master's degree in nursing education from Western Carolina University. After her year working at the hospital, she realized her love for public health and applied to George Mason's new PhD program in public health. Ms. McNally successfully defended her doctoral thesis in April.
Throughout her studies, McNally continued to work full-time as a school nurse in various school systems. Her current position as a school health nurse for Fairfax County is helpful in her research.
McNally's primary research during her doctoral studies was looking at ways to improve HPV vaccine compliance, particularly among seventh grade students. In fact, it was this goal that inspired her to pursue her Ph.D.
“I really wanted to step in and intervene right away. But I realized there was no research to support developing one intervention over another, so I had to take a step back. It all started from there. [It] We were specifically looking at ways to empower school nurses,” McNally said.
As for what she plans to do now that she has her degree, McNally isn't sure yet.
“I love my job,” she said. “It's a great job. I want to stay in school health because I work with great people.”
But she also wants to work with schools and health departments to support school nurses. Because one of the things she's heard over and over again is that school nurses are overburdened.
Mr. McNally is also very passionate about mobile clinics. She has worked in Northern Virginia schools for years, and she has seen mobile clinics during registration days and open houses where Virginia law requires HPV vaccines and other immunizations for public school students. She says it never happened. .
In preparation for her graduation ceremony this May, McNally said she could not have achieved her goals without George Mason and her mentors. Ms. McNally's family, her mentors, and supporters from the College of Public Health were in attendance as she defended her doctoral thesis.
“Dr. [Amira] Loss [professor of Global Health and Epidemiology] She has been my faculty mentor since day one and has been really great and really supportive. She not only guided me when I needed guidance, but she helped me grow as well,” McNally said.
She also draws inspiration from her mentor, Ali Weinstein, a professor in the Department of Global and Community Health, and how well she balanced the research side with the people side. I did.
“We definitely need numbers and vaccination rates, but we also need to understand why people choose to get vaccinated, or why they choose not to get vaccinated. That's definitely preparing me for my future goals. I feel like I've become one,” McNally said.
“I look forward to seeing the impact Kim will continue to have on the field of school nursing and public health,” said Ross. “She is a great role model for current and future doctoral students.”
Mr. Weinstein added: “Her research is impactful and meaningful because it combines practical knowledge that highlights gaps in public health practice.”
Learn more about the Doctorate of Public Health program here.
