Leah Frerichs, PhD

Alumni Highlight –  Leah Frerichs, PhD, Health Promotion Disease Prevention Research (2014)

Current Position: I am currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Health Equity Research at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. This fellowship has been a great opportunity to build upon the theoretical and methodological training I received at UNMC. I have been applying those skills in the development of my research projects. My most memorable story is getting a minor head injury while collecting data at a family-based fitness program that I am currently investigating. One researcher, a group of active parents and children, and one soccer ball turned out to be a recipe for disaster.

What do you value most of your time at COPH: The people. I am grateful for the mentorship I received and the endless opportunities I was provided to learn new skills, try new things, and go new places. I also truly valued the peer support and camaraderie. I would not have made it through the program without my classmates who shared in both my frustrations and successes.

Advice for current students: Be an active learner and approach the program for the knowledge and skills you can gain that will help you in your future career. Your courses should help you learn how to think, not tell you what to think.