Bradley Goldstein, D.O. – an Alumnus of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (MPH ‘04) – was the first in FSU history to graduate from the Master of Public Health (MPH) program in the spring of 2004.
Serving as a trailblazer for COSSPP’s Master of Public Health program, Dr. Goldstein helped organize some of the early facets of the curriculum from a student perspective under the direction and leadership of Marie Cowart, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, formally known as the College of Social Sciences. Dean Cowart helped hire renowned William Weissert, Ph.D., a thought leader in American Health Policy from the University of Michigan, to serve as Director for the Public Health Program.
“The fact that FSU was launching a program, and the setbacks of it being a new program were severely assuaged by the fact that Dr. Weissert and Dr. Cowart were involved,” Goldstein said. “Both of these remarkable people are to be recognized and remembered for their hard work with this program. Both are now retired, and I would like to distinctly honor and remember both of them.”
During his time at FSU, Dr. Goldstein interned at the Florida Department of Health‘s office in Tallahassee, in its Chronic Disease Prevention/Obesity Prevention office, which was under the direction of Jennie Hefelfinger. As a new student, Dr. Goldstein notes his initial nerves about being involved in a large and meaningful office, but reflects on the experience as a wonderful opportunity, unique to FSU’s location in the state capital, to witness “first-hand” public health policy at the state level “live and in action”.
“I feel that I learned how health policy is informed and shaped, how legislators perform, and ultimately how bills are passed,” Dr. Goldstein said. “I took it a step further during my studies as well, with the help of my great professors, really homing in on how, after bills are passed, they can help shape human behavior.”
After graduating in 2004, Dr. Goldstein went on to become an Osteopathic Physician. He continues to draw on his experiences at FSU and sees medicine and his patients through a distinct lens that would otherwise be difficult to cultivate in standard medical training.
“Enjoy the experiences with a full heart. Begin to explore how your training could fit into your career,” Dr. Goldstein said when asked about advice he’d give to current students. “Cultivate what gives you a spark – because ultimately you may want to shape a career you are excited about. I am happy to help any current FSU MPH students with internships or other experiences.”
To learn more about COSSPP’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/publichealth/graduate.