USF College of Public Health alumna Dr. Ashley Falcon discovered her passion for public health while working in the community.

As a psychology major at Duke University, she decided to become a peer educator focusing on sexual health and sexual assault prevention—a decision that would be the first stepping stone toward her public health career.

“I realized I wanted to continue this type of work,” Falcon said. “I researched programs and discovered that I could get a degree in public health!”

Finding the USF COPH’s ranking and reputation appealing, she decided to change courses and take the plunge toward public health for her graduate studies.

“There are so many factors that play into the health of individuals and communities,” she said. “I love that public health takes a holistic look at these determinants of health and seeks to address them in an interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial way.”

She earned her MPH in health education from the Department of Community and Family Health in 2005.

As a graduate student, Falcon interned with the Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center working among an interdisciplinary team of aspiring health professionals to develop and implement nutrition education for adolescents in Sarasota and Nokomis, Fla.

She also co-led a spring break group with fellow COPH alumna, Candace Webb, taking a group of students to Washington, D.C. to work with Metro Teen AIDS.

Falcon said she looks back on her time as a COPHer with fondness.

“It was an excellent program that prepared me well for a public health career—I’d do it again in a heartbeat and I recommended it to anyone who will listen!” Falcon said.

Following her graduation from the COPH, Falcon interned in a joint program between the CDC and Hispanic-Serving Health Profession Schools.

“I had the opportunity to study border health issues in Texas and Mexico, and it was pretty amazing to see all facets of public health at work across various public and private sectors,” she said.

She went on to earn her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami.

Now, Falcon finds herself splitting most of her time between teaching, research and service.

As an assistant professor of public health at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies, she teaches the future public health leaders of tomorrow.

“I love that I’m helping to prepare future public health and nursing professionals,” she said. “I love to teach—the excitement of seeing that ‘light bulb moment’ when students understand a new concept or skill never gets old.”

She also still works with community partners and uses those real-life experiences to compliment the curriculum in her courses.

“I’m also fortunate to be in a setting that encourages teaching innovation and encourages the incorporation of new technology and techniques to enhance the learning experience,” she said.

While she’s made an impact both in the classroom and the community, Falcon said her proudest professional achievement stems back to her students.

“Honestly the coolest, proudest thing is having past students come back to you and share how their time in your class really opened up their thinking or ignited their passion for public health,” she said.

Although she’s only been teaching for a little over a year and half, Falcon has been named Faculty Learning Community Fellow with a focus on active learnings strategies. She was also named the Emerging Transformational Leadership Fellow at the Mailman Center for Child Development.

She plans to continue her career as an educator and hopes to help the public health program at the University of Miami continue to grow.

“My public health practice is why I get up in the morning,” she said. “My passion is training the next generation of public health professionals.”

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Fast Five for COPH Alumni:

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

A chef.

Where would we find you on the weekend?

Farmer’s market or with family.

What is the last book you read?

“Poisoned: How a Crime Busting Prosecutor Turned His Medical Mystery Into A Crusade For Environmental Victims,” by Alan Bell.

What superpower would you like to have?

To be able to tell when people are telling the truth.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“My Cousin Vinny.”

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health