New alumnus shares keys to success during degree

By: Geron Malbas  

When new Faculty of Health Sciences alumnus Morgan Karugaba was asked what his academic highlights were, he recounts his self confidence surging after achieving a once unobtainable goal: Dean’s Honour Roll.

“The beginning of my academic career was quite challenging,” he explains. “Making it to the Dean’s Honour Roll was a monumental moment for me; at one point, I thought achieving those high grades was unobtainable. Taking some time and hard work, I was able to get my confidence back and achieve something that was so far out of my scope.”

A personal highlight for Karugaba is SFU Co-op. He worked with Fraser Health in mental health and substance use as a program assistant, and completed a self-directed term as a data analyst with the Interior Health Authority.

“Public health is very broad – you can go into policy, epidemiology, and even ethics; there are many concentrations to look at, and co-op helped narrow down my focus. It also can help folks find out what they might not like, and what they love,” he explains. “It helped me get the experience that employers were interested in, including data analysis, coding, and many other essential skills for the public health sector.”

Another personal highlight for him was doing a directed study with FHS professor, Dr. Bohdan Nosyk. He worked as a research assistant examining prescribed safe supply, how the program did, and what more could be improved from a health economic perspective. Now employed in Ottawa as a research assistant in the same field, he credits jumping out of his comfort zone to land in his current job.

“My world opened up when I discovered health economics was a branch of public health. I liked the idea of building robust models and applying relevant health research information and costing data to inform decisions about the best use of healthcare dollars.”

As a new undergraduate alumnus, as well as an international student from Uganda, Karugaba shares some advice for other current students looking to make the most of their degree.

“Attending career panels - especially the ones hosted by FHS HSUSU - helps you see fields you might be interested in, and you get lots of perspectives or pathways a variety of people have that may inspire you,” he advises. “And on top of that, do co-op. It is an incredibly valuable experience. Once you are done with school and are looking for work or a different role, employers are looking for work experience or things you have done in the past. Co-op sets you up for success and counts a lot for post-graduates."