Alumni Spotlight—Jonathan Reed
Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they're doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Jonathan Reed, a KCH alum now working in medical education/health administration.
Q: Why did you pick AHS?
A: I picked AHS because I had an interest in Community Health. I knew I wanted to help provide people a better quality of life and build underserved communities by addressing health disparities.
Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?
A: My Academic Advisor (Mr. Chris Cosat) had the most impact on me. He did a great job of showing different career paths in AHS and helped guide me through the curriculum with no conflicts.
Q: What course did you most enjoy?
A: The course I enjoyed the most was an Intro to Epidemiology course (CHLH 274). It allowed me to get a new perspective on how patterns of disease are studied and how much they affect healthcare as a whole. Material from this course has become even more relevant with the current Pandemic.
Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?
A: My career path was not well-defined upon entering AHS. After taking courses, I was able to better grasp my values and passion which are rooted in Community Health/Health Administration.
Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?
A: Yes, my AHS experience exposed me to different areas of healthcare and colleagues within the college. These experiences and connections are what helped me land my current job working in medical education/health administration.
Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?
A: My favorite on-campus experience was tailgating at Homecoming football games, ILL-INI!!!
Q: What does AHS mean to you?
A: For me, AHS means "focusing on promoting healthier, happier lifestyles to allow an optimal life for all individuals."