University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions faculty conducted $48.5 million in research in fiscal year 2024, part of a record $1.26 billion in research expenditures at the university level, leading to new discoveries that are improving the lives of Floridians and beyond.
At first glance, the scientific activities of a research university like UF may not seem directly relevant to students pursuing careers in clinical care, public health practice or health care management. But research universities offer undeniable benefits to students in any pathway, from a resource-rich environment to opportunities to contribute to a research project to degree prestige. Here are some ways exposure to research benefits students of all levels in any area of study.
1. A different set of skills
“Research helps with problem-solving, thinking critically and how to scientifically answer big questions,” said Alana Rawlinson, Ph.D., director of the college’s honors program and a clinical assistant professor in the PHHP department of clinical and health psychology.
2. A leg up when applying to graduate school or professional school
As graduate programs become more and more competitive, applicants with a good grasp on research methods, analyzing outcomes and how to be an effective consumer of research will stand out among their peers.
“Research experience can help make students more competitive for graduate or professional schools by preparing them for graduate thesis or capstone projects,” Rawlinson said. “Ultimately, involvement in research makes students more well-rounded learners.”
3. The chance to learn from the faculty who generate the science that informs practice
“Our program emphasizes the linkages between evidence and practice. When a student is situated within the context of a research university, they have access to faculty across multiple disciplines who are creating that evidence,” said Christine Myers, Ph.D., OTR/L, director of the UF Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and a clinical professor in the department of occupational therapy.
4. An active learning experience
Despite the extensive training students receive in and outside of the classroom, there’s nothing compared to working alongside a research mentor to experience all that goes into a study from the very beginning — from writing a grant proposal to analyzing results, publishing findings and communicating the science.
“Research adds so much richness to the learning process and gives students a unique product that is different from their classes or internships,” Rawlinson said.
5. A deeper understanding of a career path
Participating in research gives students the opportunity to better understand their field of interest, which will make them a better practitioner. It may also completely change their career trajectory! Getting involved in research as early as possible can help students understand what’s in store.
6. Opportunities well past graduation
“The M.P.H. degree is a practitioner degree and effective practitioners must keep up in their field of study, especially considering the rate of change we see in public health,” said Julia R. Varnes, Ph.D., M.P.H., MCHES, director of the UF Master of Public Health program and a clinical associate professor in the department of health services research, management and policy. “Through interactions with researchers, the student develops a broader network and can create lasting relationships in which the researcher might seek them out in the future for their practitioner expertise, involving them in their practice-based research.”
7. Tools to be investigators in their own right
“Being at a research university helps students engage in truly evidence-based practice in their future careers,” said Karen Wheeler Hegland, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, director of the UF Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program and an associate professor in the department of speech, language, and hearing sciences. “I tell our master’s students that they aren’t technicians; they are clinical scientists whose research is patient evaluation and management. What works for one patient may not work for another, so they are constantly challenged to formulate hypotheses and assess their outcomes for effectiveness.”
8. Expertise to take into practice
As a student in the master’s program in communication sciences and disorders, Valeria Gonzalez Perez, M.A., CCC-SLP, a 2023 graduate, collaborated with faculty on a study of health care utilization disparities among the Deaf community. Their published findings, with Gonzalez Perez as lead author, won the Editor’s Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association journal Perspectives. Now a speech-language pathologist in Miami, research continues to play an important role in Gonzalez Perez’s practice.
“I am always applying the latest evidence-based practices to provide the best therapy to my patients,” she said.