Hayley Hamilton, a 2017 graduate of Georgia State University’s Master of Public Health program, described on May 6 how her degree opened doors to varied career opportunities beyond traditional public health roles. Hamilton currently works in healthcare communications at Boston Medical Center, where she blends her background in public health with strategic storytelling and employee engagement.
Hamilton said she first became interested in public health during an undergraduate course at the University of Georgia. “Public health really stood out to me,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always been passionate about health, but I also knew I didn’t want to go into medicine or nursing.” This realization led her to pursue a master’s degree focused on Health Promotion and Behavior at Georgia State.
Hamilton highlighted the importance of flexibility and affordability when choosing Georgia State University for graduate school. “Georgia State checked all my boxes,” she said. “I wanted the affordability of a state school, and I loved being in the city. The flexibility was also huge for me because I worked part time throughout the program.” She added that evening classes made it possible to balance work responsibilities with coursework.
During her studies, faculty members such as John Steward and Rodney Lyn played significant roles in shaping Hamilton’s academic interests and professional direction. After graduation, connections through faculty helped her secure an ORISE Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she gained experience in research and communications before moving into contractor roles supporting digital media for CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.
Since relocating to Boston in 2021, Hamilton has continued working in healthcare communications—first with Mass General Brigham and now at Boston Medical Center—focusing on internal communications that support organizational culture. She explained: “A lot of what I do is helping build employee culture and organizational reputation,” adding that even if not directly involved with traditional public health work daily, she remains committed to improving population health through supporting organizations aligned with those values.
Hamilton remains connected to Georgia State as a member of its School of Public Health Alumni Board by mentoring students, participating in panels, and offering philanthropic support. Her advice for prospective students is: “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box,” Hamilton said. “There isn’t one linear career path in public health, and there are a lot of opportunities to go in many different directions.”
She emphasized networking as crucial for launching careers: “Getting close with one or two professors and building that network completely changed my experience when looking for jobs,” she said.
