I will graduate in June 2012 with a master of public health degree (MPH) from the University of Washington School of Public Health, one of the nation's foremost academic centers for public health research and instruction. Specifically, I will earn my MPH from the school's Community Oriented Public Health Practice program, or COPHP. The program is grounded in a problem-based learning pedagogical method. Cases are assigned by faculty, but students investigate each case by conducting original research that is shared with other students through reports that address individual learning objectives assigned during class discussions. There are no formal lectures, and the program covers all core public health competencies, including biostatistics and epidemiology. Though faculty contribute to case discussions, students lead classes as facilitators, develop learning objectives for individual research (two papers weekly, usually), and demonstrate a range of leadership and management skills. Group projects on current public health issues and controversies are a major component of the program, as is a practicum that requires all students to work two quarters, or five months, with a local public health provider. Students also work with real-world clients developing program evaluations, policy recommendations, and health assessments. Clients have included Public Health-Seattle & King County, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, and the Mason County Public Health Department, in Washington state. Below are my papers published mostly from my COPHP coursework as well as coursework I completed in other public health classes on global health, the built environment and public health, and health impact assessments.