PHSRC Pulse

PHSRC Pulse

Lynn sitting on a bench in front of a tulip field with her graduation cap and gown.

TA Spotlight: Lynn Nguyen

Lynn Nguyen is a Health and Wellbeing Sciences major from Minnesota, with a strong interest in pursuing a career in public health. She is passionate about making health a human right and holds a strong commitment to achieving health equity.

Read more about her work as a Baby Monitor at the CNS Lab, her times abroad and her role as a TA at the PHSRC.


Naima at her winter break trip in San Diego

AHS 1613: A Student's Experience & Tips + Tricks

AHS 1613: Experiences in Healthcare & Public Health isn’t your typical course composed solely of assignments, exams, and lectures—rather, it provides an opportunity to gain direct experience volunteering for 35 hours in healthcare in a public health setting. 


Clara Avery and her friends all wearing matching OT jackets.

Spotlighting The Occupational Therapy Program during OT month

April is Occupational Therapy month, and we are highlighting two Occupational Therapy (OT) students, Lilianna Shank and Clara Avery, and OT Faculty member Dr. Hannah Oldenburg. Read more about their experiences in the OT program, what drew them to OT, and more. 


Cartoon application materials and health icons

An open letter to the Health Professional School reapplicant

If you are among the many pre-health students reapplying to health professional programs, this blog post is designed to set you up for success in your reapplication journey. 

Know that you are not alone, and that many competitive applicants do not receive acceptances! 


Slattengrren with his son at a baseball game at target field.

Combating Burnout in Medicine: Dr. Andrew Slattengren’s Approach to Work-Life Integration and Physician Well-Being

Joining the University of Minnesota North Memorial Family Medicine Residency faculty in 2011, Andrew Slattengren, DO, is a founding member and remains active with Family Medicine Midwest. 

Read to see how Dr. Slattengren combats burnout in his own career, and his approach to work-life Integration.


Aaron wearing a red and black buffalo plaid shirt with blurred out trees and houses in the background

March Spotlight: Aaron Asmundson

Our March Spotlight is Aaron Asmundson (he/they), the new PHSRC Pathways Manager.

Aaron is excited to return to the University of Minnesota after working for many years in the leadership development programs.

Read more about Aaron's past experiences, passion for yoga and excitement for their new role!


Emma sitting at the table with a angel food cake that has pink frosting.

My Recovery Story: Eating Disorder Awareness Month

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month, a time to provide hope and visibility to individuals and loved ones impacted and provide education on the realities of living with eating disorders. 

This month, featured is an anecdotal story from Emma Walytka, the PHSRC Editorial Assistant, who shares her journey to recovery and lived experience struggling with an eating disorder.


Lindsay standing outside with her arms crossed, smiling.

February Spotlight: Lindsay Kazmerski

Our February spotlight is our Communications Assistant, Lindsay Kazmerski (she/her).

Lindsay is passionate about working in creative environments and using her own creativity to help inform others. She is a sophomore majoring in Strategic Communications.

Read about Lindsay's top communications tips, past experiences in graphic design and more at The Pulse Blog. 


Kaitlyn wearing sunglasses and a yellow and white shirt, with a view of buildings in Montpellier in the distance

Reflections on France Study Abroad Experience

Kaitlyn Millner, a student in the AHS 3003: Sustainable Approaches to Health in France course in the spring of 2024, shares her experiences and reflects on the lessons she learned about sustainability while abroad in Montpellier, France. 


Whitney outside smiling in front of a forest background.

January Spotlight: Whitney Oachs

Meet Whitney Oachs (they/them), the PHSRC Student Services and Program Coordinator! Whitney is passionate about amplifying student voices and promoting the success of PHSRC students. They hold a BA in History from the University of St Thomas and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs.  

Read about Whitney's experiences, upbringing, perspective on accessibility, and more!