ALUMNI PROFILES
Scott Giberson MPH (Graduated in Feburary 2006)
Captain (CAPT) in the U.S. Public Health Service
My name is Scott Giberson. I’m a Captain (CAPT) in the U.S. Public Health Service. I’ve had the opportunity to complete many academic curriculums including a Bachelors of Scien
ce in Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy, and Masters in Public Health (MPH). I am licensed as both a Pharmacist and a Pharmacist Clinician (similar to a mid-level primary care provider). I received my MPH from University of Massachusetts in Feb. 2006. Currently, I am the Principal Consultant of the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) National HIV/AIDS Program. I’m responsible for directing, monitoring and/or developing HIV programs for IHS, which includes over 250 IHS facilities and 25 hospitals. I serve as the IHS’s primary HIV/AIDS liaison to all tribal health facilities and all other federal agencies.
I wanted to use my clinical background (more focused on individual health) and expand it to a population health perspective. Due to career-related positions, I’ve developed an interest in global health, which also necessitates a strong foundation in public health.
The courses at UMASS were comprehensive and contained both broad fields of 
public health (global health, behavioral health, etc) and more specific fields (genetics, biostatistics, etc). Combined, the PHP courses gave me the foundation (and perspectives) I needed to apply public health principles to the many fields of healthcare and practice.
As a U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) officer, we engage in a wide range of missions, essential to the public health of the nation. As well, we have many opportunities to work both within and outside our customary professional scope and are thus encouraged to pursue additional advanced degrees. The MPH directly assisted me in my previous international health position and in obtaining my new position as the Principal Consultant - implementing a comprehensive HIV program within the IHS. Looking back, I’m not sure how I would function without the degree.
I want to develop (and be an integral member of) the cadre of professionals that serve as our current and future public health leadership both globally and in the U.S. Since the UMASS coursework was appropriately time-consuming, I have to thank my family (wife, Lynette and son, Payton) for putting up with the long hours to obtain the MPH. Thank You.
Scott is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi which is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Scott was chosen as an member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society due to his academic excellence and demonstration of qualities of leadership in public health.
