ALUMNI PROFILES
Shannon Lacy MPH (Graduated in May 2008)
Major in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps
I am a Major in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. I grew up on a small family dairy farm in western New York State, and earned my B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University in 1999. I then attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, attaining my DVM degree in 2003. My original intent was to enter dairy or mixed-animal practice; however, a unique summer externship in veterinary pathology at the National Institutes of Health – followed closely by the events of September 11, 2001 – opened my mind to other ways of serving. I accepted my Army commission while in veterinary
school, and immediately came on active duty following graduation. In the Army, I was first assigned to the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, where I completed a postgraduate internship in clinical veterinary medicine. I was next assigned to the 51st Medical Detachment (Veterinary Medicine) in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where I held a variety of positions over three years: Clinic Officer-In-Charge, Deputy Commander, and Commander. I completed my MPH over the course of my time in Germany, graduating in May 2008, just before returning to the States. I recently began a three-year residency in veterinary pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, in Washington, D.C.
I chose to pursue the MPH degree mostly out of personal interest in the 
discipline, but also to enhance my veterinary training and experience with something that would enable me to better serve society. Having an agricultural background, I have long appreciated the inextricable links between animal health and human health. These links are underscored by some of the great challenges of our time: the emergence and resurgence of infectious diseases, many of which are zoonotic (for example, avian influenza); the ever-growing urgency and complexity associated with assuring an abundant, safe, wholesome food supply; and the profound impacts of global climate change on animal and human populations. For me, the MPH program represented an opportunity to give some focused thought to these issues. It allowed me to revisit the public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics framework set during the DVM program, and reinforce it with concepts in social and behavioral theory, environmental health, informatics, and research methods, among others. In doing this, I rounded out my clinical training and experience, and ultimately became a better veterinarian.
The PHP courses were not only extremely interesting, but by and large, they p
rovided me with new aptitudes that I could immediately apply in my career. This reinforced the concepts, while providing immediate reward for my academic efforts.
In addition, attainment of the MPH degree (or equivalent) was a requirement for me (because of having less than 6 years of practice experience) to sit for board examination by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM). The examination covers 5 broad areas: epidemiology and biostatistics; environmental health; food safety; infectious and parasitic disease; and public health administration and education. The PHP courses covered many of these areas, and prepared me very well, resulting in my certification.
Some of my most exciting work has been conducting humanitarian assistan
ce missions in Africa, where the critical link between public health and veterinary medicine is even more conspicuous than here at home. The MPH provided me with the conceptual tools to maximize my utility on these missions – to put into real practice the integration of epidemiology, veterinary medicine, social and behavioral theory, and even health care economics. As a result, I was able to not only provide a more engaged service, but to derive greater professional reward from the experience as well.
I am most grateful for the endless support and love of my wife, who tolerates so much: moving all over the world; being regularly separated from family and friends; being forced to make new friends (only to move away again in a few years); and most of all, my annoying obsession with learning!
The success of the UMass-Amherst MPH in PHP Program depends, in large part, on the dedicated efforts of a highly-organized, insightful, erudite, sometimes strict, and always caring Program Coordinator (and academic advisor) – Ms. MaryBeth Lizek – whom I thank eternally. In addition, the diverse team of enthusiastic faculty is a UMass treasure. I am so appreciative – not only for their eagerness to share their knowledge and experience – but also for their frequent willingness to accommodate my hectic travel schedule. Finally, the opportunity to interact with such an assorted array of classmates has been one of the most educational experiences of all, and I am so grateful to have known all of them.
Shannon 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. Shannon 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.
