Students participating in the Macy Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program (MULFP) through Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions are presented with a number of unique opportunities. Gabriella Jackson, a recent alumna of CNHP is still finding ways to apply what she learned from the program.

 

"Through the program I was able to learn about areas in nursing I would have never thought to otherwise explore," Jackson explained. "If it weren't for my experience as a Macy Fellow I don't know that I would have found what I am truly passionate about."

 

Jackson graduated from CNHP in 2013 receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Following her time at Drexel, Jackson went on to work in an acute medicine, infectious disease unit focused on aiding economically disadvantaged and minority populations at the University of Maryland. After nearly three years in Maryland, Jackson returned to Philadelphia in order to pursue both a Master of Science in Health Leadership Nursing and a Master of Public Health at the University of Pennsylvania. She credits much of her success to MULFP.

 

"Throughout the program you are exposed to so many different kinds of people and situations. I was able to learn how to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses and learn ways to improve upon them," Jackson said. "Even as an undergraduate senior, I still didn't know exactly what I wanted to do after I graduated. But one day during one of my clinical rotations, I remember hearing a really impactful presentation from a guest speaker talking about preventative health care and the importance of health and wellness in preventing chronic diseases. I knew from then on where my true passion was."

 

Jackson hopes to complete her master's degrees by spring 2018. Following graduation, she hopes to work within a health care organization whose focus is providing preventative care to those who may otherwise lack health education or the means to afford such care themselves.

 

"It's pretty common that early on during their master’s program students would want a change," Jackson explained. "But in my case, I've known since my senior year at CNHP, and through my experience at the University of Maryland, that this is what I wanted. I can already see myself working in this field."

 

Jackson reflected on her most valuable lessons learned from MULFP and the rest of her time at Drexel. "I think the most important lesson from the Macy Fellows program is to keep an open mind—listen to everything and really take it all in. If you are given tools to help better learn about yourself, be sure to make good use of them. Like in life, it's important to really make the most out of any opportunity you are presented with."