Continue reading MPH Alumni, Dr Melinda Roberts Noel's journey!
At Lakehead, under the supervision of Dr. Wiersma, I completed my inquiry regarding whether an established self-management program would support care partners of those living with dementia. At this time, I had advanced my career to become the Executive Director of Health Services for Central Health in NL, and I was seeing first-hand the burden of being the “second victim” of spouses and other care partners caring for those living with dementia. Dr. Wiersma sparked within me the idea that public health programs can be expanded to support care partners who indeed are living with the burden equivalent to or more than other more accepted chronic diseases. With many thanks to Dr. Wiersma, as part of my MPH program at LU, I completed the research, and successfully defended my thesis, “Understanding the meanings of the lived experiences of spousal care partners participating in a chronic disease self-management program”. In my practicum, I developed a navigational tool highlighting supports in our RHA called “Dementia? – A guide to help you navigate the system”. It was this learning experience and the strong research foundation at Lakehead that strengthened my application and helped me gain acceptance to medical school.
In 2015, with this new Masters degree in hand from LU, at the age of 42, I started again the process of medical school applications. First, I was accepted to Monash medical school in Australia to their rural medicine program. However due to some issues with immigration documents after moving to Australia, I was unable to start their program. I then began the process to attend a Caribbean medical school - American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten. After only being there for 3 glorious days, we had to flee ahead of hurricane Irma on the last flight off the island. The school took a direct hit and was partially destroyed from the 300KPH winds, and this option was destroyed. A few weeks later, I departed for Northwest England as AUC was able to set up their medical school there due to a partnership they had with UCLAN. While there for only a few weeks, I received news that I had earned an interview with MUN medicine program at home in NL. Shortly after, I received news that I had gained acceptance to MUN medicine program, and I began the program there in 2018.
After this tortuous journey of acceptance to medical school, I began the intense study to become a medical doctor. After many days and nights of study, at the age of 48, this month I had the honor of walking across the stage at MUN medicine convocation to receive my Doctorate of medicine. Currently, I am just starting my family medicine residency with MUN medicine in Western NL.
When I asked aloud at age 42, ‘Should I continue to pursue medical school now?’, my husband, Brad, quoted Earl Nightingale: ‘Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.’ He said, ‘you will either be 48 and working in your current job, or you can be 48 and be a family physician’.
As a proud alumni of Lakehead university, I can surely say that the MPH program and my research there played a large role in my culmination of graduating with my MD. My dream has become a reality. I look forward to serving older adults in a rural community as a family physician for many years to come! Thank you to Dr. Wiersma for her support and the continued supervision of my research during medical school. The professors at LU have proven to be continued supporters of my academic pursuits to fulfil my life calling – to become a family physician.
Forever grateful and ever blessed!"
- Dr. Melinda Roberts Noel, Master of Public Health (Thesis Stream), 2015