Liliana Sauro (’24, MPH ’25) is a double alumna of Westminster University, graduating in 2024 with a bachelor of science in neuroscience, a minor in public health, and an honors certificate, and completing her master of public health in 2025. Now, she's pursuing a master of health sciences (MHS) in physician assistant (PA) studies at Duke University, continuing her path to becoming a health care provider with a strong foundation in public health.
Liliana characterizes her Westminster undergraduate experience as intentional and close-knit, with small class sizes and one-on-one faculty mentorship that allowed her to build genuine connections with her classmates and professors. In fact, it was Westminster faculty who recognized Liliana’s passion for public health and encouraged her to pursue an MPH at Westminster.
“Having already experienced the close-knit learning environment and support from faculty, I knew that if I was going to pursue my MPH, it had to be at Westminster. On top of that, Westminster’s 10-month MPH program fit perfectly into my plans for PA school, making the decision feel more natural,” she says.
Liliana had already planned to take a one year break between her undergraduate education and PA school, so Westminster’s 10-month program provided an opportunity to expand her knowledge without pausing her plans. Once she was accepted into Westminster’s MPH program, she found a program that moved beyond the basics of public health to prepare students for their futures in health care, public service, and more. Although each student in Liliana’s cohort was pursuing a different career or educational path after graduation, faculty supported each student’s needs and tailored their experiences so they could gain knowledge that directly applied to their goals.
"I would describe Westminster's MPH program as engaging, collaborative, and purposeful, particularly in how it connected what we learned in the classroom to the work we hoped to pursue. Beyond providing a strong foundation in public health, the program's faculty encouraged us to think critically, approach different communities with cultural awareness, and consider how we could apply what we were learning to our future careers." Liliana says.
After her acceptance into Duke University’s MHS program, Liliana found that the skills she learned in Westminster’s MPH program applied both broadly and directly to her experiences in the classroom. Liliana described how Westminster helped her develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and approaching challenges from different perspectives—including considering how external factors influence an individual’s health.
“One thing Westminster's MPH program really emphasized was the importance of looking beyond the surface of an issue and recognizing that there are often multiple factors at play. As a future health care provider, I’ve learned that it’s not just about identifying the best treatment, but also understanding whether that treatment is accessible, realistic, and sustainable for the patient,” she says.
When asked what advice she would give to students considering an MPH before PA school, Liliana said, “I would tell them that pursuing my MPH wasn't simply a step toward getting into PA school. It was a step toward becoming the kind of health care provider I wanted to be.”
As Liliana continues her PA program, she is looking forward to expanding access to quality health care for all individuals and providing thoughtful and culturally responsive care to her patients.
“One of my biggest goals throughout PA school is to continue finding ways to incorporate my public health values into my clinical education. I'm especially passionate about expanding access to health care and have started getting involved in community service, while gaining firsthand experience caring for individuals from different backgrounds and communities.”
Liliana Sauro ('24, MPH '25)
