For alumnus, Chad Ngo ‘15, M.P.H., the decision to pursue a career in public health came after observing his aunt work towards a Dr.P.H. degree and he became fascinated by the fact that someone could make a career out of promoting health and well-being in communities. While at UCI, Chad was especially drawn to a course covering the AIDS epidemic, and, looking back, that course set a trajectory for future pursuits and goals.
I loved the people who were also in the field, it draws individuals who want to make a difference in their communities and improve the health of populations.”
Chad Ngo, MPH, Class of ’15
Chad is now fulfilling that dream of when he initially set out on his public health journey. He is the communications manager for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, one of the first and oldest not-for-profit organizations in the country dedicated to improving the lives of communities most impacted by HIV/AIDS.
During his last two years at UCI, Chad was also very involved in what is now the UCI CARE Office, a campus resource to prevent sexual violence. At a time when the #METOO movement hadn’t yet started and there weren’t a lot of people talking about this on college campuses, UCI CARE became a model for all the other UC campus sexual assault offices and peer educators to emulate.
“UCI provided a lot of opportunities for me to gain first-hand experience and to build a skill-set outside of the classroom that I now use on a regular basis,” said Chad, who is a first-generation college graduate. “During my last year’s practicum course, I began working at an AIDS service agency in Orange County and I found that a lot of my colleagues had their MPH degree.”
That experience motivated Chad to go straight into a Master of Public Health program after he completed his bachelor’s degree. During his time at Cal State Fullerton to complete his MPH degree, he worked as a substance use counselor at drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, graduate assistant supporting first-generation students of color, and interned for a not-for-profit supporting LGBTQ+ folks incarcerated in Los Angeles.
Despite living in Northern California, Chad reflects fondly on his time at UCI. “I enjoyed being a public policy major, because of the breadth of classes, such as sociology, psychology, and, of course, public health,” Chad said. “I loved the people who were also in the field, it draws individuals who want to make a difference in their communities and improve the health of populations.”
As the Communications Co-Chair for the UCI Public Health Alumni Board, Chad is always looking for opportunities to reconnect with old classmates and alumni from UCI, a campus that he loves. He attributes his experience at UCI as the foundation for his professional career. When the opportunity arose to be involved with the Alumni Board, he applied immediately– knowing it was the best way for him to give back.
“My life motto is to continue to connect with people and be authentic in my interactions,” Chad said. “Given the past two years and what we’ve all experienced as a global community, I am trying to slow down, be more present, and enjoy the little things that are easy to take for granted.
