Advancing One Health: How USU's Online MPH Program Shaped a Future Veterinarian

For Alexander Eddington, a second-generation Aggie, Utah State University always felt like home. Born in Logan and raised in Morgan, Utah, Eddington grew up with a strong agricultural background, raising pigs and steers for 4-H and FFA.

"From the age of 11, just being involved with horses and livestock, I knew I was going to go to Utah State to get my degree in animal science," he said.

His father, also an Aggie alum, helped inspire his path toward a career that merged his love for animals and public health.

Eddington’s journey took him through USU’s animal science program, but his ultimate goal, becoming a veterinarian, proved challenging.

“My senior year of undergrad, I was applying to vet schools, and I just wasn’t getting any acceptance,” he said. Seeking ways to strengthen his resume, he discovered the online master of public health (MPH) program.

“The flexibility and the online format of the program drew me because I could balance my home and family life, work at my job, and still pursue additional education,” Eddington said.

With its focus on One Health, a public health concept that emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, USU’s MPH program offered Eddington new perspectives.

“There’s nothing that happens in one sector that doesn’t influence the other two,” he said. As a consumer safety inspector for the USDA, he has already seen how this concept applies in real-world settings. “Just because you think what you do doesn’t matter, it actually does. What you do here can impact someone thousands of miles away.”

The fully online MPH program allowed Eddington to study alongside classmates from diverse backgrounds.

“I was in several groups where we had people in Utah, down in the Caribbean, in Maine, and even in Canada,” he said. These connections helped broaden his view of career opportunities beyond traditional veterinary roles. "I discovered that being a veterinarian, I didn’t have to go be a clinical vet or work for a government agency; there are other opportunities."

Eddington credits his advisor, Dr. Jane Kelly, for her support in making the most of the program.

“She was very instrumental in helping me get placed for my applied learning experience with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services,” he said.

Dr. Kelly’s guidance also helped him choose courses that would strengthen his veterinary school applications.

For prospective students considering the MPH program, Eddington’s advice is simple: “Go for it. I absolutely loved it. You can finish as fast as you want or take your time.”

His journey with USU’s MPH program has not only prepared him for his next steps but has also reaffirmed his commitment to improving public health, especially in veterinary settings.

"My career choice to become a vet is to help educate people about the importance of keeping animals healthy, to promote healthy food animals and household pets," he said.

USU’s MPH program has been instrumental in Eddington’s journey, bridging his passions for animal and public health. With veterinary school on the horizon and a vision for contributing to animal health through the USDA, he sees the program as a valuable foundation for his career. For those balancing multiple commitments, USU’s MPH program offers a pathway to meaningful change in public health.