Dual-Degree Graduate Makes A Global Impact

Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer, Lieutenant (LT) Megan Dorris ’18M, MPH, earned a Master of Medical Science–Physician Assistant and Master of Public Health from Arcadia University, which prepared her for a career tackling disease. LT Dorris has worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the last two-years where she has been developing a course on cholera case management (hopefully implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya in early 2025) that will help lead to more effective treatment of patients suffering from the disease and prepare for future outbreaks: “I feel my work is crucial in our journey toward health equity. Everyone deserves access to clean, safe drinking water.” She works hands-on as part of a training fellowship and hopes to continue her education by earning a doctorate in public health. 

LT Dorris says that Arcadia enabled her to combine her degrees in a way that no other institution had allowed. “If I didn’t have the dual degrees, I wouldn’t have been able to apply to EIS. Both backgrounds have allowed me to follow my passions.” The opportunity to participate in clinical rotations abroad through Arcadia was something that appealed to her. “Arcadia let me explore a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere. I was able to visit Nicaragua and build stoves for eight families. In the Physician Assistant Program, I traveled internationally twice. Costa Rica was a real highlight.”

Outside of school, LT Dorris continues to follow her passions. In addition to her love of learning and helping others, she has been training for a marathon. She recognizes that the balance between her impactful job and her own life is important: “If I don’t take care of myself, I realize I won’t be able to do a good job for others.”