Student Success Stories
USciences Online students enroll with different motivations, but they share many common experiences, including supportive coaches, a rigorous curriculum, and a convenient format to fit their schedules.
Read what our students have to say about expanding their options with USciences Online and see how you can write your own success story here.
Read Their Story“Plan your work and work your plan.
Gwenevere Creque, Health Informatics, Graduate Certificate
When looking to continue her education, alumna Gwenevere Creque MT’78, HIGC’20 knew the quality of education she could get from USciences. While looking into pursuing a graduate certificate in health informatics, Creque discovered that USciences Online offered just what she was looking for.
“I was aware of the quality and value of education I received when I completed my undergraduate studies in Medical Technologies [at USciences],” shares Creque. “I discovered my Alma Mater offered the Health Informatics courses, so I decided to enroll.”
Getting an excellent education in an online format has its benefits for students who have other responsibilities to balance.
“Because the assignments were accessible at any time and I knew beforehand exactly what was expected from all of my instructions, it was my responsibility to set my pace, discipline myself, and complete the assignments within the required timeframe,” explains Creque. By working to find a balance between her academics and other responsibilities, she was able to create a schedule that worked best for her needs.
While Creque has retired from clinical laboratory management, she hasn’t slowed her interest in healthcare and research. She hopes to combine her years of laboratory experience with her health informatics knowledge to help shape inoperable systems for global sharing of health information. Her passions lie in the pursuit of “equity, order, excellence, and a decent quality of life for all.”
Looking ahead to the future, Creque hopes to find herself contributing to bettering healthcare as a whole. To students thinking of pursuing a degree from USciences Online, Creque shares her advice.
“Plan your work and work your plan.” she emphasizes. “Remain focused and when things get tough as they will, don’t give up. What you do with what you learn could result in contributing to meaningful solutions the world needs.”
University of the Sciences has a history of graduating alumni that work in industry leading organizations:
- National Institutes of Health
- Johns Hopkins
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Eli Lily and Company
- Merck
- CVS
Read Their Story“I love this field because it's ever changing, fluid, and you learn something new every day.
Gina Pepe, Health Administration (MS)
When Gina Pepe HAGC’20 was looking to continue her education, she knew that doing so through an asynchronous, online program would be her best option for success while juggling her busy life. Pepe chose USciences Online for her Health Administration Graduate Certificate, and is eager to apply what she learned to her career.
“Having asynchronous/flexible coursework was a critical component in my success with the program,” Pepe said. “I work full time and the style and flexibility of the courses allowed me to keep on track and organized. The flexibility the courses give you allows you to balance your work-life balance with the addition of school, which for me was invaluable.”
Pepe works as an account representative for a large health insurance carrier, specifically working in their student health department. Her career path has been forged out of interest and passion for ensuring that everyone has adequate and accessible healthcare. Her interests span from making sure that everyone has a clear understanding of their healthcare options, to advocating for better primary care in lower income communities.
Pepe recognizes that healthcare in the United States can be overwhelming for many people, and often comes with confusion and frustration. She is particularly interested in being an advocate for those seeking to better understand their healthcare options, and her graduate certificate from USciences Online has already been a valuable resource for her.
“Accessibility is a theme that I learned throughout all the courses I took, and as someone who works in health insurance ensuring that members get the best path to care possible is something I am passionate about.” shares Pepe. She cites her first course from the program with Natasha Webster, PhD, MSHSA, MHA, CA, for introducing her to the challenges that healthcare is facing right now. “The certificate program helped me learn more knowledge in the workings of healthcare and its delivery, and I plan to use this knowledge to apply to new positions in the field where I can be a greater advocate for the public.”
Looking ahead, Pepe hopes to take her skills and use them to help those outside of the Philadelphia area, as well as sharing her knowledge through teaching. She also recognizes that goals evolve often, especially in the healthcare field. “I have many goals, but as I get older I know that so much can change,” she explains. “I love this field because it’s ever changing, fluid, and you learn something new every day.”
Her advice for students follows the theme of flexibility. With an undergraduate degree in exercise science, Pepe knows first hand the success that can come from switching gears and starting on a new path.
“The advice I would give is that you never know where life will take you, and while I used to second guess my undergraduate education, it ultimately led me to where I am today. I am far from accomplishing all that I want to as far as career goals, but just trust your instincts and remember it’s okay to change your mind,” Pepe says.