| A pair of life occurrences has motivated Michael Bilodeau to find a way to help people in their need.
Bilodeau is a student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health in public health in public health.
“My hope with Dr.ph. is that I will develop the tools and experience necessary to provide health improvements to Arkansas and perhaps the nation,” he said.
Originally from Malvern, Bilodeau is currently working as a program manager in the care program based on the value of the Baptist health system for its primary care clinics. In addition to being a full -time student and professional, Bilodeau, who has a master’s degree in business administration by focusing on the management of health care of the Western Governors University, is the father of two girls, 13 and 10 years old .
The youngest bilodeau child has a heart disorder and needed six different heart surgeries. The kindness of the doctor who did a nine -hour procedure on his daughter had a lasting impact on Bilodeau.
“I could say that the doctor wanted to help us,” said Bilodeau. “The doctor had great concentration and compassion. He was on the point. Seeing how motivated and attentive it was – I was really inspired. »»
“Crossing the experience with my daughter and after spending so much time in a health care environment, I not only knew my own difficulties, but I also observed the difficulties of other families and their children. I would notice how useful and empathetic staff at the Children’s Hospital of Arkansas were. They really wanted to help each patient improve. I wanted to be part of this type of environment. »»
At the time, Bilodeau had a good career in information technology (TI). However, Bilodeau, who also has a diploma in physics of the Henderson State University, determined that he did not live his life objective by working there. He wanted a career that would have an immediate and significant impact on the lives of others, similar to health professionals who helped his daughter and family.
“I was not happy,” he admitted. “I didn’t like the work I did.”
In the end, he asked and obtained a job at Arkansas Children’s as director of commercial operations. He worked at Arkansas Children’s when the Covide-19 company ravaged the company.
Throughout the pandemic, the hospital housed children who had behavioral needs in mental health. There was nowhere else for them. See this on a recurrent and motivated bilodeau recurred base.
For what?
The situation has rethought bilodeau to his childhood when he dealt with mental and behavioral health problems linked to sexual violation by a member of the adult family.
“There are not enough behavioral and mental health services available in Arkansas,” he said. “There is a major need to educate people on emotional intelligence and to fight against the negative stigma of mental health. Mental health problems are cyclical in nature and often go from one generation to another. We have to remedy it correctly.
“I am only where I am today because I was able to stop and realize what is wrong and why I did not feel very mentally. I obtained the necessary help. That’s why I need and I want to help others. I understand how I can improve things.
In the end, a fortuitous discussion with someone who told him about the UAMS College of Public Health led him to take a big step towards the realization of his interaction aspiration directly with the patients and to defend behavioral health .
Bilodeau found that the college offered exactly what it was looking for.
“Public health aligns with my global professional goals,” he said. “There is overlapping between behavioral health and public health. I made sure that I understood how much the return to school would take a lot of time and commitment. But I thought of how after four years, I could have a health diploma, or I could hope that I had a health diploma. If I don’t give up – I know I will succeed.
He received additional insurance that he was heading in the right direction after meeting the college of public health teachers.
“I spoke with the head of the Dr.ph. program, and I realized that the program was ideal for people, like me, who work full time and frequent school. The program is ideal for a person like me. »»
Balancing being a father, a working professional, a mental health defender and a doctoral student is difficult. But Bilodeau remains motivated by reflection on the way in which this era of his life will give him the opportunity to be a positive presence in the life of many.
“I know that in the end, what I do is for the improvement of health for people of the state of Arkansas,” he said. “Knowing that all the work I do will ultimately help improve the lives of others, inspires me to give everything every day.”