I just got my PhD yesterday --

[malachibk]

Feel free to ask me anything (although I only know about 1 thing really, really well)

[deadparrot]

1. In what subject?

Congrats, by the way! :toast:

[malachibk]

3. In Epidemiology

And thanks. Still on cloud 9.

[hfojvt]

37. then don't be a tease

give us the low-down on this bird flu pandemic

[u4ic]

2. Woo Hoo! Congrats!!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

In what?

[malachibk]

5. Thanks!

In Public Health (Epidemiology)

[u4ic]

10. Just in time for

BIRD FLU!!


:rofl:

[malachibk]

12. No shit, right. lol

Fortunately, I'm a psychiatric epidemiologist, not Infectious Disease
But I suppose I can research the epidemic of PTSD that will ensue after the 'avian outbreak'

[GCP]

4. Congratulations!

:toast:
What was your thesis on?

[malachibk]

7. Thank you!

My Diss was "Racial/Ethnic Differences in Barriers to Mental Health Care: An Analysis of Illness Concept, Stigma and Cultural Mistrust"

[Jed Dilligan]

17. Ethnography or survey research?

Or some other methodology?

[malachibk]

19. Both, actually

I combined 3 data sets -- experimental survey research, qualitative interviews and a nationally representative phone survey
I'm all about triangulation of methods

[Jed Dilligan]

22. How medical of you!

Well, congratulations and I hope you continue working with underrepresented populations!

[lumberingbear]

6. Congrats Doctor!

:woohoo: :bounce:

[malachibk]

9. Still so funny for me to have someone call me that

Wonder for how long I'll feel like a 'fraud'?

[Writer]

8. Congrats!!!

So... what's next for you?

[malachibk]

11. Thanks!

I start working for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in June. I hope it's the start of a long career in government.

[Writer]

15. Oh - I didn't put it together. This is a MEDICAL doctorate... right?

I just earned my MA. I have a few voices about me persuading me to do doctoral work, but I fear a strictly academic life, which I would find limiting.

So when someone mentions they're working on a doctorate I always have to ask "what next?" :)

[malachibk]

18. No, not medical

It's an 'academic' doctorate - a regular PhD
I too feared a strictly academic life, so I got a job working for the NYC dep of health so I can actually work to improve people's lives
Congrats on the MA!

[Writer]

20. Okay.

Well, it sounds like you made a good decision. Good for you! :applause:

[Ravenseye]

13. Congrats!

What is epidemiology? Why should I care? How much funding do you require?

[malachibk]

16. Epi = study of the origin and course of disease

Research, basically.
Are you asking why you should care about epi or why you should care that I got my PhD (in case of the latter, you should care because I'm a fellow DUer lol)
And I'm no longer in need of funding b/c I got a non-academic job

[Ravenseye]

25. Of course I 'care'

Just asking like...what effect does your work have on my life?

What will you be doing in yoru job? health department I read? LIke what's your day to day?

[malachibk]

26. Well, if you live in the South Bronx...

hopefully I'll have a big impact. I'll be working to address and ameliorate the health disparities that exist between the S. Bronx and the rest of NYC (there are similar offices in Harlem and BedStuy, Brooklyn). So my day to day will be a mix of talking to community members, designing and implementing interventions, coordinating w/city government and budget offices, assessing the effectiveness of the interventions, overseeing data collection and analysis, and writing up reports/presenting findings to the mayor's/commissioner's offices.

[ikojo]

33. Did you see the NYT Magazine article about

poor New Yorkers who are dying of diseases usually thought to afflict only the elderly. I am glad someone is excited about working on health disparities.



Congrats on the PhD!!!!

[REDKING]

14. I am the black sheep

of the family,everbody has a degree except me..I like what you said about 1 thing....Congatulations and celebrations..Well done,Now enjoy...Peace:toast:

[malachibk]

21. Thanks!

n/t

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

23. Congratulations!

I have no questions - just respect!

[malachibk]

24. Thank you

[catbert836]

27. Congrats, Dr. Malachibk!

:yourock:

Maybe some day I'll have one too. Only in high school right now, but there's no reason not to look forward.

[Burma Jones]

28. Congrats

Mine is in Computing......

[liberalpragmatist]

29. I'm kind of interested in doing that! Can I ask a few questions?

The reason I ask is because I'm a biology/anthropology-double major. Since I have a broad range of interests, I'm even considering doing something non-science as a career, but I do enjoy reading about epidemiology and epidemiology is something I might consider doing after undergraduate although I still have 2 years (possibly 2 1/2) years of undergraduate left.

So I actually have a few questions...

1) What did you study in undergraduate and did you do a masters or some other academic or occupational work after undergraduate?

2) What made you decide to do epidemiology?

3) Care to say where you did epidemiology?

4) Where do you see epidemiology eventually taking you?

5) Care to say what your starting salary is and what established PhD's in epidemiology eventually get? Also, what is the benefit of a PhD in epidemiology vs, for instance, a Masters in Public Health or an MD/MPH

6) Lastly, I'm somewhat interested in studying disease in third-world countries; do you know people involved in that?

Sorry to bug you with so much! If you want to be more extensive and write me a PM, that'd be fine too!

Congrats :hi:

[rug]

30. Is it really necessary to wash one's hands?

[alarcojon]

31. Hey, Congratulations!

That's a lot of work there. I got my PhD in Mathematics in 1995 and have been happily working in academia ever since.

[Lisa]

32. congratulations! I hope the examination committee didn't ...

... keep you too long in the room. After my defense, I opened the door and found that everyone had gotten tired of waiting, and left for the pub without me!

And I hope you don't have any major rewrites to do. Have you published any of your results yet? I've been working on a book with some other people, about the effects of the environment on mental health (my chapter is on the psychosocial impacts of pollution on various communities) -- and your work sounds like something we should be taking into account. (Please, PM me if you've got publications or have them in press ... I'm interested!)

[EstimatedProphet]

34. Congrats! Good for you!

Are people calling you doctor yet? It's always a rush...

[swag]

35. Congratulations.

Go forth and sin no more.

[liontamer]

36. congrats!

how long did it take you? :evilgrin:

[MassLiberal]

38. congratulations!

I'm working on my diss right now, so I can appreciate what this took! Yay for you!
:party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo:

[Nikia]

39. Congrats

Getting a PhD is quite an accomplishment. I hope to get one some day but I am not sure what I want it to be in.

[Whoa_Nelly]

40. Am impressed!

ANd it take s a lot to impress me!

Congrats!!!! :bounce: :hi: :toast:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

41. Congratulations!

That's a whole lotta work.

[bigwillq]

42. Congrats!

Good job! :toast: :party:

[wildhorses]

43. congratulations on a job well done!!

:party::toast::party: