Campus Connection

December grad Abigail Stafslien-Dumale credits UWL for holistic view of healthcare 

Abigail Stafslien-Dumale will not be in La Crosse on Dec. 14 to receive her master’s degree in public health.  

In fact, from her home in Perth, Australia, she could hardly be farther away. 

But across 10,000 miles and a 14-hour time difference, Stafslien-Dumale can attest to the global reach and transformative impact of a UW-La Crosse education — an education she knows will serve her well as she pursues a career as a physician. 

“As I head into medical school, I’m realizing how much my public health education from UWL is going to shape the kind of physician I become,” Stafslien-Dumale says. “Having this background has pushed me to pursue opportunities I might have otherwise overlooked, and it’s given me a much broader perspective.” 

Stafslien-Dumale, originally from Coon Valley, became familiar with UWL after completing several courses offered by the university during her time in high school. 

She moved to Minnesota for her undergraduate studies, but, following the death of her father during her senior year, began to struggle with burnout and questions about what to do next. 

Remembering her positive experience from high school, she decided to enroll in UWL’s online master’s program in public health. It proved to be a perfect fit.

During her first year, Stafslien-Dumale reached out to program Director Anders Cedergren to see if there were additional projects she could pursue beyond the required coursework. The result was a research project — assessing the accuracy and impact of diagnostic coding on illicit drug presentations at an Australian emergency department — that the pair presented at the Public Health Education’s Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. 

“I knew from the start that this program would be what I made of it,” she says. “I did my best to make the most of every opportunity.” 

The program continued to be accommodating when Stafslien-Dumale moved to Perth, a city she had fallen in love with after visiting her sister who was studying abroad. 

The few live class sessions were recorded, which meant she could watch at her convenience rather than tuning in at 2 a.m. 

And for her applied practical experience — a requirement of the program — Stafslien-Dumale completed a remote experience with the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative, attending meetings early in the morning and late at night due to the time difference. 

As Stafslien-Dumale progressed through the program, she gained greater appreciation for the many factors that contribute to healthy lives and quality healthcare. 

“Because of UWL, I’ve come to believe that being a doctor is about so much more than treating symptoms. It’s about understanding the bigger picture: how lived experience, access, policy and education shape well-being,” she says. “As I head into medical school, I’m realizing how much my public health education from UWL is going to shape the kind of physician I become.” 

After Stafslien-Dumale submits her final assignment, she will have a four-week break before beginning her first year in the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Western Australia. 

After her time with UWL, she is significantly more prepared for the program than if she would have jumped from undergraduate straight to medical school, she says. 

“It would have taken me so much longer to see health the way that I do now,” she explains. “I now see health through a systems-level lens. I have a much greater understanding of the way structural and social factors influence individual health outcomes.” 

As for the next several weeks, Stafslien-Dumale looks forward to taking a break from her studies, spending time with family and reflecting on what she has accomplished. 

“It hasn’t fully hit me yet. At the start (of the program), the end felt impossible far away,” she says. “That said, I’m very ready for my four weeks of academic freedom. Also, I'm so excited to be able to put those three little letters (MPH, Master of Public Health) after my name!”