Tulane graduate turns personal health journey into mission for change

Angela Philpot has spent much of her life navigating the health care system - first as a patient and now as a professional working to improve it.

After a serious car accident at 18 led to years of chronic pain, nerve damage and what she describes as an "invisible illness," Philpot found herself in and out of hospitals searching for answers. Along the way, she developed a firsthand understanding of both the strengths and the shortcomings of the medical system.

"I didn't accept that this was just how things were going to be," she said. "I knew there had to be a better way."

That determination ultimately led her to Tulane University's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she will earn her Master of Health Administration this spring.

Philpot, who has an associate's degree in radiologic technology and a bachelor's degree in scientific and medical illustration, said she was drawn to Tulane by the school's reputation as a leader in public health education and the level of support she encountered throughout the admissions process.

"Tulane was the only place where every conversation felt genuine and informative," she said. "That mattered when you're making a decision about your future."

The Master of Health Administration program's online format allowed her to continue her education from her home in suburban Atlanta or while traveling for work as a radiologic technologist. Before starting the program, she had worked in operating rooms across the country, gaining a broad view of how such systems function.

"My eyes were open to how different things are from place to place and how similar the challenges are," she said.

Those experiences, combined with her personal journey, led her to pursue a degree in health care administration.

"I saw gaps in communication, patient safety concerns, systems that weren't working the way they should," she said. "I realized I wasn't in a position to change those things yet. The answer was to go back to school."

At Tulane, Philpot said the program challenged her to think more deeply about leadership, health equity and patient-centered care. Courses in population health analytics, quality improvement and organizational leadership helped her connect data and policy to real-world impact. She said a course called "Leading and Designing Organizations" taught by Dr. Gene Beyt, an expert in patient-centered innovation, "was hands down the best class [she has] ever taken."

"It changed the way I look at health care and the world," she said. "We leaned into empathy and had conversations that weren't always comfortable but that were necessary."

She also credits Tulane's required residency program with setting the experience apart. During her internship with a Los Angeles-based nonprofit serving women and children affected by domestic violence, she gained hands-on experience in leadership, grant writing and program management.

Though initially unsure about online learning, Philpot said the format ultimately became one of the program's strengths, allowing her to connect with classmates and make new friends across the country while maintaining flexibility.

"It takes discipline," she said. "But people showed up, participated and brought perspectives from all areas of health care, from those who hadn't started working in healthcare to pediatric surgeons and other physicians."

Looking ahead, Philpot is focused on addressing some of health care's most persistent challenges, including differences in access and outcomes. As a volunteer and ambassador for the nonprofit HeadsUpGuys, she is working to remove the stigma that often prevents men from seeking mental health care.

"There are populations that feel invisible," she said. "I know what that feels like, and I am going to do everything I can to change that. I want to help improve health care so that everyone in the future has a better experience than I did, because your zip code should never override your genetic code."