Kimberly Cole is building on years of experience in infection prevention to strengthen her leadership skills through USF’s College of Public Health (COPH) doctor of public health (DrPH) program. As an infection prevention manager in South Florida, Cole is connecting her professional experience with applied learning to expand her impact on public health.
“My journey into public health was not a straight line, but I can tell you exactly where it started--in a microbiology lab,” Cole said.
As a clinical laboratory scientist, Cole became curious about the stories behind the organisms she encountered. She wanted to understand where infections originated, who else might be affected and what happened next. That curiosity led her into regulatory work, graduate education and eventually the health department, where she served as a subject matter expert on complex outbreak investigations.
After years of developing her technical expertise, Cole recognized her next step.
“I realized I wanted to grow as a leader and that is what brought me to the DrPH,” she said.
Cole said she chose a DrPH rather than a PhD because she wanted to remain connected to public health practice. COPH’s emphasis on leadership and applied public health aligned with her goal of strengthening the skills she uses in her professional role.
“As a working professional, I wanted what I learned in the classroom to connect to the work I was already doing,” Cole said.
Her positive impression of the COPH began during the admissions interview process and continued through the program’s Fall Institute, where members of the newest DrPH cohort met and learned together in person.
“There was also something about the COPH that simply felt like the right fit,” she said. “I wanted a program where my professional experience wasn't something I had to set aside to become a student again, but something I could bring into the classroom and keep building on.”
Balancing a doctorate with a demanding career initially felt daunting. However, Cole said she appreciated that faculty recognized the realities of managing school alongside work, family and leadership responsibilities.
Kimberly Cole (right) and her mother sporting COPH shirts. (Photo courtesy of Cole)
“What stood out to me was how invested the faculty were in our success, not just academically, but as people,” she said.
The experience reinforced her confidence in the program and helped her connect with classmates who also share a commitment to making a meaningful difference in public health.
“I don't feel like I have to have everything figured out,” Cole said. “I am entering this program with years of professional experience, but also with a willingness to be challenged, to learn from my classmates and to grow.”
Early in the program, she found herself thinking differently about leadership, collaboration and communication. She said she values being able to bring her professional experience into the classroom while learning from classmates with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Outside the classroom, Cole serves as president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Broward–Palm Beach Chapter. She considers the role one of the greatest honors of her career.
Through APIC, Cole works to create a professional community where infection preventionists can share knowledge, develop leadership skills and support one another. Her chapter initiatives include launching a weekly certification in infection control (CIC) study group, organizing networking events and planning the 2027 regional conference, “In IP We Trust.”
For Cole, these efforts reflect the importance of helping colleagues grow in a field that often requires difficult decisions and strong advocacy to protect patients, health care workers and communities.
“Leadership, for me, has become less about having a title and more about what you do with the opportunity to bring people together,” she said.
Through the DrPH program, Cole hopes to build on her technical background and leadership experience to address complex public health challenges.
Cole said her advice for working professionals considering a DrPH is not to wait until they feel completely ready. “Balancing professional and personal responsibilities will always present challenges and students do not need to have every career goal or doctoral project mapped out before beginning,” she said.
Instead, she recommended approaching the experience with a willingness to learn, grow and discover new opportunities to make an impact.
Although pursuing a doctorate can feel intimidating, Cole said she is choosing to embrace the uncertainty.
Kimberly Cole (center) attended her MPH graduation with her parents. (Photo courtesy of Cole)
For Cole, earning this degree also carries personal significance. She sees her education as a way to honor her parents and the sacrifices they made to give her opportunities to succeed.
“Every step forward is a little bit theirs, too,” she said.
Cole plans to graduate with her DrPH in August of 2029.