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MORE ABOUT WILL
Will Germaine always knew he wanted a career in healthcare, but it wasn’t until he entered Hofstra’s School of Health Professions and Human Services that he discovered his calling in the field.
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“When I started my Community Health studies, I realized I had a passion for the classes and was really enjoying them. I realized I could better the community,” Germaine said. “I kept seeing references to the Master of Health Administration program. I did research, and I knew this is what I want to do.”
Germaine entered a dual-degree program that will allow him to earn a BS in Community Health and a Master of Health Admission degree in just five years.
“I want to make sure that all people have equitable access to health care and aren’t avoiding coming to the doctor because of immigration status, health status, or financial issues,” he said. “If you are sick, you come in, you get help, we worry about the rest later.”
Hofstra’s partnership with Northwell Health provided Germaine with opportunities for practical healthcare experience. Northwell Health, the largest healthcare system in New York state, is Hofstra’s partner in the school of medicine, the school of nursing, as well as offering internships and clinical opportunities for students in health professions and human services.
Germaine completed EMT training, worked as a medical scribe, gained experience in urgent care, and was even a COVID tester.
“I was originally looking for a school with a great connection to a hospital network,” he said. “Seeing how well Hofstra works with Northwell and how it is integrated into programs was part of my decision to come here.”
Originally from Brooklyn, Germaine commuted for two years and then moved on campus and became a resident assistant (RA).
Throughout his time at Hofstra, he was heavily involved in campus organizations. He is president of the Student Government Association, a member of Hofstra Gospel Ensemble, the Black Student Union, and two fraternities - Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Delta Epsilon (a pre-med organization). He’s also a Pride Guide, which are the university’s student tour guides.
His time in student government has been a highlight and influenced his career direction. “Becoming SGA President was a dream for me - I didn't know I had a passion for advocacy before that experience,” he said. “Being able to work with Dr. Poser (Hofstra President Susan Poser) and other senior administration on a regular basis was really cool and a wonderful experience. Running meetings and making agendas wasn’t something I knew I could do, and I do it regularly now.”
» Will’s story isn’t unique. In fact, among Hofstra University’s 2020-2021 undergraduate degree recipients, 100% of alumni from the School of Health Professions and Human Services who responded to our graduation survey or other reliable sources (58% knowledge rate) reported that they were employed or had started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. Visit our outcomes page at hofstra.edu/outcomes for detailed information.