From the Marines to UCI to the CDC

Star UCI alumnus and U.S. veteran Shaun Whitecavage ’20 SPPS, '22 MPH, has leveraged his UCI education into a prestigious position in the CDC’s Public Health Associates Program
 

In October 2022, Shaun Whitecavage ’20 social policy and public service, ’22 M.P.H., moved to Sacramento to start his post within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s prestigious Public Health Associates Program. The competitive two-year paid training program assigns associates to public health agencies or nongovernmental agencies in the territorial United States to gain hands on foundational experience in a public health career. The dual Anteater alumnus and U.S. veteran is currently working for the Epidemiology and Evaluation Unit in the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch of the California Department of Public Health, where he’s been able to work on, what he says, is a little bit of everything—health education, policy, data analysis, and geographic information systems—all with the overall goal of reducing the harmful impact of alcohol use in California. For the Marine-turned family man-turned college grad, the winding path his life has taken to this point is a bit surreal.

“It’s funny to think that I didn’t really know what public health was when I arrived at UCI and now, I have a master’s degree and work for the CDC,” he says.

A larger impact

Whitecavage was first introduced to the field of public health through his mentor, Jeanett Castellanos, associate dean of undergraduate studies, professor of teaching and director of the School of Social Science social policy and public service major. Part of the major’s requirements include a fieldwork component, and Whitecavage chose to work with unhoused veterans. Through this project, he realized he could see himself working in public health for the long haul.

“I saw that I could pursue health care issues on a larger scale and impact more people. I could possibly work at the county, state, or federal level, and that was really enticing,” he says.

Whitecavage shared his newfound career aspiration with Castellanos who’s helped guide him along his path. In his new role, she’s proud to see the goals he envisioned as an undergraduate materialize as he begins his career in public health.

“I love how impact and change are at the center of Shaun’s work. He’s dedicated to contributing to the community, and it’s inspiring to see his investment in others,” Castellanos says.

Whitecavage shared his newfound career aspiration with Castellanos who’s helped guide him along his path. In his new role, she’s proud to see the goals he envisioned as an undergraduate materialize as he begins his career in public health.

“I love how impact and change are at the center of Shaun’s work. He’s dedicated to contributing to the community, and it’s inspiring to see his investment in others,“ Castellanos says.

The support doesn’t end

Whitecavage would be the first to say his academic journey has been anything but traditional. He went straight from high school to the Marine Corps, where he spent ten years. After leaving military service, he took full advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended community college before transferring to UCI.

“I didn’t know what I was going to major in, but I knew I wanted to attend UCI,” he says.

By the time he left the military, he was married with a child. He and his wife went on to have another child a few years later, and so when he decided he wanted to attend a university, he needed one that would work for his whole family. He appreciated that UCI guaranteed housing for veterans and that Irvine was a great place to raise kids. While he was first drawn to the Irvine campus because of family fit, Whitecavage soon realized his decision to attend was right for many reasons. After completing his undergrad in 2020, he stayed on to obtain a Master of Public Health, which further cemented his career aspirations.

“I never felt weird or out of place as an older student at UCI. The support I received from the staff, faculty, and the veteran’s office was phenomenal,” he says. “I haven’t seen Dr. C since 2020 and she still reaches out to me and asks about my children. You stay on their radar. The support doesn’t end when you graduate.”

Do as I do

Family means a lot to Whitecavage. It’s what drives and inspires him. He spent the pandemic attending UCI full-time remotely while managing online education for his two elementary school-age boys while his wife worked.

“I want to be a role model my boys can emulate. I don’t want to say, ‘Do as I say, not as I do,” but ‘Do as I do.’ I try to do everything with my kids and family in mind,” he says.

That lesson he learned early on through the examples set by his parents who modeled integrity and work ethic. Growing up, his father worked two and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. His mother purposefully worked in the school district so that she could be home when Whitecavage and his siblings were also home from school.

“We were not well off by any means, but it was embedded in us early that you do what you have to do. My parents worked a lot, yet they were always there for us and showed up to our baseball and soccer games,” he says.

A star alum

Whitecavage says the mentorship and training he’s already received through PHAP has been incredible and he looks forward to continuing his career with the CDC after the program ends. He only started in October, but he already hopes to pay it forward by encouraging his fellow UCI social sciences majors to join him.

“Anyone graduating with a social sciences degree should look into applying to PHAP. You don’t have to have a background in public health. There’s a place for everyone,” he says.

Whitecavage is quick to attribute his success to the institutions he attended, the resources he received, and the mentors who’ve guided him along the way. Those who know him, like Castellanos, know the credit for his achievements rests within.

“Observing him succeed speaks to his persistence and resilience. The power of his contributions underscores the value of pursuing a dream. Shaun is a role model to many and a star alum that makes our school proud,” she says. 

 - Jill Kato for UCI Social Sciences