By John Robert Morton, Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Hector Morales, AMU Graduate
AMU public health graduate Hector Morales hasn’t always had an easy life. He grew up in a tough neighborhood that made personal advancement difficult. But through the support and encouragement of his family members, Hector transformed his life and now protects public health as a genetics researcher at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM).
Hector aspired to attend college. But as a single father, Hector knew he could not commit to spending time on a physical campus.
He began searching for the right university, saw various options and eventually chose American Military University (AMU). “AMU fit my educational needs with the bachelor’s and master’s degree in public health,” says Hector.
He enjoyed the flexibility of AMU’s courses and having easy access to resources such as ebooks, the University’s Library, and academic advisor support and guidance. Hector also became a University Ambassador, wanting to support other people in the University community.
Entering the Field of Public Health
Hector’s beginnings in public health happened by accident. He applied for what he thought was a computer operator job at Dia-Foot, but his job actually entailed the customized computer design of diabetic foot inserts for ambulatory patients.
Hector worked for Dia-Foot for almost nine years. During that time, he realized that the number of Type 1 and 2 diabetes cases were still rising both locally and nationally, which aroused his curiosity. Hector became fascinated with epidemiology, which examines disease patterns among certain populations.
In 2014, the company was sold and Hector decided to further his education with the support of his former CEO. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in public health followed by a master’s degree in public health, both from AMU.
Working His Way Upward
While earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Hector worked as a floor cleaner in the Yale New Haven Health System. Later, he moved on to lab technician work but had the goal of becoming a full-time researcher at YSM.
Once the opportunity became available, Hector applied and joined the YSM full-time as an internal medicine researcher. Currently, Hector is a genetics researcher at the YSM.
Advice to Other Students Seeking Career Opportunities in Public Health
“Opportunities are everywhere. What you need to understand is you will get out what you put in as far as work,” observes Hector. “People will believe in you if you show them that you are willing to put in the time and effort to get where you want. Anything you want to do and achieve is within reach. Believe in yourself.”
Someone once told Hector to embrace failure. Although he didn’t understand this advice at first, it is something he now tells anyone who asks him for advice.
“You will fail. It will be a lot more than a few times. You must both accept it and embrace it. If you do, your fear of making yourself uncomfortable will disappear. The fear of failure will paralyze you. But not trying is even worse. If you embrace failure, you will succeed,” Hector says.
Future Goals
Hector has been involved in martial arts since childhood and would eventually like to obtain a black belt in the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. He won two gold medals at the Tang Soo Do World championships in Orlando, Florida, in the summer of 2023.
Additionally, Hector is seeking a doctoral degree in public health through Walden University. His long-term goal is to continue to give back to the people who have poured so much into his path to success.
About the Author
John Robert Morton is a Student & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the University for 14 years. His bachelor’s degree in European history is from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also completed master’s degrees in political science and sports management from American Military University. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys helping students and alumni achieve their personal and professional goals.
About Our Department
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Office is dedicated to sustaining lifelong relationships with university alumni by providing engaging opportunities to stay involved and connected. We work closely with various stakeholders to strengthen the alumni experience and offer numerous benefits, services, activities, and events throughout the year.
As a team, the Alumni Affairs team works to build and sustain relationships with alumni along their personal and professional journeys. We actively look for ways to recognize and showcase alumni, telling their stories to motivate and encourage students to pursue their goals.
If you are a member of the alumni community and are looking for ways to remain actively involved, please contact alumni@apus.edu and speak with a member of the team.
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