How One Fulbright Scholar Found His Future in Digital Health

From the moment Julius Miller landed in South Korea for a research project on wearable technology, he knew he had found his calling. What began as a childhood dream of becoming a doctor evolved into something broader, a vision to improve health on a global scale. That’s where his journey into digital health began.

After earning bachelor’s degrees in economics and engineering in May of 2019, Julius embarked on a Fulbright engineering research project in Seoul, South Korea. His research proposal focused on designing a clothing garment that could detect and alleviate stress through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

“The problem that I had encountered in my original research proposal was that college-aged students were engaging in risky behaviors to cope with stress, such as binge drinking, and that’s not a healthy way to solve your problems long term. So, I figured if I could make something that could detect and alleviate stress in a way that’s much safer, I thought that would be a very useful project.”

Five months into his research in South Korea, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and brought everything to a halt. With labs closed and projects paused, Julius returned home to Iowa to be near his family. Though his research was cut short, his desire to help others remained strong. That’s when he heard about Iowa State University’s master of digital health program. It was the perfect opportunity to blend his background in economics and engineering with his love for fashion – all while pursuing his goal of helping others at scale.

“The passion I gained for wearable devices back in high school and college never really went away. I wanted to try to find a program where I could continue to pursue that passion. It’s one thing to go back to grad school, it’s another thing to go back and stop working entirely, which for me wasn’t economically feasible. I wanted to find a program where I could pursue my passions, but also keep working. Lo and behold, Iowa State unveiled its new online master of digital health program.”

The program’s fully online format allowed Julius to balance work, family, and his education. Backed by Iowa State’s cutting-edge research and academic excellence, the program gave him the flexibility to learn on his schedule without compromising on quality.

“The major benefit of this program is the whole asynchronous nature of it. I’d heard of online learning programs before, but it was hard to find an online program that catered to exactly what I wanted to do.”

Beyond technical knowledge, Julius says the program has also strengthened his soft skills like time management, communication, and collaboration, all critical skills in today’s tech-driven landscape.

“After working in the tech industry, I’ve learned that those soft skills can make or break your career.”

The holistic approach of the program combines the computer science side of the technology with human health principles to create an environment where innovation can thrive. The interdisciplinary effort combined with the mentorship of distinguished faculty, has given Julius the confidence and direction to advance his career.

“My professors have gone above and beyond for me. Any time I have a question about research opportunities or internships, they’ve given me multiple options to consider and told me about alternative pathways to get to the goal that I’ve set for myself.”

From exploring potential grant opportunities to laying out the groundwork for his capstone project, Julius credits Iowa State’s faculty with helping him stay focused and inspired. On track to graduate with his master’s by next summer, he is equipped to take on the evolving world of digital health and make healthy living more accessible to all.

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