LEXINGTON, Ky. (DATE, 2025) — For University of Kentucky College of Public Health student John “JT” Maggard-Staton, growing up in Olive Hill, Kentucky, meant witnessing both the strength of a close-knit community and the challenges that come with living in a medically underserved region. Those early experiences fuel his drive to pursue a career that combines public health and law.
A public health major on the pre-law track, Maggard-Staton is dedicated to addressing health disparities through policy. With plans to attend law school after graduation, he seeks to serve communities like his own by helping shape laws that improve health outcomes for more Kentuckians.
“I chose the University of Kentucky because of its strong sense of community, as well as opportunities like the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology Program that align with my interests in healthcare and social impact,” Maggard-Staton said.
The Markey Cancer Center’s ACTION Program is a National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science program that recruits and trains early-career undergraduate and high school students from Appalachian Kentucky in cancer research and outreach. As a high school ACTION participant, Maggard-Staton was introduced to cancer disparities and healthcare research in Appalachian communities.
“It sparked my interest in how policy affects health and introduced me to UK’s strong research culture and mentorship,” he said.
Initially on the pre-med track, Maggard-Staton’s focus shifted as he gained more exposure to the systemic drivers of health outcomes.
“I always imagined myself working directly with patients,” he said. “But over time, I started noticing deeper, systemic issues, especially in underserved communities. That led me to explore public health and, ultimately, policy.”
A pivotal moment was when he enrolled in Dr. Sarah Cprek’s Introduction to Public Health course.
“What stood out to me was how she tied real-world issues, like access to care and policy, into the core of public health,” he said. “It showed me how broad and impactful the field is and helped me realize this was the right path for me.”
He also credits CPH 255 Public Health: Careers for a Healthy World, taught by Professor Janie Cambron, as a turning point. He said the class focused on real challenges communities face.
“She brought in professionals from across the field and showed how public health connects to everything, which really stuck with me,” Maggard-Staton said.
As he took more classes and got involved in research, Maggard-Staton said his interests shifted toward the systems and policies that impact people’s health.
“That’s when I knew I wanted to combine public health and law.”
With this focus in mind for law school, Maggard-Staton said he hopes to work in public service, especially in roles where he can influence health policy on a larger scale, through government, nonprofits or advocacy.
“My goal is to address disparities in healthcare and create policies that ensure everyone has access to care,” he said.
Maggard-Staton’s specific areas of interest include Medicaid, cancer research funding and substance use treatment. He said those are issues that directly affect vulnerable populations, especially in rural communities, like his.
“Things like Medicaid cuts, limited access to substance use treatment and discrimination in care are urgent problems,” he said.
The Olive Hill native believes that having public health voices in law and policy is essential.
“It’s crucial to have people with public health backgrounds in the legal and political fields,” he said. “They bring a unique perspective on how policies impact communities’ health and well-being.”
Maggard-Staton encourages students considering public health to stay curious by asking questions.
“If you see something that bothers you, don’t ignore it, learn about it,” he said. “That’s what public health is all about.”
Looking ahead, Maggard-Staton remains focused on impact.
“I want to use what I’ve learned to make things better,” he said. “Even if I can make a small change, that’s worth it to me.”
