Alumni Spotlight: Ian Kundel
ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 20, 2026) —Ian Kundel graduated with his Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2023. Now as a contract manager at the New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute, we asked Kundel to reflect on his time at UAlbany and share his journey into the public health field.
Why did you choose the MPH program at UAlbany?
I chose to get my MPH in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior because I wanted to confront the structural inequities embedded in our insurance-driven, market-based health system. Current public policy and financing decisions determine who has access to stable housing, food security, preventive care, and community-based services, and too often they reinforce economic disparities. I was drawn to a program that examines these systems critically and equips students to design more equitable, publicly accountable solutions.
What is it like working as a contract manager for the AIDS Institute?
I oversee contracts that fund hepatitis C testing and navigation in high-risk settings across New York State, including syringe service programs, substance use treatment centers, jails, and reentry programs. My work combines budget oversight, data analysis, and quality improvement to ensure programs are accountable and effective. The goal is to connect people who are routinely excluded from traditional health systems to testing, treatment, and harm reduction.
What are you passionate about in public health?
Expanding care for people systematically excluded from our health system, particularly those impacted by poverty, incarceration, and substance use, is central to my work. Public health should dismantle barriers rather than replicate them. That requires investing in community-based services, reducing stigma in care delivery, and directing resources based on need instead of profit.
When did you realize the impact of your work?
UAlbany reinforced that public health is fundamentally collaborative. Learning alongside peers from varied professional and cultural backgrounds showed how policy, data, and community engagement intersect in practice. That lesson became tangible when program data began reflecting real individuals being linked to treatment and cured. Those outcomes underscored that contract oversight and policy decisions are not abstract exercises; they carry direct, human consequences.
What’s something from UAlbany you use at work?
Training in quality improvement and program evaluation directly informs how contractor performance is monitored and strengthened. Epidemiology coursework sharpened the ability to interpret surveillance data and track trends in HIV and HCV transmission across high-risk settings. Strategic planning tools such as SWOT analysis and logic models are not theoretical in this role; they shape performance metrics, contract expectations, and continuous improvement efforts. The academic foundation at UAlbany translates directly into accountable, data-driven program oversight.
Advice for students?
Public health is in a period of intense scrutiny and political pressure. The field needs professionals who are grounded in science, clear in their communication, and unafraid to defend data-driven decision-making. You know your work is evidence-based, so use it. Invest in your analytical skills, understand how systems operate, and stay connected to the communities you aim to serve. The work can be challenging, but it is necessary.