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The first career Molly Comrie 鈥�19 considered was physical therapy. She was in high school, and something made her think it would be a good fit. But then she couldn鈥檛 put her finger听on what that was, exactly, and started to have doubts. Fortunately, she had a teacher who offered some insight.

鈥淚鈥檇 always been a people person, and she told me she thought would be a great choice for me,鈥� Comrie says. 鈥淲e talked about it, and I thought she might be right. I didn鈥檛 know there was actually a job where I could just be me.鈥�

"It鈥檚 so exciting now to think I鈥檒l have my master鈥檚 degree by the time I鈥檓 23.鈥�

So, she took her teacher鈥檚 advice, came into UNH with her major declared and started right in that first year taking classes in social work. And that cinched it. 鈥淲hen I took an introduction to social work class and learned all the things you could do in the field, I knew I was where I should be,鈥� Comrie says.

During the last four years, that certainty has only grown stronger; she graduates May 18 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work. Two days later, Comrie听begins UNH鈥檚 (MSW) program.

Last year, Comrie was exploring job possibilities in her major for people听who had bachelor鈥檚 degrees. One area that interested her was working in a hospital supporting patients, but she knew she would have to work her way up to that kind of position. And she took notice of how often she came across references to an MSW.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I started thinking about staying on for my master鈥檚,鈥� the Andover, New Hampshire, resident says. 鈥淚 knew it would make a difference in where I鈥檇 end up. It鈥檚 so exciting now to think I鈥檒l have my master鈥檚 degree by the time I鈥檓 23.鈥�

Clinical assistant professor of social work Will Lusenhop suggested Comrie apply for a grant he听helped听secure in 2017 from the Health Resources Services Administration that awarded UNH 听$1.9 million to put master鈥檚-level social workers and occupational therapists to work in primary care settings that integrate behavioral healthcare.听She applied and got it.

鈥淚 had applied to graduate school already, but the grant and the amazing professors I have had as an undergraduate were my push to stay at UNH for this program,鈥� Comrie says. 鈥淭he encouragement I鈥檝e received has been fantastic.鈥�

The notion of having social workers in primary care practices has been promoted in the health field for some time now. Comrie sees the alliance of mental and medical health providers as a huge win for patients.

鈥淧eople have come to realize that mental health is as important as physical health, and that they often go hand-in-hand,鈥� Comrie says.

In her time at UNH, Comrie has been听a resident鈥檚 assistant in Congreve and Lord halls and a community educator for SHARPP. She also was a teaching assistant in social work classes where juniors had to learn how to conduct one-on-one counseling sessions. And she鈥檚 a member of Phi Alpha Honor Society, the social work honor society, and was the student supervisor at the MUB ticket office.

Comrie interned at the Joan Lovering Health Center in Greenland, New Hampshire, working with clients seeking reproductive and sexual health services. In June she starts her graduate internship at New Hampshire's Counseling Associates as a clinical mental health counselor for teens and adolescents with substance use/misuse disorders.听The counseling group has offices in Claremont, Hanover, New London and Newport. Comrie will spend time in all but the Newport location.

鈥淲hen I finish with my master鈥檚 degree, I am hoping to do clinical work in a hospital or medical practice,鈥� Comrie says. 鈥淎nd I plan on getting my license and being an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) at some point down the road. Being licensed will provide me with a plethora of options.鈥澨�

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