In this episode, Sujani sits down with Glenn Laverack, a seasoned public health professional whose career has spanned continents and been shaped by his diverse experiences. His early years engaged with grassroots initiatives laid the foundation for a deep understanding of the local context, an asset that would become invaluable as he navigated the complex world of global health. They explore the significance of community empowerment in making a meaningful impact and touch upon the multifaceted nature of public health careers that are often characterized by an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and seizing opportunities explore the significance of community empowerment in making a meaningful impact. This episode not only serves as a compass for those looking to forge a career in global health but also highlights the collective mission of improving community health and shaping policy.
You’ll Learn
- Glenn’s first experience volunteering in Sri Lanka and how that has led to a lifelong passion and a career in international health
- The lifestyle choices inherent in a global career that demands international mobility and the enriching experiences it can offer
- Having direct experience in field work and using your assets to provide a competitive edge in the public health field
- Factors to consider when thinking about continuing postgraduate studies
- Empowering communities to have more voice and authority about projects that will influence their lives
- Understanding what it is you want to achieve in public health to figure out how you can make the most impact
- The pivotal role that personal connections and networking play in professional development
Today’s Guest
Dr. Glenn Laverack is a social scientist and an international leader in health promotion and empowerment with a distinguished career for 40 years as a practitioner, an academic, researcher and consultant in more than 50 countries. Dr Laverack has been an advocate for the value of ordinary people at the centre of health promotion and has developed several innovative solutions to co-create successful programs in different cultural contexts. He formerly worked as a Coordinator (Empowerment) in neglected tropical diseases at WHO, Geneva and as a research fellow at Flinders University, Australia. Dr Laverack has managed several large-scale health programs including in Ghana and India and worked as a consultant on more than 100 contracts worldwide. He has a wide range of publications including 26 books, 12 in English and 14 in other languages including in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Farsi, Italian, Chinese and Thai. Dr Laverack has been a visiting professor at 6 universities in Denmark, Italy, the UAE and the UK and was the Director of Health Promotion, University of Auckland, New Zealand. His PhD investigated the collaborative role of communities in health promotion programs in Fiji and is presently an independent adviser with the UN, governmental and international development agencies.
Resources
- Connect with Glenn on LinkedIn and find his work on ResearchGate
- Learn more about Glenn’s book, ”Health Promotion Practice: Power and Empowerment”
- Learn more about Global Health Mentorships
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
This week, our guest Christie VanHorne shares her career trajectory into public health from a background in history and involvement in humanitarian efforts. From working as a health educator to creating her own public health consulting business and teaching at Vassar College, Christie's story highlights how hard work, staying true to yourself, and having a solid network are all crucial to building your dream career. Her journey emphasizes the dynamic nature of professional and personal evolution, encouraging listeners to embrace change and growth.
You’ll Learn
- Christie’s path into public health through a passion for human rights and social justice
- Her work in South Africa with the Peace Corps and international health
- Building a strong network to open up doors to new opportunities
- Dealing with toxic workplaces and how Christie founded her consulting business
- How education has been a common factor throughout all of Christie’s career and how her love for teaching led to a decision to pursue a DrPH
- Deciding between a DrPH and PhD and figuring out which path is best for you
- Finding your niche in public health, staying true to yourself, and traversing your journey at your own pace
Today’s Guest
Christie is a seasoned public health consultant with 20 years of experience. In 2015, she founded CVH Consulting, LLC., offering services to create impactful health education and training experiences for her clients. Christie has worked with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the New York State Department of Health, the Hemophilia Federation of America, and many more organizations to design, develop, and update programs. She is also a subject matter expert on the social determinants and health equity for many continuing education projects for community-based organization staff and healthcare professionals. From her time in the Peace Corps in South Africa to teaching at Vassar College and all the career experiences in between, Christie's dedication to public health shines. Last year, she was recognized with the prestigious ATHENA Award, an international honor for women who demonstrate excellence in their profession, community service, and mentorship of future leaders. One of her current volunteer roles is serving as the Vice-Chair of the National Women’s Health Network Board of Directors. In August, Christie will start her Doctor of Public Health degree at Tulane University, specializing in Equity, Leadership, and Advocacy. She resides in the Hudson Valley, NY, with her beloved pups and husband.
Resources
- Follow Christie on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Learn more about CVH Consulting
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In our latest podcast episode, we delve into a story of transition, courage, and the unwavering human spirit as our guest, Yasir Essar, swapped his dentistry scrubs for a career in public health amid the chaotic backdrop of a global pandemic and geopolitical turmoil. Yasir shares how visualizing achievements can provide a push to overcome challenges and demonstrates the powerful role mentors and community support play in guiding career paths, particularly for international students and professionals in new environments. His career transformation teaches us that with resilience, the right mindset, and community support, we can navigate through uncertainty and emerge with renewed purpose and aspirations.
You’ll Learn
- How the COVID pandemic led Yasir to public and global health and steps he took to transition into the field from dentistry
- Yasir’s experience continuing his education and career as a refugee in Canada, how he persevered through the uprooting of his life, and how his background shaped his current interest in refugee and global health
- Building and relying on a social support group and mentors to achieve your dreams and other ways to visualize your goals
- Tips for international students and remembering to take the time to care for yourself in a new country
- Using LinkedIn with intentionality as a tool to network, facilitate advocacy, tell stories, and make an impact
Today’s Guest
Yasir is a former refugee from Afghanistan who holds an MSc in Global Health from McMaster University.
Prior to moving to Canada, he lived as a refugee in Tajikistan after fleeing Afghanistan. During his time as a refugee, he continued to share his lived experience of refugee life.
Currently, he works as a Research Assistant at Western University in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and as a Community Scholar at the University of Calgary. Additionally, he holds a visiting academic position with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton.
Yasir’s professional journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to knowledge and a passion for making a real-world impact. His scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, and PLoS. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and holds multiple certificates from Wayne State University, the University of Geneva, McGill University, and the LinkedIn Learning Academy.
During his tenure as a Research Assistant at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, he focused particularly on tuberculosis research, further enriching his expertise in infectious disease research.
Yasir is always eager to connect with like-minded professionals, share insights, and explore collaborative opportunities. He is open to guest lecture invitations on the topics of refugees, mentorship, and global health.
Resources
- Connect with Yasir on LinkedIn
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani delves into her personal struggles with speaking in public and how it affected her career in public health. She reflects on her initial reluctance to speak in various settings and her journey of self-improvement through the creation of her podcast. Sujani shares that by creating opportunities to practice speaking, she was able to progressively build confidence and improve her communication skills. She emphasizes the importance of small, consistent steps toward facing and overcoming fears. Her transformation led to better engagement in conversations, more profound connections with colleagues, and the ability to speak up in meetings, which were once daunting tasks. By sharing her story, Sujani hopes to inspire listeners to embark on their own journeys of self-improvement and career advancement, proving that the challenges we face can become the catalysts for our triumphs.
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Today's episode features Dr. Charlotte Huntley, a public health entrepreneur and leader. We peel back the layers of her dynamic journey from a liberal arts and microbiology background to an influential career in epidemiology and entrepreneurship. Our dialogue uncovers her dive into the pharmaceutical industry and how the entrepreneurial flame was kindled within her. As we pivot towards the impact of her work during a global pandemic, Dr. Huntley delves into the importance of communication in public health and the gratification of specializing her consulting services to aid BIPOC organizations. Join us as we draw inspiration from Dr. Huntley's narrative, illustrating the power of readiness for opportunities and the joy of a career intertwined with core values.
You’ll Learn
- Dr. Huntley’s work in microbiology and healthcare and her pivot into epidemiology and community health
- Global health and the pharmaceutical industry
- Dr. Huntley’s start in podcasting and how it grew into a thriving business
- COVID’s impact on Dr. Huntley’s new company and how it has evolved since then to primarily serve BIPOC communities
- Glance into the making of Dr. Huntley’s upcoming book on public health entrepreneurship
Today’s Guest
Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley, MPH is a public health entrepreneur and recognized leader in the public health industry. She has over 20 years of experience as an accomplished epidemiologist, microbiologist, consultant, and podcaster. Dr. Huntley is the CEO at DrCHHuntley, LLC, a public health and epidemiology consulting firm supporting large nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve black, indigenous, and people of color commonly referred to as BIPOC communities. Her team is often invited to support tribal organizations and are always humbled and honored to serve. Through another arm of her business, Dr. Huntley and her team also provide resources and support to public health entrepreneurs.
Resources
- Connect with Dr. Huntley on LinkedIn
- Learn more about DrCHHuntley Consulting and listen to the Public Health Epidemiology Conversations podcast
- Learn more about Public Health Entrepreneurs, the Mastermind program, and listen to the Public Health Entrepreneurs podcast
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Welcome to the Public Health Career Club. From sitting down with accomplished public health professionals who will spill the beans on making the most of your degree, to personalized career advice during our office hours – it's all happening here. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. We've packed our calendar with monthly resume clinics, mentorship sessions, and social mixers to spark lifelong connections. Stay tuned for our weekly workshops and special talks that promise to keep your professional growth on a constant upswing. If you're listening from April 10th to 12th, 2024, don't miss this golden opportunity to become a part of the Public Health Career Club. Let's roll up our sleeves and make a difference together!
Featured on the Show:
- Connect with Sujani on LinkedIn
- Email us at: hello@phspot.org
- Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
This week Sujani unveils the transformative power of weaving relationship-building into the very fabric of your daily life. From striking up a conversation with a colleague to reaching out to a professional you admire online, I'll demonstrate the omnipresence of networking opportunities. Whether you're taking your first steps in public health or you're a seasoned expert, this episode promises to revolutionize your approach to building relationships and expand your professional network in ways you never imagined. Let's get ready to transform the way you think about networking in public health.
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Have you ever found yourself at a career crossroads, contemplating a leap into uncharted territory? Join us as we navigate the captivating realm of public health careers with Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan. She shares her remarkable shift from engineering to public health, shedding light on the serendipitous ways that one's professional journey can unfold. We discuss the strategic reframing of skills that allow for such shifts, and the interplay between work experience and academic learning. Our dialogue unveils the empowering process of aligning personal values with professional ambitions, leading to a career that's not just a job but a calling.
You’ll Learn
- Vinu’s experience transitioning from biomedical engineering to public health early in her career vs. pivoting from one role to another later on
- Vinu’s various job roles and what she learned from each one
- How Vinu’s passion for working in an interconnected public health environment and bridging policy and ground work led to the creation of PoP Health
- What PoP Health is and how they improve public health by collaborating with coalitions to facilitate community access
- Reflecting on your own career experiences and gaining confidence to form your own story and work towards your dream job
Today’s Guest
Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MSPH, is passionate about strengthening community-driven efforts to address the upstream, root drivers of health (pophealthllc.com/tedx). She is Founder and Principal Consultant of PoP Health, a public health consulting practice that partners with community coalitions and collaboratives to transform health in their communities through policy and systems change (pophealthllc.com). PoP Health helps coalitions engage in community collaboration, action planning, participatory evaluation, and effective storytelling. PoP Health also issues a biweekly newsletter, Community Threads, with tools and strategies for anyone seeking to improve community health (pophealthllc.com/newsletter).
Vinu received her DrPH in Health Behavior from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health as a Milken Scholar, a Master’s degree with a concentration in Health Communication from the Harvard School of Public Health, and Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Economics from the University of Virginia. She currently serves as a Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University. Vinu began her public health career coordinating the Virginia Department of Health's bullying and youth violence prevention program and later, evaluating the national truth antismoking campaign and managing policy and communications projects at Trust for America’s Health.
Resources
- Connect with Vinu on LinkedIn
- Learn more about the Truth Initiative
- Learn more about Trust for America's Health
- Learn more about PoP Health
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Unlock the code to public health job success with Zoila Reina of Public Health Hired, who graces our podcast with expert tips on mastering the language of the sector. If you've ever felt lost in a sea of job applications, Zoila's creation, the Public Health Key Terms Guide, is your beacon. We zero in on the power of terms and how they're not just buzzwords but keys to your next career move. From decoding job descriptions to enhancing your resume and shining in interviews, our conversation is the guiding light for public health hopefuls ready to make their mark.
You’ll Learn
- What the Key Terms in Public Health Guide is and how it came to be
- How understanding terms can help you envision yourself in certain jobs and reflect on your skills
- Understanding key terms to show off your public health knowledge in job applications and interviews
- Elevating your language in everyday work to advance your career
- Using key terms to expand your job search beyond traditional public health roles
Today’s Guest
The founder of Public Health Hired, Zoila Reyna MPH, has single-handedly, with no outsourcing, helped secure over 240 public health job offers and internships through her virtual presentations, online masterclass, tailored mentorships, and social media content. Zoila's unwavering dedication to the diverse public health workforce is evident through the Public Health Hired's mission to demystify the public health employment process and help others master best practices and proven techniques to be successful in the job search. She has a full-time job in healthcare as a consultant for community health and loves spending time in her Los Angeles home with her baby girl Jhara, her son Giovanni, dog Lulu, and spouse Jimmy.
Resources
- Connect with Zoila on LinkedIn
- Get the Key Terms in Public Health guide and check out what else Public Health Hired has to offer
- Listen to the previous episode on personal branding
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Our guest this week, Angeza Mohammed, is a testament to the power of aligning one's passions with their profession. Follow her strategic yet dynamic career path and learn how mentally and physically envisioning her ideal life, strategic networking, and taking risks led to her creating The Consulting Nest and How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate.
You’ll Learn
- How Angeza was first introduced to public health
- Why Angeza pivoted from her dreams of becoming a doctor to public health
- Angeza’s career journey and how she was able to move closer to her dream job by taking risks, strategic networking, and envisioning her next steps
- Figuring out what you want from a career, knowing your worth, and not letting fear hold you back from change
- What The Consulting Nest is and how it connects organizations to individuals offering their skills
Today’s Guest
Angeza Mohammed is the CEO and Founder of How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate and The Consulting Nest Inc.
With over 10 years of professional experience, Angeza brings a unique and strategic approach to creating the career you want, feeling fulfilled and knowing how to take the next step in your growth!
Angeza’s career has taken her through and into all aspects of the health care system in British Columbia, Canada and it all began before she even graduated from her undergrad, all thanks to her unique strategy which has been instrumental to her success!
Angeza’s purpose in life is to share and inspire you to create the life that you wish existed for yourself. In addition to her successful healthcare career, Angeza coaches recent graduates and professionals to help them discover what fulfills them, how to align that with their career and how to take action every single day towards creating the life they always wish existed for themselves!
Angeza’s biggest piece of advice to you is to always remember that investing in yourself has the ability to catalyze your life from ordinary to extraordinary.
Resources
- Connect with Angeza on LinkedIn
- Learn more about How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate and The Consulting Nest
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, we lift the veil on public health salaries and discover how transparency in salary discussions can pave the way for more informed career decisions in public health.
Sujani walks us through her own career, from initial salary to current earnings, and discusses starting income ranges of other public health professionals collected from a LinkedIn post and how factors like sector, region, and experience play pivotal roles in shaping your earning potential. Sujani also guides you through a range of resources, from government pages to platforms like PayScale and Glassdoor, offering a realistic perspective on what new grads and seasoned professionals alike can anticipate in terms of compensation. By encouraging transparency, we aim to empower our community with the knowledge needed to make empowered career choices.
Featured on the Show:
- Learn more about Canada's EC agreement
- Learn more about public health salary ranges on PayScale and Glassdoor
- Listen to the previous episode on consulting and entrepreneurship
- Schedule a mentorship call with Sujani
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Today, unlock a world of innovation at the crossroads of entrepreneurship and public health consulting with Leah Roman and Vinu Ilakkuvan. They bring to light the motivations behind a groundbreaking survey on self-employed public health professionals, revealing the often hidden sides of self employment. Through candid conversations, we learn about the economic prospects of consulting and the pressing need for more academic training and support networks to arm future public health entrepreneurs with the tools for success.
You’ll Learn
- What prompted Leah, Vinu, and Laura to collaborate on “The self-employed public health consultant and entrepreneur workforce in the United States” and the method behind conducting the survey
- Key findings from the survey including demographics and formal training in skills related to entrepreneurship
- Breaking down the financial aspects of consulting and salary transparency
- The gap in support networks for self employed public health professionals and brainstorming how to bridge it
- What Leah and Vinu hope to achieve next with the results collected from the survey
Today’s Guest
Leah A. Roman, MPH, MCHES is the Owner & Principal Consultant for Roman Public Health Consulting LLC, where she helps public health organizations design effective e-learning solutions. She has 18+ years of experience providing training and technical assistance, health education, and project management services. Leah has a BA in Psychology (University of San Diego), a master of public health degree (Boston University), a certificate in e-learning instructional design (University of Washington), and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). Leah lives in the Philadelphia, PA area (USA) with her husband and two children.
Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MSPH, is passionate about strengthening community-driven efforts to address the upstream, root drivers of health. She is Founder and Principal Consultant of PoP Health, a public health consulting practice that partners with community coalitions and collaboratives to transform health in their communities through policy and systems change. PoP Health helps coalitions engage in community collaboration, action planning, participatory evaluation, and effective storytelling. PoP Health also issues a biweekly newsletter, Community Threads, with tools and strategies for anyone seeking to improve community health
Resources
- Connect with Leah on LinkedIn and read her blog post on how much to charge for consulting services
- Connect with Vinu on LinkedIn and learn more about PoP Health
- Read more about the results from the The self-employed public health consultant and entrepreneur workforce in the United States survey
- Listen to previous episodes with Leah on public health consulting and designing public health training
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Imagine catapulting your career to new heights by harnessing the transformative power of personal branding. That’s exactly what we're unpacking today with leadership coach Richa Bansal, whose insights into professional presence are nothing short of game-changing. Our conversation delves into the nuances of how you're perceived and the pivotal role of aligning your self-image with external perspectives. And for those just starting out, we lay out a blueprint for building a strong personal brand that paves the way to leadership and innovation.
You’ll Learn
- What personal branding is and why it is important to understand your brand
- How to figure out your brand and use the POWER framework to shift it to advance towards your career goals
- Advice for early professionals on building your personal brand and envisioning where you want to be
- When perceptions can limit progress and tips on starting fresh
- How having allies in the workplace can help with shaping your personal brand and learning to “box the ask” for help
Today’s Guest
Richa Bansal is a leadership and job search coach with a decade of experience excelling in the corporate world on her own terms. She previously worked with Amazon, leading large-scale programs to help the company hire the best talent on earth, and with Schlumberger, leading a large engineering team to deliver multi-million dollar projects for global oilfield clients like ExxonMobil, Shell and BP.
As one of the only women in the room for most of her career, Richa has seen first-hand the struggles of women as they navigate the corporate ladder. In 2019, she founded Pinkcareers to deliver actionable, no-fluff career advice to ambitious professionals and accelerate their career growth. Richa has partnered with over 20 Fortune-500 companies, universities, and the Government of Canada to deliver her leadership programs, and coached 100s of high-potential professionals on how to ditch limiting beliefs and leverage the power of personal branding to 2X their career, compensation and impact.
Richa earned a Bachelor’s from IIT Delhi in India, a Master’s from Purdue University, and an MBA from Rice University. When she is not working on Pinkcareers, she loves to travel the world with her husband and two little boys
Resources
- Connect with Richa on LinkedIn and read more about the POWER framework
- Learn more about Pinkcareers
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Embark on a transformative journey with Tasha Whitaker, a seasoned Community Health Worker whose heart beats for public health education and advocacy. From her initial dreams of trauma nursing to becoming a beacon of hope and change within her community, Tasha's story is a testament to the power of passion and persistence. Uncover the nuanced dynamics of Community Health Workers, the unsung heroes who bridge gaps between healthcare systems and the people they serve. Our conversation is a deep dive into how these trusted liaisons navigate complex webs of resources, while also highlighting the serendipitous nature of career opportunities that can arise from the most unexpected of places.
You’ll Learn
- What a community health worker (CHW) is and how they work to better community health through building relationships within the community
- Tasha’s experience with landing a job as a CHW right out of undergrad
- The skillsets needed to be successful in community health work
- Qualifications needed to become a CHW and how they differ depending on where you’re located
- Other pathways that are available for CHWs such as in research, clinical roles, and management and how skills learned from being a CHW prepare you for other roles
- Tasha’s transition from ground work to training others to starting her own professional development company and the work she does now with Crew Wellness LLC
Today’s Guest
Tasha Whitaker is the CEO of Crew Wellness LLC, a Wellness Education Training & Professional Development Company which she founded after a decade of work experience leading in healthcare roles that have impacted federal, state and local public health organizations. Tasha has been featured on ABC 25, KYTX, CBS DFW and highlighted in magazine and print articles for her community engagement and public health expertise. She is sought after for her ability to improve community engagement outcomes through wellness interventions, strategic processes, and training thousands of Community Health Workers to deploy health education for communities nationally. Through her company Crew Wellness she is impacting not only the communities being served, but also the Crew (staff) providing the services to ensure wellness is prioritized so they can continue to contribute to the positive health outcomes for communities. Tasha regularly consults for companies wishing to gain deeper connections with communities by providing relevant, fun and engaging professional development training to the crew so they can serve equitably and provide a stellar service to the communities they serve.
Resources
- Connect with Tasha on LinkedIn
- Learn more about Crew Wellness LLC
- For Americans, learn more at the National Association of Community Health Workers
- Learn more about American state policies
- For Canadians, learn more at the Community Health Workers Network of Canada
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani discusses the launch of the Public Health Career Club, a membership-based community dedicated to empowering public health professionals. The Career Club, which opened its doors in October 2022, has quickly become a hub for professionals seeking personalized support, job opportunities, networking, and guidance on their career paths.
Sujani shares her personal journey, highlighting a period of reflection during her maternity leave, which led to the realization of the community's need for individualized support in a scalable way. This led to the birth of the Public Health Career Club, inspired by her experience with a community she joined.
The club has seen an impressive growth, with 200 members joining since its inception. It offers a range of benefits, including tailored onboarding, regular live training, mentor office hours with industry experts, and social events.
Featured on the show:
- Join the club or get more info here: phspot.org/club
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani breaks down the different places you can look for public health jobs. She breaks down the following four categories with specific places (20 in total) to look for opportunities:
- Generic Job Search Engines
- Public Health Job Boards
- Straight to the Source
- Hidden Job Market
Happy job searching!
BONUS: Before the episode wraps up, Sujani shares a convo with Allie (one of the first members of The Public Health Career Club) to talk about her experience. We're opening up the doors to the club so what better way to help you decide to join, than to share insider info ;)
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and noticed something new?
That's what happened to Sujani when she revisited the Gallup Clifton Strengths Finder Test 10 years later.
Years of nurturing a public health career have surprisingly added strategic thinking to my skill set, alongside my core abilities in execution and relationship building.
Join Sujani as she reveals how personal strengths are not set in stone but evolve over time, and how recognizing this can significantly shape your professional journey.
Featured on the Show:
- Clifton Strengths Finder
- Follow PH SPOT on LinkedIn
- Follow Sujani on LinkedIn
- Join our community
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of public health, Sujani reflects on the past year's growth and anticipates the exciting new horizons that await in 2024. This episode is a celebration of the milestones achieved and a teaser of the novel ventures on the horizon for PH SPOT. It's a narrative that intertwines personal growth with professional development, underlining the importance of taking a step back when needed and returning stronger. The community is invited to join in this celebration and look forward to the new opportunities that 2024 promises in the world of public health.
Key messages from this episode:
- The year 2023 was a period of significant growth for PH SPOT, one marked by the phspot.org platform reaching over 43,000 global users in 2023. Among the most sought-after pages on the website were the Public Health Career Club, a downloadable comparison of Canadian MPH programs, and a popular blog post comparing MPH and MSC degrees.
- Sujani also candidly shares the pressures that come with managing a growing platform while balancing the demands of motherhood and a full-time job.
- She extends her gratitude to the dedicated team members, Lis, Stephanie and Janice, who have been instrumental in keeping PH SPOT thriving, emphasizing the collective effort behind the platform's success.
- Looking ahead, PH SPOT aims to continue its trajectory of growth with ambitious goals, including increasing the reach of its weekly public health newsletter to over 10,000 subscribers. The podcast, which has published 47 episodes in 2023 and boasts over 22,000 downloads, will take a more intentional approach to programming, seeking to cover a diverse range of topics and stories that resonate with the public health community.
- The LinkedIn network has also seen remarkable expansion, quadrupling in size to over 10,000 members. This surge in engagement is a testament to the power of community and the shared passion for public health that brings individuals together from around the world.
- The Public Health Career Club, which celebrated its first anniversary, has been a cornerstone of PH SPOT's offerings. With 190 active members participating in weekly virtual talks, training events, and in-person meetups, the club fosters a supportive environment where public health professionals can grow and thrive. Guest mentors and speakers contribute their expertise, further enriching the experience for club members.
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani shares 5 reminders for anyone applying for jobs, especially during this period of economic uncertainty.
What You’ll Learn from this Episode:
- The five reminders when applying to jobs:
- Network. Start today. Having a community around you on this journey will be key.
- Keep an eye on industry trends. Be informed on changes and developments in the public health field.
- Be flexible. Consider all types of experience (part-time and contract work), work on expanding your skillset, and think outside of the box when searching for jobs.
- Don't be afraid to negotiate. When you do receive a job offer, have a conversation about a higher salary or other benefits. This is where your community can help you.
- Stay positive. Reignite the passion and excitement that got you into public health.
- Economic uncertainty, or not, job searching is tough. Use these reminders to keep you going.
Today’s Guest:
Sujani Sivanantharajah is the founder and CEO of PH SPOT. She is a public health professional/Epidemiologist and entrepreneur. She has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Saskatchewan and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto. Sujani's passion lies in building relationships and using these relationships to create and cultivate spaces where more meaningful partnerships that serve communities are formed.
Featured on the Show:
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Peter Singer, the Former Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and cofounder of Grand Challenges & UofT Joint Centre for Bioethics. They walk through Peter’s careers as a professor, cofounder of various organizations, and work in the WHO, using your lived experiences to find problems, and steps to take to solve these problems.
You’ll Learn
- How finding problems and solving them drew Peter into public health
- Taking risks at the beginning of your career and rethinking your narratives
- Peter’s three careers as professor of medicine, cofounding University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics, and cofounding Grand Challenges Canada and how each career cascaded on to the next
- What Grand Challenges Canada is and how it came to be
- Social entrepreneurship and steps to take once you have found a problem and are now stuck on how to solve it
- Being ok with failure and learning from your mistakes
- Using your lived experience as an asset to become a great leader
- How Peter became the Special Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization and his experience working in global health
Today’s Guest
Dr Peter Singer has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people by building innovative institutions with high social impact.
Between 2017 and 2023, Singer was Special Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization, supporting Dr Tedros to transform WHO into an Organization focused on measurable impact in countries. He co-chaired the transition team; was the architect of WHO’s strategy and its “triple billion” target; and supported strategy implementation of initiatives to speed up the Sustainable Development Goals using data and delivery, innovation, and partnerships. During the pandemic, he was a passionate advocate for vaccine equity.
From 2008-2018 Singer was Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada, raising CAN $450M to support 1000 innovations in more than 90 countries, which have the potential to save ~1 million lives and improve ~20 million lives by 2030. From 1996-2006 he was Sun Life Financial Chair and Director of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics.
Resources
- Connect with Dr. Peter Singer on LinkedIn
- Learn more about the University of Toronto's Joint Centre for Bioethics
- Read Peter’s career advice series on finding a problem and solving it, mentorship, and hopping aboard a rocket-ship and his blogpost Replace the SDGs with the GSDs
- Learn more about Grand Challenges Canada and read the paper that contributed to the formation of organization
- Learn more about the WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with McKenzie Schrank to discuss how her experience with leishmaniasis influenced her path, incorporating personal interests into public health and vice versa, and using every little experience to shape your journey.
You’ll Learn
- How McKenzie first discovered the field of public health
- McKenzie’s experience contracting leishmaniasis on a study abroad trip and how this experience shaped her education and career path
- Health communication is the cornerstone of public health
- How snowboarding has made McKenzie a better public health professional
- Integrating your passions with public health and how McKenzie is incorporating public health into snowboarding and vice versa
- Making your own space in public health
Today’s Guest
I earned my Master of Public Health at the Colorado School of Public Health in community and behavioral health and global health. I believe in strengthening communities by engaging community members with clear communication and connection and I hope to continue to foster positive change in health communication.
I have previously worked with the Peruvian population during a study abroad to the Madre de Dios region in 2017. From this experience I found a passion for working with and providing information to under resourced communities after contracting leishmaniasis during this trip. I took the experience of being infected as an opportunity to share my experience and educate future travelers about the difficulty of treating a neglected tropical disease and the risk of infection. Additionally, I used this opportunity to highlight inequalities in the healthcare system in regard to cost and access. My published manuscript entitled "Leishmaniasis Through the Lens of the Host" won a King Award of Academic Excellence for its innovative and creative additions to the existing body of knowledge on leishmaniasis. The insight I gained from these experiences prepared me with compassion and enthusiasm for the communications work I am currently doing.
Resources
- Connect with McKenzie on LinkedIn
- Buy the book "The Story of the Human Body"
- Learn more about leishmaniasis
- Learn more about the Center for Creative Leadership
- Read the blog post mentioned on today’s episode
- Learn more about the Snow Pool project
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Darla Bishop to talk money in relation to public health. They discuss how Darla’s relationship with money contributed to her education and career path, reshaping perspectives and tools to help manage personal finances, and how a public health degree can expand your financial opportunities.
You’ll Learn
- How Darla first discovered public health and how early financial experiences shaped her education and career path
- Understanding that budgeting is a tool to improve and not limit your lifestyle and the importance of knowing your budget when looking for job opportunities
- What the magic number is and how to use it to plan and reshape the influx and outflow of your money
- Rethinking and learning how to speak differently about finances to improve your relationship with money
- How a degree in public health and a flexible mindset expands career and financial opportunities
- Knowing your work values and finding and negotiating job opportunities to suit these values
Today’s Guest
Darla Bishop is the Director of Member Engagement for AmeriHealth Caritas DC, there she is responsible for the leadership, direction, and implementation of the strategic vision for all services that impact or interface with enrollees. Darla earned her MPH at University of Michigan and DrPH from George Washington University. As a self-proclaimed generalist she wears many hats: Managed Care Leader, Researcher, Professor, and Personal Finance Enthusiast. Her book How to Afford Everything is due out December 2023.
Resources
- Connect with Darla on LinkedIn
- Learn more about the services Darla offers on her website and listen to the FinanSIS Podcast
- Save 20% on Darla's book "How to Afford Everything" when you use the code PHSPOT
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Asad Naveed to talk about his work with the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, using social media as a platform for health education and mentorship, and providing guidance for those getting started in public health research.
You’ll Learn
- Asad’s on the ground work with management and prevention of Ebola in Sierra Leone and how he first became involved in community health
- How Asad’s field work led to a career in research and what his goals were when returning to school
- Perspective and making changes in global health systems
- Social media and the responsibilities that public facing figures and users have
- Tips on getting started and climbing up for those interested in public health research and social entrepreneurship
Today’s Guest
Resources
- Connect with Asad on LinkedIn
- Read and subscribe to Asad’s guides and newsletter
- Read the article about Ebola Virus in Children in Sierra Leone
- Listen to the previous episode with Jennifer Monti
- Purchase the book, The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Quisha Umemba, the CEO of Umemba Health. They discuss what Umemba Health is and its mission to improve the public health workforce, Quisha’s experience with consulting work and creating her own company, and talk tips on entrepreneurship and taking the first step to create your own business.
You’ll Learn
- How Quisha discovered public health and her transition from working as a nurse to working in public health
- Tips on entrepreneurship and starting work as a consultant
- Where to go to gain more business sense
- Social engagement and choosing your social media to build your company’s image
- What Umemba Health is and how they are undertaking their mission to improve the public health workforce
- How the pandemic shed light on areas for growth within public health work
- Staying connected to current and relevant public health topics as a consultant or someone not “working on the ground”
- What a day in the life of and how her role has changed since she first founded the company
Today’s Guest
As the CEO of Umemba Health, Quisha Umemba (pronounced "Kwee-shuh oooMEMbuh") brings over 20 years of diverse experience to her roles as a Registered Nurse, Public Health Consultant, and Entrepreneur. Boasting multiple certifications and an impressive work history, Quisha has developed, implemented, and overseen numerous health initiatives and community collaborations throughout her career. Quisha has worked as a Disaster Response Nurse Leader for the American Red Cross, a Clinic Coordinator for an outpatient endocrinology clinic, a Chief Nurse and Program Manager for a local health department, a Diabetes Nurse Consultant for a state health department, an RN Care Manager for a Federally Qualified Health Center, and a Clinical Programs Training Specialist for a value-based care consulting agency. A nurse with a public health background, Quisha has a multifaceted, blended expertise that enables her to design unique curricula and training programs with multi-level interventions. Specializing in Workforce Training and Development, her work focuses on equipping the public health workforce and her training approaches blend conventional, experiential, and transformational methods to create engaging educational content, delivered across various platforms. These distinctive training approaches have earned her the moniker "The Trainer's Trainer." As the CEO and Owner of Umemba Health, Quisha helps public health organizations and healthcare systems to educate their frontline workforce, empower their leadership, and expand their community presence. As the Principal for Quisha Umemba Consulting, she teaches "helping professionals" to monetize their skillset so they can build, launch, and scale a profitable public health consulting business using her proven step-by-step system. In addition to being an expert facilitator and trainer, Quisha is a devoted servant leader and health equity advocate. Her life's mission is to empower, educate, and transform the lives of others.
Resources
- Connect with Quisha on LinkedIn
- Learn more about Umemba Health and Umemba Health Academy
- Learn more about the Certified Bank Training Program
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Jan Carney, the Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. They discuss Jan’s reflections of the relationship between public health and healthcare, her work in pulling together UVM’s graduate public health program, and ways we can work to expand and integrate public health into new fields.
You’ll Learn
- When public health first became a topic of interest during Jan’s clinical practice
- Jan’s experience transitioning from direct patient care to community based health
- Patience and seeing impact and results from public health work
- Jan’s experience working as the Commissioner of Health in Vermont and her transition into academia
- The work and team that went into creating the University of Vermont’s graduate public health program
- What edupreneurship is and how it can be used to improve education
- The conversations and steps needed to expand public health into nontraditional health fields and what this means for population health
Today’s Guest
Dr. Carney is Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy, and Professor of Medicine, at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont (UVM). She earned an AB from Middlebury College, MD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Harvard School of Public Health. She previously served as Vermont’s Commissioner of Health under three gubernatorial administrations. In this role, she developed and implemented Vermont’s first outcome-based approach to improving public health, modeled on the national Healthy People initiative, combining clinical and community-based prevention.
Dr. Carney’s areas of expertise include building and sustaining community-academic partnerships, translational research, and reducing disparities in rural areas. She serves as Core Director of the Community Engagement and Outreach Core for the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network (NNE-CTR), working to advance rural health research and community engagement. Her current work focuses on developing and implementing the Vermont Rural Health Communication Network (RHCN) to promote two-way health communication in rural areas, strengthen access to health and social services, and improve health and scientific literacy. She is a member of the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health, serving on academic public health practice and advocacy committees, and serves as a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians.
Resources
- Connect with Jan on LinkedIn
- Learn more about Health People 2030
- Listen to the previous episode with Sue Griffey
- Read the Institute of Medicine’s writing on The Future of Public Health
- Learn more about edupreneurship
Join The Public Health Career Club: the #1 hangout spot and community dedicated to building and growing your dream public health career.
Grassroots to global, the evolution of a Public Health professional, with Glenn Laverack
47:15
Crafting a career in Public Health: tales of serendipity and success, with Christie VanHorne
57:34
Trust yourself to dream big, with former refugee & global health advocate Yasir Essar, MSc
44:00
Tackling your fears head-on: why I started the podcast
9:20
From Microbiologist to Epidemiologist & supporting Public Health Entrepreneurs, with Dr. Charlotte Huntley, PhD, MPH
41:03
Try the Career Club for free!
11:13
Networking is everywhere, with Sujani
12:48
Threading the pearls of your necklace: how every experience builds your public health career, with Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MPH
42:47
How to use the right key terms in your public health job application, with Zoila Reyna
22:21
Create the life you want, with Angeza Mohammed
39:53
How much can I get paid in public health?, with Sujani
21:45
Public health consultants & entrepreneurs: Understanding the landscape, with Leah Roman and Vinu Illakkuvan
48:05
Why you need a personal brand, with Richa Bansal
33:53
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW) and how to become one, with Tasha Whitaker
44:25
Land a job. Grow your network. Create your career path.
20:33
Where do I find public health jobs?
34:45
Can your strengths change?
14:44
Reflecting on a year of growth and looking ahead to 2024
21:07
Five reminders when applying for public health jobs, with Sujani
11:04
Find a problem and solve it, with Dr. Peter Singer, Former Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and cofounder of Grand Challenges & UofT Joint Centre for Bioethics
46:41
Using life circumstances to guide your public health journey, with McKenzie Schrank
49:41
Understanding personal finances when planning your career, with Darla Bishop
55:46
From Ebola outbreak response in Sierra Leone to public health research and driving innovation, with Asad Naveed
44:04
Public health entrepreneurship: an honest conversation about the journey, with Quisha Umemba, MPH, BSN, RN, CDCES, CHWI
47:01
Why study public health?, with Dr. Jan Carney, MD, MPH, MACP
42:24