Public Health Epidemiology Conversations

This interview is filled with wisdom and powerful messages that will motivate and inspire you to pursue your public health career goals with a new burst of energy and enthusiasm. That is how I felt after my interview with Samantha. She is a first generation college graduate, who has propelled through more than her fair share of challenges. She doesn't complain, but instead has built upon every event and continues to pursue her goals. I encourage you to listen to the full episode here.

We are all super busy people, juggling work, family, and other responsibilities. If you're in graduate school, then that adds another layer of responsibility. Organizing your life in a way that accomplish all of the tasks that are in front of you seems to be a never ending challenge. Some days we handle things well, get lots of things checked off of our to-do list, while other days are the exact opposite. We live and learn and keep moving forward, right? Well, today I want to speak to you briefly about the importance of personal development time. We cannot expect to meet the challenges that life hands to us every day if we don't take care of ourselves. So, as difficult as it may seem, it is so important that find a way to integrate some personal development into your routine so that you can be strong enough to handle the rest of what needs to be done.

In this episode I interview Angel Algarin. He provides guidance and helpful tips for becoming actively involved, and gaining public health experience. Angel is a doctoral student, working towards his PhD in epidemiology. He is a very active member of the American Public Health Association's epidemiology section, as well as a few other national and local organizations.

Avoid information overload! It is important to reflect on the abundance of information that we take in from the many resources that are available to us. In this episode I discuss some ways to reflect and take away the messages from each episode that speak to your situation and help you face your challenges. I also discuss how to access the resources that I make available to everyone and ways to put them to good use.

This episode continues the discussion with Dan Rutz, who shares his successful 30 year journey through radio and television broadcasting where he was able to develop and use his expertise in communication to advance public health. His career path includes success with the Cable News Network (CNN), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) as well as his current initiative called My Growing Edge. Be sure to listen to episode #21, which is part 1 of the interview. In this episode: Dan gives advice and tips to recent graduates who are are interested in a public health career. Dan shares tips for people interested in careers with large agencies like CDC. Be sure to listen to part 1, where Dan discussed My Growing Edge, his current initiative. At the end, I attempt to summarize the key points and rich information shared throughout the entire interview with Dan (part 1 and part 2). Please visit the show notes website for this episode for more information and links to connect with Dan.

This is an informative and interesting interview with Dan Rutz, who shares his successful 30 year journey through radio and television broadcasting where he was able to develop and use his expertise in communication to advance public health. His career path includes success with the Cable News Network (CNN), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) as well as his current initiative called My Growing Edge.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Jennifer Rounds-Bryant, commonly known as Dr. Jenn. Dr. Jenn is a genuine and authentic coach who demonstrates a high level of excellence as the normal level of service that she provides to her students. She is an exceptional PhD coach who combines her experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, 16 years teaching graduate students and chairing dissertation committees, as well as 20 years of experience publishing research in peer reviewed journals. She refers to her services as "flipping on the light" to help shed light on your path and prevent you from stumbling in the dark. She refers to herself as an "outcomes junkie" because she helps to encourage students and move them forward to graduation. Dr. Jenn shares valuable information as you get to know her in this episode. Even if you're a masters degree student, I encourage you to listen to this episode. Dr. Jenn discusses impostor syndrome as it relates to graduate degree students (masters and doctoral), and shares information about how she addresses this issue with her students.

This episode focuses on a few things you can do to wrap up this year and start preparing for the new year. There are so many new and exciting updates that I shared with you in the last episode that will help us wrap up a great year and prepare to start a new one. Please take some time to listen to that episode if you haven't already, so that you're up to date on the most recent changes. Our community has developed and grown, and I hope that we continue to grow. We started with just a small community page and progressed to adding this podcast show, and connecting on broader social media platforms. In addition to the community page on my website, I realized the need to meet you where you are, in your social media platform of choice. However, remember that everything is still connected back to the website. Think of the website (DrCHHuntley.com) as home. In addition to this week's episode, I encourage you to listen to the previous episode as well (episode 18). This is a good time to make sure that you're prepared and ready. Enjoy the rest of this holiday season and get ready for exciting new adventures in 2018! We will hit the ground running with our first episode of the new year.

There are so many new and exciting updates that I share with you in this episode. I discuss how the community has developed and how we are growing. The community that we started with has progressed to adding this podcast show, and connecting in broader social media platforms. Instead of connecting in just one site, I realized the need to meet you where you are, in your social media platform of choice. However, everything is still connected back to the website. Think of the website (DrCHHuntley.com) as home. Updates New promo video on the home page, which replaces the image that was there before. After polling one of my Facebook groups, I realized that a lot of people were accessing the podcast episodes through links in the emails that I send out. So, I wanted to make it easier for everyone to be able to take advantage of the ability to subscribe to the podcast and enjoy the convenience of doing so. The page to subscribe to the podcast has been moved and is now more visible as a sub-page under the podcast tab. There is now a short video there that demonstrates how to subscribe, and the links below the video will take you directly to the podcast show on the platform of your choice. RESOURCES is a new page where all of the links to the various tools and guides that have been created over time. Soon to come will be links to workshops that I offer and other resources as they are developed. It is convenient to have all of these resources available in one place on the website. The community page has been revised, adding a new category "Leading by Example" and I encourage you to check it out. I especially encourage you to read my post "I'm a Walking Example" where I open up about my passion for walking in a way that I have not opened up before. Also, consider joining my team in the 1 Billion Steps Challenge 2018. Email updates will change and start to include more information beyond just announcing the newest podcast episode. Please make sure you're opening and scanning your emails every week so that you stay in the loop and know what's new and upcoming, and you don't miss anything. If you're not currently receiving emails from me, then you can click here to subscribe to receive regular updates.

In this episode, I discuss some important and essential strategies for building a strong professional network. Professional networks have become the primary way that people are finding new job opportunities. Building a professional network is more than just having a profile on LinkedIn, although that is an important tool and resource to use. Building a strong network starts with genuine beginnings that develop into long-lasting quality professional relationships. Five Essential Strategies for Building a Strong Professional Network The connections within your network should be mutually beneficial connections. Don't just look to connect with someone, considering only how they can help you. Instead, think about what you have to offer them and how you may be able to help them as well. Remember that relationship building is a process and takes time. Start with whatever the initial interest is, and look to build upon that as you get to know the other person When your motives are sincere, then networking is more natural. When it's all about you getting what you want from connecting with a person, then your intent can come across as mechanical, pushy, or rehearsed. Versus being motivated by sincerely wanting to learn more, gather information, and share your ideas thoughts and plans with others (mutual and reciprocal - learn and share – give and take) It is a good idea to start networking with your close connections, and expand from there. (family, friends, classmates, coworkers, supervisors, professors, and so on) Start networking by Using social media, volunteering, alumni associations, professional societies and organizations, events at work or within your industry. DrCHHuntley.com/podcast

In this episode, I discuss how you can identify your passion for public health and how to use that passion to help you progress through grad school, gaining experience, and preparing for your career. Last week Steve Vick the significance of having a strong and deep interest in your cause and how that energizes you to do the day to day work of running a nonprofit organization. That sparked a great deal of thought, and led me to apply that concept to public health, graduate school journey, and career paths. Here are a few of the highlights: What area of public health are you most passionate about? I guide you through some thought-provoking ways to help you identify the areas that you are most interested in, most often. Some examples: Health-related policy Health promotion activities Health Interventions Certain/specific populations Once you've identified your area of special interest in public health, then you can begin to look for opportunities to become an example, learn more, and volunteer. Connecting with these opportunities will begin to feel more natural and help you progress along. Click here to request your FREE copy of the Public Health Organizations, which is a list of global public health organizations to help you explore organizations that are connected with the areas of public health that you are most interested in and passionate about.

This podcast episode is an interview with Steve Vick, founder of Nonprofit Ally. Nonprofit Ally is a community website loaded with resources to help those who are interested in starting a nonprofit organization. Steve is the executive director of Noble Paws in Alaska, where the mission is to help people with disabilities find new means of mobility and independence with the help of sled dogs. He has a background in journalism and never planned to pursue a nonprofit career. He shares his personal experience with nonprofit organizations and what led him to start Nonprofit Ally. Website for this episode

In this episode, I discuss some of the common myths and misconceptions regarding nonprofit organizations compared to for-profit businesses. I encourage you to investigate truths instead of accepting some of the common myths that surround the topic of nonprofit organizations to gain a deeper understanding for your own benefit. I also encourage you to explore career and volunteer opportunities within nonprofit organizations, as well as any ideas that you may have had regarding starting a new nonprofit organization to serve the population that you are passionate about helping.

In this episode, I discuss some of the highlights of my experience sharing my research at two different national conferences. There are so many things I'd love to go into, but instead I focus on some action points that will hopefully motivate you to plan to attend your first meeting, or take your meetings to the next level if you are already actively attending your association's annual conference. If you have not done so already, please listen to the last episode, where I discussed some of the benefits of membership in public health associations. As a student or recent graduate, I emphatically believe that becoming actively involved in a public health association can help you prepare and advance your career. As a mid- or senior-level profession, there are great opportunities for you to continue your career growth and development, as well as mentoring, guiding, and helping others who are the next generation of public health leaders.

In this episode I discuss some of the benefits of membership in public health associations. Although there are many important reasons for you to become involved in public health associations, I focus on seven benefits in this episode. It is important that you not only become a member, but that you also become actively involved. Public health associations can provide you with the opportunity for professional development, as well as chances for continuing education, research, and networking.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Harold Whitfield. Dr. Whitfield discovered a passion for statistical analysis early on, and has worked for many years providing statistical analysis to a diverse group of students in many different fields of study. He is a highly qualified dissertation statistician who has a B.S. in Psychology, an M.Ed. in Counseling and Development, and an Ed.D. in Counselor Education. He is a vocational rehabilitation manager, and also works as a freelance statistician. I encourage you to listen to this episode and get to know Dr. Whitfield, and learn about the services he offers. He may be a good resource for many of you, helping you maximize the journey through your dissertation process.

In this episode I discuss five tips that will help you experience a successful journey through your dissertation, so that you are best prepared for entry into your career field. There is so much more to the dissertation journey than simply surviving the process. The tips that I share in this episode will help you strengthen and better prepare yourself for entry into the career field that you desire.

In this episode I discuss several resources that you should maximize as a student, so that you are best prepared for entry into your career field. It is difficult to know when you will need to use the knowledge and skills that you obtain as a student, in your career. By making the most of some of the resources that are available to you as a student, you will strengthen and better prepare yourself for entry into the field.

In this episode, I continue sharing strategies that will help you prepare for and transition into a public health career. The information in this episode will be helpful for graduate students, as well as recent graduates who are trying to secure their public health career positions. There is a great deal of valuable information shared here, and I encourage you to listen to the full episode.

In this episode, I share my journey and transition from healthcare to public health and the lessons that I learned along the way. My background is in medical laboratory technology, specifically microbiology. People often ask me about how I transitioned into the field of public health, and how I became and epidemiologist. In sharing my story, I also prepare you for what will follow in the next few episodes. This and the next few episodes are part of a series of trainings that many students and recent graduates will find very helpful. I encourage you to listen to the full episode, and tune in for the full series.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Frazier Beatty. We discuss some of the different education pathways to careers in public health, specifically online and traditional brick and mortar universities. Dr. Beatty has an impressive background including US military service, as well as other governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry. He has completed undergraduate and graduate level education in both online and traditional university programs, served as faculty, dissertation chair, and University Research Reviewer (URR). He truly has a heart for education and service in public health. Additionally, he is the group owner of the American Public Health Association (APHA) group on LinkedIn.

In this episode, I discuss five actionable tips that busy online graduate degree students can use to help them balance the busy demands of graduate school and life. What starts out as excitement about starting graduate school can often drift into a silent frustration for many. Trying to juggle school, work, family, and other obligations can be overwhelming. I will share with you some strategies that can help you regain your focus, control your journey, and achieve success. Although any graduate student may find this information to be helpful, I'm specifically targeting online graduate students because of the special challenges that online students face. Some of the common challenges include adjusting to the online environment, feelings of isolation that can be self-defeating, adapting to the fast pace of the coursework along with the high demands of life in general, and the need to develop a strong system that will help you stay on track and succeed.

In this episode, Dr. Juanita Braxton shares her passion for community focused public health interventions, as well as her passion for educating and serving communities. She considers her PhD in public health to be her "community service" degree, as it provides her with the opportunity to give back to her community in many ways. Tune in to the full episode so that you can take in all that she shared, which is truly encouraging and inspirational.

In this episode, Dr. Kathy Bianco shares her educational and career journey, connecting her healthcare career with public health. She shares some of the challenges she faced along the way, and how she overcame those challenges to successfully complete her doctoral degree in public health. Additionally, she shares her goals and ambition for bringing public health to physician assistant programs in California. If you have not listened to the full episode, then I encourage you to do so. There is so much value in her story and I'm thankful that she was generous enough to share that with my audience in this episode. Thank you for listening!

How do you explain your role as an epidemiologist to the non-scientific community? As an epidemiologist, I often struggle with how to explain epidemiology to people who are not familiar with the field or my profession. I'm not sure when I've diluted the definition too much or when I've provided a little too much complex information. When I'm in a social setting and people are talking about themselves and describing what they do for a living, my mind is often racing for which versions of the definition of epidemiology will be the best to use in the conversation when it becomes my turn to respond. How do you respond in similar situations? What do you say? How do you explain your role as in epidemiologist in a way that is easily understood? I explore some of the responses I've received to these questions in this episode. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, an introduction and welcome to the online community is extended to everyone. The purpose of the community is explained along with how the whole idea was developed and what has been accomplished so far. The many benefits of podcasting are explored, as well as the focus and format of this podcast show specifically. Thank you for listening!