Public Health Epidemiology Conversations

Our guest on this episode is Quisha Umemba, CEO and founder of Umemba Health, LLC. Quisha is a Bachelors prepared Registered Nurse with a Masters degree in Public Health. During the interview, she explained how having a public health perspective shaped her nursing practice and ultimately the trajectory of her career. She later explained that once she realized epidemiology wasn't just about diseases but that it included all factors of health, even the social structural factors, then epidemiology became more fascinating. Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to Quisha Umemba, her broad educational scope, and the wide variety of roles she has held throughout her career What a windshield assessment is, and why it sparked Quisha's passion for public health The sectors within public health which Quisha has chosen to focus on Quisha's feelings as she moved from clinical care to an administrative role Certification that community health workers can receive Umemba Health The main goal of Umemba Health ...And much more! DrCHHuntley.com/podcast

If you've listened to the last two episodes, you'll know that there are some changes to the podcast that I have been working on in the background. Today is the day these changes come to life. Welcome to the Public Health Epidemiology CONVERSATIONS Podcast! In this episode you'll hear about why I decided to swap the word "careers" for "conversations" as well as the various other exciting changes I've made to my podcast content and my website. There are also some brand-new resources I'm going to be sharing with you in the coming months, and I hope these offer a lot of value to you. Thank you for being a part of this journey so far, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow alongside you through the upcoming open-minded, open-hearted conversations.

Our episode today picks up where episode 207 left off. Last week Dr. Huntley outlined some of the challenges facing graduates in the public health industry and how she is adapting her business to address these difficulties. In today's episode, Dr. Huntley outlines the details of these changes and how they will affect the show. Tuning in you'll hear Dr. Huntley break down why she'll be inviting more guests from other fields onto her show and how she will be tailoring her questions to encompass the broader application of public health principles, no matter the job title. Dr. Huntley shares her goals for the future of the show like prompting listeners to reflect on how public health principles apply to their role at work. She also shares some of the exciting details for their online rebranding, like a new logo, color scheme, and mission statement. Tune in for all the details on these exciting changes!

Four years of consulting, four years of podcasting, and one long year of COVID-19; your host, Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley, thinks it's time to change things up a bit! There are times in our careers, businesses, and life when we need to refresh our plans, make adjustments, and set new goals. The pandemic has made us all acutely aware of this fact. Any number of things can happen that require us to pivot. It can simply be the result of growth and the need to naturally adjust. Children, for example, need new shoes, new clothes, and even new foods to meet the growing needs of their bodies as they develop. Over the last few months, Dr. Huntley has been carefully assessing her business in preparation for making some necessary changes. In the process, she attended a CEO retreat where she unplugged from absolutely everything in order to quietly reflect, brainstorm, and explore opportunities for growth. In this episode, she outlines some of the challenges facing graduates in the public health industry and why she has decided to adapt her business to address them.

Denny is the program coordinator of the Child Health and Wellness Program initiated by the Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center. Join us for today's episode wherein Denny explains how this program is positively impacting child health and wellness through stakeholder engagement and the creation of coherent messages which are disseminated throughout the tribes situated within the Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas borders. Denny's passion for his work runs deep, and his work is improving the lives of many.

When Dr. Bernadette Paul's mother was first diagnosed with high blood pressure, she became very aware of some of the health problems in her community and how they could be treated with proper nutrition. Today, Dr. Bernadette Paul is a public health and nutrition consultant, community specialist, teacher, and a brand new podcast host. She holds a Ph.D. in public health, specializing in health promotion and community health in addition to a master's degree in nutrition. She is also a member of the board of directors of the nonprofit organization The Whole Community Incorporated and the chairperson of the Health Committee of the Wooster Orrville NAACP. Dr. Paul joins us to share her passion for using nutrition, education, and health promotion to empower families and communities with sustainable methods to eating healthily. Tuning in, you'll hear about how her business came about in response to the need she witnessed in her community, who she serves, and how helps them live more healthy lifestyles through menu planning, pantry planning, vegetable gardens, and other services. To find out more about the perfect marriage between nutrition and public health, as well as the importance of collaborations between public health professionals, listen to the full episode!

Our guest on this podcast episode is Tasha Whitaker, a national speaker, author, educator, trainer, and owner of CREW Wellness, LLC., a health education consulting agency that builds capacity and provides professional development training for healthcare professionals. Tasha redefines self-care to include things like proper time management and shares some simple and practical tips for practicing self-care using a model she calls NICE. She also shares her advice for students looking to pursue a career in public health, as well as those just starting out.

Omari Richins, founder of The Public Health Millennial, joins us on this episode to share his public health journey. Omari currently holds the position of health improvement program officer for the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, prior to which he worked in Alaska for 14 months during the COVID-19 pandemic as a community health fellow for the Mat-Su Health Foundation. In our conversation, Omari shares why he decided to pursue a master's in public health after realizing that he could have a much broader impact on communities than if he were a medical doctor, and how he first discovered the field of public health philanthropy. We discuss how public health philanthropy differs from other public health initiatives and why it's so important for more individuals with a master's in public health to work in the field of public health philanthropy. We hear from Omari about how he started The Public Millennial blog and how he gradually grew his online presence and gained more followers. He explains how his online presence has helped him build relationships and why it's important to be motivated by something other than gaining followers. Finally, Omari shares valuable advice and tips for students and graduates, most notably the importance of not getting too comfortable and how to build a network. For all this and much more, tune in to the full episode!

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes have a history of trauma, and to this day are still marginalized in a multitude of ways in the United States. The California Rural Indian Health Board is a program aimed at enhancing the public health status of these demographic groups, and our guest today has been working passionately for this cause for the past 3 years. Alejandra Cabrera coordinates projects which deal with monitoring health status in tribal communities and developing culturally appropriate health services. The main project she has been involved with is helping these communities respond to the opioid epidemic. Alejandra stresses the importance of building trust, and using a "for the community, by the community" approach. In today's episode you'll also hear how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the work that Alejandra does, and what the next phases of her inspiring project are going to look like.

Public health is no longer a silent partner, but a major one. Following the pandemic, we've all realized that everything must be filtered through a public health lens. Today, we speak with a forerunner in the public health space, Dannette Smith, CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. CEO Smith kicks off our interview with an introduction to her professional and personal background. Next, we dive into the role of developing your interpersonal skills as a leader. We talk about the value of experience and preparation, and why being a good listener and always seeking to learn are essential attitudes to have. We talk about why CEO Smith has taken on jobs that were too difficult for her and discuss the importance of always being on the hunt for opportunities to grow. Next, we dive into the importance of serving from a place of passion and talk about accessibility and communication in healthcare with data as a medium through which to tell that story. CEO Smith shares with us the ways in which the relationship we have with our public health departments will need to change in order to better serve our people and we touch on Nebraska's position as a place full of opportunity. She tells us why policy as we know it is going to drastically change following the pandemic and gives us some predictions for how service delivery will change going forwards. Tune in today for plenty of valuable insights on leadership and the future of public health with an expert in the field. We hope you join us! DrCHHuntley.com

On this episode, I'm going to talk about why right now is the best time to start your public health consulting business.

As we celebrate our 200th episode of the Public Health in Epidemiology Careers podcast, I wanted to use this opportunity to share my seven favorite things about podcasting and this journey so far! First of all, it is important to acknowledge all the listeners and the entire amazing community that has connected around this great platform, it really is something special. When looking back at the last four years of weekly shows, what really stands out are the connections that have been made; podcasting is such a powerful medium to learning and mentoring and these links can reach across the world! In this episode, we also look at the highlights of learning new technologies, venturing into the unknown, and meeting new folks in the public health space! So here's to another 200 episodes and many more great connections!

On this bonus episode, we are going to focus on how to sort through your public health ideas and build your business with confidence!

The doorstep of our 200th episode is a good time to pause and reflect. As we look back on the last 198 episodes, it has been all about sharing career journeys in public health and demonstrating that there are so many different ways for you to use your education to advance the field of public health. You have heard from a multitude of guests from different backgrounds and walks of life who have shared their path into the field and talked about the work that they do and the diverse ways in which they serve their communities. In each episode, your host, Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley, has asked guests to offer their career advice and tips and, in today's episode, she shares some of her favorite takeaways. Tune in to hear her top five public health and epidemiology career tips and advice!

This episode is taken from a LinkedIn Live recording where I share three helpful tips for working full time and running a consulting business.

When there is no clear path, make your own. Our guest on this episode had been faced with what could be considered challenges, but which she instead chose to see as opportunities. Tonya Nash is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Her interest in this particular specialization within public health arose when her two sons were diagnosed with autism, and one with epilepsy. It didn't take long for her to realize that there is a lack of understanding within many faith-based institutions around how to include people with health issues of this type. Through the two organizations she founded, Autism Faith Network and Spectrum Public Health Strategies, her goal is to change this, and we are so on board with her mission!

Dr. April Moreno knows how it feels to live with an autoimmune condition, and her diagnosis is what drove her to help others with this type of disease. Autoimmune diseases are pervasive (about one in five people!) but historically have not received much attention. Dr. Moreno is also passionate about achieving health equity because she is aware of the disparities that currently exist within the realm of public health. Her educational background is diverse; cultural anthropology and health promotions sciences and technology, and she has had a dynamic career, starting two non-profits and hosting three podcasts! In this episode, you'll learn a bit about all of Dr. Moreno's ventures and will be pleasantly surprised at the broadness of the public health sector and how many possible paths your interest in this field can take you down.

The last day to enroll in the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO 2021 is May 31st. Public Health Entrepreneurs Summer Camp starts on June 1st and is only available as a BONUS offer for people enrolled in the EXPO. On this bonus episode, I'm sharing more details about these programs because you will be upset if you miss out on this. PublicHealthEXPO.com

Consultant, advocate, professional, entrepreneur; our guest today holds all of these titles, and works across numerous public health silos with a passion that is inspiring. Tamara Mason's lifelong dream was to become a doctor but realizations that she had while studying and working led to her interest in public health, and she has never looked back. In this episode, we discuss the work being done by Tamara's company, Mason Consulting Incorporated LLC, to provide public health services and solutions to underserved communities. Tamara's philosophy is based on the fact that communities know what is best for them, which is why her goal is to empower people within those communities. Tamara also explains why she thinks the silos that exist within the realm of public health are problematic, and how she works across these silos. We end the episode with some valuable advice from Tamara, for any aspiring public health professionals, no matter what stage of your public health journey you are in!

The guests featured on this podcast often find creative and fun ways to introduce their community to the world of epidemiology, and today's guests are no different. Under the moniker Doughnuts and Data on Instagram, Mee-A Keeton and Sitara Weerakoon encourage their community to explore this field as a viable career option and develop a solid understanding of what can be accomplished through data analysis.

Today we take a special journey exploring the intersection of public health, veterinary medicine, and epidemiology, welcoming Dr. Millicent Eidson to the show! Our guest has taken her passions for these areas, her well-earned expertise in the field, thrown in some entrepreneurial courage and creativity, and launched a series of books aiming to entertain and educate on the important areas of public health. Dr. Eidson's fascinating career arc has led her through different positions and institutions and now the latest surprising development has helped her spread her wings into the literary world. In our conversation, we get to hear all about the steps leading up to this moment, her passion for teaching, mentoring, and learning, and her belief in the power of stories! Dr. Edison shares some great advice for aspiring public health professionals and talks about the usefulness of following your curiosity and passions and taking lessons from the right mentors.

On this bonus episode, I'm sharing three important updates for our public health community. The updates include the podcast, upcoming webinars, and summer camp. Click here for more about the EXPO and summer camp. Click here to visit DrCHHuntley.com and subscribe to the weekly newsletter.

Whether you are new to the public health space or you have been in the game for years, pricing your services can be one of the most challenging aspects of being a consultant! Welcome to another Q&A Coaching episode with today's guest, Kaitlyn Esposito, one of the members of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO group and a public health communicator and chronic illness advocate. Kaitlyn asked several questions during our session that many other public health consultants might have about pricing and promoting your services and products.

Prepare yourself to be inspired and amazed by this episode! Anna, a current student at Tulane University, walks us through her fascinating journey and why she is interested in public health. The field of public health lies at the intersection of her interests (health and politics) and allows her to approach issues with an intricate understanding of different issues. Anna also shares her experience of working at The Borgen Project and the valuable skills she gained from her internship. As a shy woman, she was encouraged to speak up and saw firsthand what can happen when you make your voice heard. I was so inspired by Anna and cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her! Subscribe to the PHEC Podcast newsletter Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO

Melanie Padgett Powers is a freelance writer, magazine managing editor, copy editor and proofreader in the Washington, D.C., area. She has a background in small town journalism and has brought those skills and education into public health where she serves associations and organizations in a very creative way. On this episode, Melanie shares insights into her fascinating professional path and how she marries the different elements of her diverse skill set. She sheds light on why she is currently interested in racism as a public health crisis and talks about how her work has allowed her to explore different interests over the years. Our conversation with Melanie will inspire you to trust the path you are on and go after your dreams! Subscribe to the PHEC Podcast newsletter Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO

The first quarter of the year has already passed by, and has left me feeling grateful, honored, and encouraged. I've taken time to pause and reflect and would like to share my takeaways with you on this bonus episode. I'm sure you will find some inspiration and encouragement in this message! Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO Work With Me - Business or Career Coaching

On this episode, I'm sharing another Q&A coaching session with one of the members of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO group. Meagan Erhart is an excellent example of someone with multiple degrees, diverse public health experience, and is trying to narrow down some of the ideas she has about consulting to figure out her starting point. I often work with clients to help them sort through their thoughts so that they can determine next steps. We rarely solve everything in one session, of course, but this is an example of how to start sorting through some of your ideas for public health consulting. Listen to this episode to hear how I guided her through this early process of sorting things out.

Are you interested in a public health career? Are you interested in public health consulting or entrepreneurship? The Public Health Epidemiology Careers Podcast is filled with resources in every episode to help you reach your career or business goals.

What is your networking strategy online? What is your favorite social media platform? How do you reach out to request new connections to add to your network? It's time to focus on networking tips! On this episode, I will share seven simple but powerful professional tips that can be helpful for all public health professionals. Prepare to take notes as you listen to these tips and examples, and decide what works best for you.

On this episode, I'm connecting the recording from the LinkedIn live from this week because I want you to hear the conversation. My guest during this LinkedIn live was Chambraia Jones who is a global health professional. She works as an HIV/AIDS prevention program officer and she is a former client from 2019. It was fun to catch up with her during this meet and greet networking segment. She talked about global health, her career transitions, and shared some great bits of career advice. We had great engagement from the live audience live as well. Listen to this episode to hear the full conversation.

The best way for me to share it is by sharing the feedback from others who have experienced it and who are experiencing it for themselves. I'm so passionate about promoting the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO because it is such a unique and valuable resource that is helping to advance public health in a creative way. We learn so much from the journeys of others who are willing to open up and share. If you'd like to enroll in the expo then visit PublicHealthEXPO.com

When she left aerospace, she originally planned to pursue a MS in statistics. In her first year, she took an epidemiology course as an elective and was hooked on public health. Statistics became biostatistics, which led to epidemiology. On this episode, you'll meet Dr. Vicki Hart, who is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont. She will share how her career journey has helped her transition into her public health career today. She also offers informative career tips for students, graduates and professionals. Subscribe to the PHEC Podcast newsletter: https://PHECPodcast.com/ Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO: https://PublicHealthEXPO.com/

On this episode, I'm sharing a conversation from a Q&A coaching session with one of the members of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO group. You'll be able to benefit from hearing my answers to her questions. You might also find that you've had similar questions of your own and hearing this conversation might help you as much as it helped her.

You're about to meet Imani Ransby, with the United South and Eastern Tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Center. The United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) is just one of 12 partner Tribal Epidemiology Centers. Imani started working at USET in January 2020 as a Staff Epidemiologist in the Tribal Health and Program Support department. On this episode, you'll learn about Imani's journey into public health and USET through my interview.

On this episode, I'm sharing another Q&A coaching session with one of the members of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO group. Dr. LaQuasha Gaddis is an excellent example of someone who is well educated and has years of public health experience, who is trying to narrow down some of the ideas she has about consulting to figure out her starting point. I often work with clients to help them sort through their thoughts so that they can determine next steps. We rarely solve everything in one session, of course, but this is an example of a great place to start. Listen to this episode to hear how I guided her through narrowing down her ideas.

Many public health students and graduates desire to work with the CDC, but don't know how to connect with the organization or don't know much about the opportunities that exist to work with the agency. My guest on this episode is Christine Caraballo and she is the program manager for the PHI/CDC Global Health Fellowship Program. She will share her career journey into public health, details about the global health fellowship program at CDC, and share powerful career tips for students, graduates, and professionals. Subscribe to the PHEC Podcast newsletter: Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO:

Several people have already told me how much they wish they had a community like our EXPO group when they were working on their degree in public health. Tune into this bonus episode to hear updates and to hear what others are saying about the EXPO.

On this episode, I thought it would be helpful to share my coaching session with one of the first coaching giveaway winners, Saran, of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO group. Saran is an excellent example of someone with years of public health experience, who has been quietly exploring ideas about consulting in their minds but not really having someone to talk it out with and fully explore the options. I've often worked with clients to help them sort through their thoughts so that they can determine next steps We rarely solve everything in one session, of course, but this is an example of a great place to start. Listen carefully to hear how I guided her through narrowing down her ideas into a manageable focal point.

You're about to meet Audrey Juliussen and Jordan Skan, with the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center. The Alaska Native Epidemiology Center (ANEC) is just one of 12 partner Tribal Epidemiology Centers. My first guest from the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center is Audrey Juliussen is an Ahtna Athabascan and Unangax̂ Alaska Native, and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. My second guest is Dr. Jordan Skan, who grew up in Ketchikan and is Tlingit. Dr. Skan provides support for the national Coordinating Center for Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country.

On this episode, you'll meet Dr. Brittany Marshall and learn about her public health career journey. Here are just a few things that really stood out to me during the interview She is an Inspiring action-taker Amazing conversation left me in awe of her accomplishments and her passion for public health She "fell into public health by accident" Why she personally chose DrPH vs PhD In-depth discussion about the CDC Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) American Public Health Association (APHA) Executive board – youngest elected member Episode Sponsor: Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO

Meet Paulina Sosa, Chair of Latinx COVID-19 Task Force & Doctoral student at Johns Hopkins Public health informatics program. She is also the founder of Latinx Voces, which she talks about during our podcast interview and she explains it more fully in the EXPO. Paulina Is one of the presenters of the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO and shares her heart for Latinx Voces during the EXPO.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a brand new year! The year 2020 was filled with ups and downs for me, as I know it was for many of you as well. One of the ways that I navigated through the tough parts of 2020 was to focus on what could be learned, and how I could be empowered by those lessons to move forward. On this episode, I'm going to explain why I'm focusing on my business theme of "creatively advancing public health" so strongly for this new year. Subscribe to the PHEC Podcast newsletter: https://PHECPodcast.com/ Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO: https://PublicHealthEXPO.com/ Work With Me - Consulting: https://www.drchhuntley.com/contact Work With Me - Business or Career Coaching: https://www.drchhuntley.com/about

In this bonus episode, I will share a couple of important announcements, as well as officially wish you a Happy New Year.

You're about to meet Forrest Lester and Delores Becenti, with the Navajo Epidemiology Center. The Navajo Epidemiology Center (NEC) was established in 2005 to manage Navajo Nation's public health information systems, investigate diseases and injuries of concern, provide data and reports to effectively manage health programs, respond to public health emergencies, and coordinate these activities with other public health authorities. Navajo Epidemiology Center, is just one of 12 partner Tribal Epidemiology Centers.

On this brand new episode of the podcast, I'm going to explain to you exactly what the upcoming 2021 Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO is and who it is for. The Expo is one of my favorite project to work on, so you will likely be able to hear the excitement in my voice!

On this brand new episode of the podcast, I'm going to share the 10 most popular interview episodes of 2020, as well as a couple of episodes that deserve an honorable mention. As many of you are continuing to wrap up the year, this could be a great time to catch up on some previous podcast episodes that you may have missed. I certainly recommend all of my podcast episode, but it was a lot of fun to prepare the top 10 list that I'm about to share with you on this episode.

Learn five strategies that public health students and professionals can use to help wrap up the year and prepare to move forward. Be sure to listen to the full episode, and share with a friend. Resources mentioned: PublicHealthEXPO.com GetExperienceInPublicHealth.com

Meet Dr. Kristi McClamroch, infectious disease epidemiologist and founder of Public Health Connected. On this episode, you'll have the opportunity to get to learn about the creative and innovative ways that she is stepping out to advance public health.

On this episode, you'll meet Dr. Amruta Dixit with the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, and hear about her journey into public health. Dr. Dixit is an epidemiologist and the student development director. She talks about how they are serving the needs of their community and supporting the tribes during this COVID-19 pandemic. She also talks about the program focus and activities as well.

We can certainly all agree that this year has been more than stressful. I think it is important to take time to pause and reflect. Reflect on what you've done, what you're doing, where you're going. Doing this helps you to make sure that you are on track with your career and business goals, and to make adjustments as necessary.