Public Health Insight

Like for other disciplines, should there be a standard credential to certify public health professionals working in the field? We discuss standardized testing, a rationale for a unified certification, and more on this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast. References ◼️ NBPHE Strategic Plan Hosts & Producers ◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP® ◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, CPH, MSc, PMP® Produ...

The Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada were first published in 2008 and recent efforts are underway to modernize and update them to align with the current context. But just how useful are they to public health professionals, policy and decision-makers, educators, researchers, and health-influencing organizations?  Hosts & Producers ◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP® References ◼️ 2024...

Are you getting the most out of your MPH degree?  After completing their MPH in 2019, the hosts of the Public Health Insight Podcast share 1 of their 9 key lessons they learned since graduating and it applies to aspiring professionals, current students, and graduates.  Hosts & Producers ◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP® ◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP® Production Notes ◼️ Music from Johnny H...

There are many reasons why candidates mess up job opportunities. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we cover a few of them, including:   ◼️ The importance of remembering job descriptions and company details;  ◼️ Mistakes made by both early career professionals and seasoned veterans;  ◼️ The impact of poor preparation and generic cover letters;  ◼️ The necessity of demonstrating...

Public health job titles and postings are not as standardized as they are in many other fields. Another issue is that many public health organizations use different terms to describe similar roles. So what happens when your search is no longer yielding results? Fortunately, there are simple strategies for finding job opportunities in the public health field beyond the obvious ones. When you’re stu...

There are many places to work in public health. It turns out that Public Health Units (PHUs) are home to a variety of public health professionals, including student placements and internships. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we cover: ◼️ an overview of the role and function of public health units ◼️ similarities and differences when compared to community health centres ◼️ cha...

Community Health Centres (CHCs) are an important part of the larger system as they focus primarily on improving the health and well-being of underserved populations who have traditionally faced barriers accessing health services. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we cover: ◼️ the services that CHCs typically offer ◼️ the diverse range of roles including health promoters, nutrit...

Each year, ASTHO publishes their anticipated top 10 public health policy issues. It is perhaps no surprise that opioids and nicotine products make this list based on the current trends.   In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, their Chief Medical Officer talks about the chronic nature of addiction and the importance of addressing social determinants of health. The conversation also...

State and local government public health agencies lost nearly half of their employees between 2017 and 2021. This and many other factors have contributed to a shortage in the workforce. The confusing part is that more people are graduating with public health training than ever before but only 17% are landing in government jobs after finishing school. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Po...

After initially considering a career in architecture before high-school, Dr. Marcus Plescia went on to pursue a career in medicine and is now the Chief Medical Officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Plescia shares his experience: ◼️ Pursuing a dual degree in medicine and public health; ◼️ Working in th...

Salary negotiations are a normal part of the hiring process. Don’t let it stress you out. This conversation on the Public Health Insight Podcast covers various approaches to negotiating a salary, including exploring the following questions: ◼️ How to determine salary expectations before applying for jobs ◼️ How to account for additional benefits beyond salary in the overall compensation packages ◼...

Job interviewing is one of the most under-practiced skills in the development of public health professionals. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Gordon and Purva discuss tips and tricks for preparing for job interviews. They emphasize:  ◼️ the importance of thoroughly reviewing the job posting; ◼️ aligning your skills and experiences with the requirements; ◼️ the significance of...

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine has moved through various stages since its initial appearance and with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and now with the ongoing conflict with Russia. Now, Ukraine currently ranks second in terms of HIV prevalence in the European region. The access and uptake of preventative and medical services related to HIV remains a challenge for a country that ranked second in HI...

Infectious Disease Doctors are often referred to as medical detectives. Ones who investigate clues from a variety of sources to then put all the pieces together to identify a root cause.  Inspired by interests in her childhood, Dr. Lopatina shares her journey into medicine and her passion for infectious diseases on the Public Health Insight Podcast. She discusses her first experiences working with...

Looking for some guidance and inspiration to pursue consulting or entrepreneurship in public health? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley shares her thoughts on the need for more innovation and adaptability in public health work to address the evolving needs of communities. She talks about serving large non-profit organizations through her consulting c...

Epidemiologists work in many different industries - from non-profits to government and even in private industries like pharmaceuticals, with each experience providing transferable knowledge and skills. What you'll hear in this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast is our conversation with Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley where she shares her motivation for launching one of the first indepe...

Epidemiologists are the eyes and ears of public health but not all careers unfold the same.  What you'll hear in this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast is our conversation with Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley about her discovery of public health and our journey into epidemiology. She discusses her academic pursuits, including her bachelor's degree in liberal arts and her Master&a...

Approximately 115 people die every day in the United States from an opioid overdose, amounting to more than 400,000 deaths in the last two decades alone. The numbers are high, but we must never forget that there's a story behind every single number. Making progress in addressing this crisis requires systems thinking across a multitude of sectors and industries. What you’ll hear in this episod...

There are many stories out there about how the opioid crisis has now become one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Some stories may be more accurate than others, but to get to the truth and truly understand the current opioid crisis, we must go back in time. What you'll hear in this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast is our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Loeffler-...

The opioid crisis is as rampant as any other time in history and a lot of work remains to be done until we can feel the progress being made.  Every so often though, we have the privilege of meeting someone behind the work, someone who's committed a significant portion of their profession and of their lives to creating a world where the opioid epidemic is no more.  What you’ll hear in this epi...

What is the role of organizations, communities, and governments in making people happy and satisfied with their lives? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we conclude our conversation with Dr. Paul Dolan to have a discussion about: ◼️ The underrated power of conversations and challenging social norms.  ◼️ Designing workplaces that fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. ◼️ Gove...

Can we define happiness simply as an algebraic equation with the feeling of happiness on one side and a variety of other variables on the other? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we continue the conversation with Dr. Paul Dolan about the determinants of happiness, why it's so challenging to measure it, the midlife crisis phenomenon, the opportunity costs of attention, expl...

If you could have one thing, anything in the world, What would that be? Would it be money or would it be health, happiness, or some combination?   In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Paul Dolan to try and get to the bottom of all of this. Dr. Dolan is a Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the London School of Economics, with research interests mainly in human...

From getting bogged down in paperwork to saying no to bribes, Dr. Marc-David Munk spills it all on the Public Health Insight Podcast. In this final episode in the three-part series “Urgent Calls From Distant Places,” Dr. Munk highlights the shift in demographics of illness in Africa, stories involving intense emergency situations racing against the clock, the universal language of care, and when i...

How can the U.S. spend more per capita on healthcare than any other high-income country and still report such high levels of patient dissatisfaction?  In the second episode of a three-part series “Urgent Calls From Distant Places,” Dr. Munk discusses his decision to focus on healthcare administration to address the dysfunction, which he categorizes as a moral failure of healthcare. The conversatio...