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Building Healthier Communities: Stephen’s Vision for Stoke-on-Trent
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In this insightful episode of Public Health Spotlights, host River Simmons sits down with Stephen Gunther, the Director of Public Health at Stoke-On-Trent. Stephen shares his fascinating career journey from his early interest in nutrition to holding leadership roles at local, regional, and European levels. He opens up about the personal experiences that acted as motivation in his journey into public health, including family tragedies and the loss of loved ones, and how those events inspired him to make a difference in the lives of others.
Stephen discusses his unique portfolio, which includes not just public health, but also leisure, wellbeing, trading standards, bereavement care, and community development. He explains the importance of diplomacy, community listening, and collaboration, both from his European Commission experience and his local government work.
The conversation dives into Stoke’s big challenges, like mental wellbeing, addiction, and high infant mortality rates, and shares how programs like Family Matters are making a measurable difference by prioritising listening to and connecting with local communities and putting the community at the forefront of everything they do. Stephen also talks about the recent recognition of his team’s work in increasing MMR vaccination rates and the strategies that led to their success.
Wrapping up, he offers practical advice for aspiring public health directors: broaden your experience, stay adaptable, and always engage directly with the community. If you want to understand the evolving landscape of public health, the importance of listening to your communities, and what it takes to lead meaningful change at the local government level, this episode is a must-watch!
Thank you for tuning in to Public Health Spotlight: A Panoramic Associates Podcast. For more expert discussions on public health, be sure to subscribe. Visit our website at panoramicassociates.co.uk to learn more about our work in the public health sector. This podcast is produced in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Public Health.
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By Panoramic AssociatesSend us a text
In this insightful episode of Public Health Spotlights, host River Simmons sits down with Stephen Gunther, the Director of Public Health at Stoke-On-Trent. Stephen shares his fascinating career journey from his early interest in nutrition to holding leadership roles at local, regional, and European levels. He opens up about the personal experiences that acted as motivation in his journey into public health, including family tragedies and the loss of loved ones, and how those events inspired him to make a difference in the lives of others.
Stephen discusses his unique portfolio, which includes not just public health, but also leisure, wellbeing, trading standards, bereavement care, and community development. He explains the importance of diplomacy, community listening, and collaboration, both from his European Commission experience and his local government work.
The conversation dives into Stoke’s big challenges, like mental wellbeing, addiction, and high infant mortality rates, and shares how programs like Family Matters are making a measurable difference by prioritising listening to and connecting with local communities and putting the community at the forefront of everything they do. Stephen also talks about the recent recognition of his team’s work in increasing MMR vaccination rates and the strategies that led to their success.
Wrapping up, he offers practical advice for aspiring public health directors: broaden your experience, stay adaptable, and always engage directly with the community. If you want to understand the evolving landscape of public health, the importance of listening to your communities, and what it takes to lead meaningful change at the local government level, this episode is a must-watch!
Thank you for tuning in to Public Health Spotlight: A Panoramic Associates Podcast. For more expert discussions on public health, be sure to subscribe. Visit our website at panoramicassociates.co.uk to learn more about our work in the public health sector. This podcast is produced in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Public Health.