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CPH 35 — Do It Scared: A Conversation with Dr. Bertha Hidalgo
In this insightful and resonant conversation, Dr. Bertha Hidalgo—epidemiologist, associate dean, president-elect of the American College of Epidemiology, and multi-hyphenate creative—shares what it means to "do it scared."
She talks about building a fashion and lifestyle platform while hiding her identity, navigating academic spaces as a Latina scientist, and learning to step into courage even when her voice shakes. Dr. Hidalgo reflects on becoming a trusted public health communicator during COVID-19, bridging the gap between evidence and community, and redefining what it means to belong in rooms where she has often been the "N of one."
She also names a bold vision for public health—one that reunites science and society—and a personal vision of not losing her joy, creativity, or humanity while doing this work.
Meet Dr. Bertha Hidalgo
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Epidemiology and the Associate Dean for the Office of Access and Engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. She holds degrees from Stanford University, the University of Southern California and UAB.
De. Hidalgo leads research programs in genetic epidemiology and dissemination science. She has a highly productive record of peer-reviewed research in relevant research areas with publications as lead or co-lead author in high-impact journals including Nature, Scientific Reports, Diabetes, American Journal of Public Health, with over 100 publications. She has attained research funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and internal funding from UAB.
Dr. Hidalgo is the past chair of the Minority Affairs committee and President-Elect of the American College of Epidemiology, as well as a long-standing member on the NHLBI Board of External Experts. Dr. Hidalgo is also a recipient of the 2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Early Career Achievement Award.
Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast
Conversation Highlights
- Doing It Scared — Dr. Hidalgo shares how fear has accompanied nearly every major milestone in her career, and how "doing it scared" became both a personal mantra and the title of her upcoming TED-style talk.
- From Fashion Blogger to Science Communicator — She reflects on launching an anonymous fashion and lifestyle Instagram account during her postdoc, the rapid growth that revealed her identity, and the moment she realized she could use that platform to bridge the gap between science and the public.
- Claiming Space as a Latina Epidemiologist — Dr. Hidalgo speaks candidly about navigating academic rooms as an "N of one," the insecurity that can come with not seeing yourself represented, and learning to value the power her identity brings to those spaces.
- Public Health at a Crossroads — She offers a clear-eyed assessment of the current moment—deep political polarization, eroding trust in evidence, and a widening gap between academic science and the public—and calls for a rebuilding rooted in collaboration, communication, and community.
- A Vision for Wholeness — Dr. Hidalgo shares her hope for a future where she doesn't lose her joy, creativity, or multi-passionate identity while advancing public health—and where the field itself can evolve without collapsing first.
"When you can't find confidence, step into courage." — Dr. Bertha Hidalgo
Stay In Touch:
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertha-hidalgo-phd-mph-face-12540131/
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.berthahidalgo/
Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/
www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
**Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!**
Public Health Consulting To Support You
We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design workshops and facilitated sessions that help women leaders recognize, strengthen, and intentionally use courage as a leadership skill — especially in times of uncertainty, burnout, and systems under strain.
If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn or on our website!
View all episodes
By Kristi McClamrochIn this insightful and resonant conversation, Dr. Bertha Hidalgo—epidemiologist, associate dean, president-elect of the American College of Epidemiology, and multi-hyphenate creative—shares what it means to "do it scared."
She talks about building a fashion and lifestyle platform while hiding her identity, navigating academic spaces as a Latina scientist, and learning to step into courage even when her voice shakes. Dr. Hidalgo reflects on becoming a trusted public health communicator during COVID-19, bridging the gap between evidence and community, and redefining what it means to belong in rooms where she has often been the "N of one."
She also names a bold vision for public health—one that reunites science and society—and a personal vision of not losing her joy, creativity, or humanity while doing this work.
Meet Dr. Bertha Hidalgo
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Epidemiology and the Associate Dean for the Office of Access and Engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. She holds degrees from Stanford University, the University of Southern California and UAB.
De. Hidalgo leads research programs in genetic epidemiology and dissemination science. She has a highly productive record of peer-reviewed research in relevant research areas with publications as lead or co-lead author in high-impact journals including Nature, Scientific Reports, Diabetes, American Journal of Public Health, with over 100 publications. She has attained research funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and internal funding from UAB.
Dr. Hidalgo is the past chair of the Minority Affairs committee and President-Elect of the American College of Epidemiology, as well as a long-standing member on the NHLBI Board of External Experts. Dr. Hidalgo is also a recipient of the 2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Early Career Achievement Award.
Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast
Conversation Highlights
- Doing It Scared — Dr. Hidalgo shares how fear has accompanied nearly every major milestone in her career, and how "doing it scared" became both a personal mantra and the title of her upcoming TED-style talk.
- From Fashion Blogger to Science Communicator — She reflects on launching an anonymous fashion and lifestyle Instagram account during her postdoc, the rapid growth that revealed her identity, and the moment she realized she could use that platform to bridge the gap between science and the public.
- Claiming Space as a Latina Epidemiologist — Dr. Hidalgo speaks candidly about navigating academic rooms as an "N of one," the insecurity that can come with not seeing yourself represented, and learning to value the power her identity brings to those spaces.
- Public Health at a Crossroads — She offers a clear-eyed assessment of the current moment—deep political polarization, eroding trust in evidence, and a widening gap between academic science and the public—and calls for a rebuilding rooted in collaboration, communication, and community.
- A Vision for Wholeness — Dr. Hidalgo shares her hope for a future where she doesn't lose her joy, creativity, or multi-passionate identity while advancing public health—and where the field itself can evolve without collapsing first.
"When you can't find confidence, step into courage." — Dr. Bertha Hidalgo
Stay In Touch:
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertha-hidalgo-phd-mph-face-12540131/
Dr. Bertha Hidalgo on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.berthahidalgo/
Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/
www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
**Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!**
Public Health Consulting To Support You
We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design workshops and facilitated sessions that help women leaders recognize, strengthen, and intentionally use courage as a leadership skill — especially in times of uncertainty, burnout, and systems under strain.
If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn or on our website!