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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Jennifer Mandelbaum, a healthcare economics consultant at Optum and lecturer at Tufts University. They discuss job search and application tips for public vs. private sectors and what factors to consider if you are thinking about pursuing a postgraduate degree.

You’ll Learn

• How Jennifer found her way into public health
• What personal and professional factors you should consider when thinking about pursuing a postgraduate degree
• Job search tips for those interested in the private sector of public health including how to navigate networking in the digital age
• How applying for jobs changes in the public, private, and academic fields and how to tailor your resume and cover letter for each field
• Job search tips for new graduates and things to start considering even as you are finishing your degree including:
  • Being open minded about potentially not landing your dream job right away
  • Building a mentorship network around you and joining professional organizations
  • Developing transferable skills
• How academic work can differ between institutions and determining where you would fit best
• What a day in the life of a healthcare economics consultant looks like

Today’s Guest

Jennifer Mandelbaum, PhD, MPH is a public health researcher and healthcare economics consultant at Optum whose work focuses on chronic disease prevention and mental health care across the life course. Dr. Mandelbaum has experience working across sectors (e.g., academia, government, industry) to understand and address root causes affecting issues of health care access and equity. In recognition of her efforts to improve chronic disease outcomes, she received the Rising Star Award from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (2022) and the Dr. Rick Foster Leadership Award from Live Healthy South Carolina (2020). She serves as a Governing Councilor for the Public Health Education and Health Promotion (PHEHP) section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) as well as a member of APHA’s Education Board. Cultivating the next generation of public health professionals is important to her, and she is currently a part-time faculty member in Tufts University’s Department of Community Health. Dr. Mandelbaum holds a BA from Brandeis University, an MPH from Yale University, and a PhD from the University of South Carolina.

Resources

• Follow Jennifer on LinkedIn  
• Learn more about Optum 
• Learn more about the American Public Health Association and the Society of Behavioural Medicine 

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