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 Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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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 knowledge about the organization; 
◼️ Professionalism during virtual interviews, including appropriate settings and minimizing distractions; 
◼️ Effective interview strategies, including clear communication and handling unexpected questions; 
◼️ The significance of post-interview conduct. 

Tune in for practical tips to avoid jeopardizing your chances of landing a job.

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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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 stuck, try generating specific and general job titles to search for with this formula which includes the prefix (topic) and suffix (functional duty).

Once you have your job search terms, using a Boolean search strategy can help you to combine different job titles and keywords to yield more specific results. 

Find out more in this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast.

References

◼️ LinkedIn Post: One way to find jobs when you're stuck...

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®

◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.

Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

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

◼️ challenges of the PHU structure

◼️ importance of program evaluation

◼️ required skills and competences

References

◼️ LinkedIn Post: List of organizations that hire public health professionals in Canada

◼️ List of Public Health Job Titles and Careers

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®

◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MSc

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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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, nutritionists, social workers, and more 

◼️ practical advice for professionals on how to make their international experience relevant to these roles in the Canadian job markets.

◼️ transferable core skills and competencies that fit the roles at a CHC

References

◼️ Jobs you can get as a public health professional in Community Health Centres (CHCs)
◼️60+ Organizations That Hire Public Health Professionals:

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MSc

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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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 delves into the successes and challenges in tobacco control, particularly the rise of e-cigarettes. Dr. Plescia emphasizes the need for effective policy interventions, changing social norms, and the role of young public health professionals in reducing health disparities.

Guest

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

References

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH Profile on UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
◼️ ASTHO Unveils Top 10 State Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2024
◼️ 2023 Environmental Scan of Current and Emerging Public Health Priorities

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

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Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

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 Podcast, Dr. Marcus Plescia of ASTHO joins us to help us make sense of this all and to share various solutions that are being explored by states and territories. 

Guest

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

References

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH Profile on UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
◼️ ASTHO Unveils Top 10 State Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2024
◼️ Strengthening the Public Health Workforce: Streamlining Government Processes and Dedicated Sustainable Funding
◼️ 2023 Environmental Scan of Current and Emerging Public Health Priorities

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.

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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 the Bronx during the HIV epidemic;
◼️ Shifting to focus on non-communicable diseases;
◼️ Providing leadership to health departments and entire agencies;
◼️ Maintaining a good work-life balance despite all the commitments 

Guest

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

References

◼️ Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH Profile on UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
◼️ ASTHO Unveils Top 10 State Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2024
◼️ 2023 Environmental Scan of Current and Emerging Public Health Priorities

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.

Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

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
◼️ How to justify the amount you’re asking for
◼️ How to stay calm with excitement and when you feel under pressure to accept the first offer

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MSc

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.

Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.

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 developing a professional brand;  
◼️ strategically showcasing your strengths during the interview;
◼️ how to project confidence and handle nerves; 
◼️ answering questions effectively;
◼️ analyzing the job posting to clearly understand the role
◼️ relating your responses to the specific job requirements
◼️ asking thoughtful questions that show your interest and knowledge. 
◼️ timing and content of thank you emails.

Hosts & Producers

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
◼️ Purva Mehta, BMSc, MSc

Production Notes

◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here.

Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.