By Dr. Joyee Washington
4.8
1313 ratings
The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.
Across America, there are persistent health inequities that impact communities in ways you might not expect. Joining us to discuss health equity in action is leading health equity champion, Dr. Jovonni Spinner.
In this conversation, you’ll hear all about our guest’s phenomenal career, what made her want to get into public health, why she loves working on improving health equity, and more! We delve into the importance of recognizing a community’s value and lived experience above your own textbook knowledge before touching on how acknowledging your privilege can help you take health equity action.
We also discuss why regular health checkups are imperative, how the wealth gap plays into health equity, and why real change will only come when someone wealthy is affected by the problematic system. Finally, Dr. Spinner tells us what brings her joy in her work. To hear all this and be reminded to speak abundance into your life, tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
An overview of Dr. Jovonni Spinner’s incredible career journey. [01:52]
What inspired her to get into public health and her focus on health equity. [07:06]
The benefits of recognizing the value of communities and their lived experiences. [15:02]
Why we need to acknowledge our privilege and use it to benefit our communities. [23:04]
Submitting and reviewing proposals and how to maneuver around these systems. [25:36]
The importance of getting regular health checkups in order to catch chronic diseases. [29:44]
Why we will only see health equity change when the wealthy are negatively affected. [32:43]
How the wealth gap impacts health equity in America and how we can change that. [34:14]
Speaking abundance into her life and what brings Dr. Spinner joy in her work. [37:00]
Are we truly addressing the root causes of public health challenges, or are we merely reacting to the symptoms? How can we shift our approach to create lasting, impactful change? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dorothy Cilenti, Founder and CEO of Health Ascent Associates, LLC, and a seasoned public health professional with over 20 years of experience in local and state health agencies in North Carolina.
Dr. Cilenti brings a wealth of knowledge from her work in improving public health systems, particularly in maternal and child health. In our conversation, we delve into shifting focus from addressing individual health issues to tackling the systemic and policy-level factors that influence health outcomes.
We unpack the importance of understanding the “Why” behind the health outcomes and current public health trends. Discover the challenges of balancing individual autonomy and community health and the various hurdles of addressing system-level problems in public health. Gain insights into the concept of a collective impact approach, why meaningful partnerships are vital, how organizations can strengthen their capacity in public health, and more.
Key Points From This Episode:
Introduction to and Background of Dr. Dorothy Cilenti. [0:56]
Dr. Cilenti’s experience with public health and social work. [2:36]
Why current public health challenges require system-level changes. [5:07]
Differences between upstream and downstream approaches to public health. [6:40]
Public health hurdles to overcome when addressing upstream problems. [15:09]
Learn why fostering meaningful partnerships with communities is essential. [19:06]
Strategies for building organizational capacity to effectively solve problems. [24:03]
The role of community engagement and mutual learning in finding solutions. [29:52]
What Dr. Cilenti enjoys most about her work and how to contact her directly. [32:04]
When we realize that democracy truly places power in the hands of the, so many people’s lives will change. Today Garrison McMurtrey joins us to discuss politics, policies, and politicians. He is currently the District Director for the office of US Congresswoman, Angie Craig.
Garrison has had an extensive career from working on the Public Affairs team at Target, to being an Outreach Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar, and now he is a candidate for Ramsey County Commissioner in Minnesota. Dr. Washington wanted to have Garrison on the podcast because public health and politics are closely related and in this episode, you will hear how.
We discuss Garrison’s lifelong interest in politics, what led him to run for Commissioner, and how Obama inspired him. We delve into how he defines politics, policies, and politicians before he shares how they are all related and how they affect public health.
We even discuss the importance of being intentional about where you get your information from and the risks of social media as a source of education. Finally, Garrison tells us what brings him joy in his work and reminds us to use our voices and vote
Introducing Garrison McMurtrey and how he and Dr. Washington know each other. [1:18]
How Garrison got into politics and how Obama inspired him to become a politician. [3:52]
Why Dr. Washington wanted to have Garrison on the show today. [5:54]
How he defines politics, policies, and politicians and how they impact public health. [9:16]
Why voting is so powerful and the importance and impact of local elections. [17:54]
Some of the ways that researchers and politicians are alike. [25:11]
The importance of intentionality, particularly in where you get your information from. [27:44]
Lastly, Garrison tells us what brings him joy in his work. [34:02]
Are you ready to tackle your finances with confidence and clarity? In today’s episode, Dr. Jennifer Edwards, a seasoned Financial & Retirement Consultant at Savvy Financial Wellness, joins us to demystify the path to financial stability. Dr. Edwards, a fourth-generation business owner and third-generation financial professional, specializes in helping energetic working women and moms design a flexible and funded retirement. With her experience managing multi-million dollar grants in public health, she offers valuable insights into balancing financial planning with a demanding career. In our conversation, we dive into the essential strategies for effective retirement planning, from understanding employer benefits, like 401(k) matches, to making your money work harder with smart investments. Dr. Edwards offers insights on developing a personalized financial strategy, addressing common mistakes, and planning for life’s unexpected events. She also sheds light on managing your finances as a public health professional and emphasizes the importance of starting small but staying consistent. Tune in for actionable tips on achieving financial stability and growth while positively impacting public health!
Key Points From This Episode:
How Dr. Edwards helps women and moms plan flexible, funded retirements. [0:56]
What prevents public health entrepreneurs from planning for their financial future. [05:16]
The importance of preparing for retirement as a public health entrepreneur. [09:03]
Unpacking wealth as one of the key social determinants of health. [12:09]
Why you need to consider health insurance options before becoming an entrepreneur. [17:05]
Common misconceptions and mistakes people make around health insurance. [21:14]
Effective strategies for managing employer benefits like 401(k) matches. [22:15]
Why you don’t need a lot of money to start saving (and why you should start now). [24:25]
How to improve financial literacy among communities. [29:21]
What it was like for Dr. Edwards growing up in a family of financial professionals. [31:30]
Dr. Edward’s reflections on what brings her joy in her work. [33:57]
Find out how you can get in touch with Dr. Edwards. [33:52]
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/
In this episode of the Public Health Joy podcast, host Dr. Joyee Washington shares how her first international trip to Mexico gave her a new perspective on abundance
Witnessing the beauty and abundance of Mexico made Dr. Joyee realize that public health is often too focused on problems and deficits, rather than the strengths and joy
Dr. Joyee's goal is to shift the public health industry to be more positive, joyful, and focused on the abundance all around us. She is committed to continuing to seek and share this abundance in her own work, and to inspire others to do the same.
Key Points:
Links mentioned:
Get your official Public Health Joy Gear at www.joyeewashington.com/shop
Public health and epidemiology are constantly changing, albeit slowly. One thing that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later is the importance of research, the need to reexamine what it is, and how we approach it in this modern world.
Today, we are joined by Mary Carney, a consultant specializing in research, data analysis, and communications services to help non-profits achieve their goals. We begin with how Dr. Joyee and Mary met as members of WE Public Health, a women’s leadership platform that partners with people and organizations who are unflinching in their commitment to equity and ready to take courageous action, with a little help. We go on to explore the power of collaboration, the need to redefine what research means to us, the importance of relationship-building, and how to find order in the chaotic mess that is research.
To end, we highlight the strengths of consultants and their willingness to think deeper and complete tedious tasks that others would rather avoid, and Mary explains why people are at the center of her joy in the workplace.
How Dr. Joyee met today’s guest through WE Public Health. [01:17]
Mary’s professional journey and how it led her to WE Public Health. [02:32]
The power of collaboration and working together toward a single goal. [04:02]
Rethinking research and why we need to start with the very definition of “research.” [06:59]
How Mary's different approach to research manifests in her work. [08:08]
Redefining the goals of research and academic research in particular. [10:13]
Why relationship-building is a vital yet often overlooked aspect of research. [13:03]
Reasons that research is inherently chaotic and how to find order in the mess. [15:05]
The value of a repetitive process of slowing down to reassess the best route forward. [19:30]
Logical thinking, deep research, and navigating complex issues and tedious tasks. [23:28]
How organizing and translating data into actionable steps is a learnable skill. [28:11]
All the things that bring Mary joy in her work! [32:06]
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/
Your vote might not bring immediate change, but it is crucial as it contributes to the possibility of a better future. Joining us in conversation today is Dr. Jeanine Abrams-McLean, the President of Fair Count, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a goal of building continued civic participation and ensuring that every person in Georgia and America is counted in a fair and accurate census.
Jeanine details the work being done at Fair Count and what her role entails before deeply examining the complicated relationship between democracy, civic engagement, and public health. We learn about the importance of improving digital equity, why it’s important to vote, even if you don’t know who to vote for, the history of voting in America and where it stands today, and how voting clears the path for potential game-changing opportunities. As ever, we end with the aspects of her work that bring Jeanine the most joy!
Key Points From This Episode:
Welcoming Dr. Jeanine Abrams-McLean as she explains her role at Fair Count. [02:43]
Unpacking the relationship between democracy, civic engagement, and public health. [06:08]
The importance of improving digital equity in public health communities. [14:16]
Jeanine’s advice for apprehensive and apathetic voters ahead of the 2024 election. [16:21]
How voting presents opportunities for change. [19:50]
Learning about all the things that bring joy to Dr. McLean in her work. [29:26]
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/
Data is the foundation on which public health is built. Without data, there is no public health. As such, it becomes the responsibility of all those interested in public health to ensure – like all other public health aspects – that data is approached from a place of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
On today’s show, we welcome the Founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant of Chilombo Consulting, Vanessa Da Costa, who is here to speak on the importance of data equity from her experience running a human and data equity consulting company.
We discover how Vanessa found her feet in public health and why she chose to focus on analytics before discussing the value of adopting quantitative and qualitative strategy methods. Then, we address the problematic power dynamics by exploring how to approach data from an equity mindset, what we can learn from the CDC’s Five Principles of Data Equity, why data transparency should be non-negotiable, and how to improve data literacy in public health professionals and their community members.
To end, Vanessa Da Costa shares some smart advice for moving the data equity needle forward, and she recalls the uplifting work moments that have brought her the most joy.
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing Vanessa Da Costa and the work she does with Dr. Joyee at WE Public Health. [00:57]
How Vanessa began working in public health, and why she chose to focus on the numbers. [04:05]
Quantitative and qualitative: the value of adopting a mixed-methods strategy. [06:31]
Addressing the power dynamic: how to approach data from an equity mindset. [10:59]
Vanessa's thoughts on the CDC's Five Principles of Data Equity. [13:40]
The importance of data transparency. [20:54]
How to improve data literacy in public health professionals and community members. [27:46]
Exploring what it would take to move the data equity needle forward. [34:33]
Learning about all the work things that Vanessa finds joy in. [36:48]
Let's be real, it's a struggle being a Black professional in the public health workforce, am I right? We've been resilient our whole lives, what we need is rest, periodt!
It is no secret that historically marginalized Americans face obstacles in many areas of society, especially in the workforce. However, our experience, culture, and heritage as Black professionals continue to build strength and character by utilizing the lessons we have learned to share with others. We can channel difficult setbacks to assist us in not only making a mark for ourselves in the professional world, but also creating systems that will allow us to pause, breathe, and rest.
Joining us on the podcast today is Nicole D. Vick, a public health expert, educator, civic leader, and author who has spent over 20 years providing tools and strategies to improve health and prevent disease in some of Los Angeles County's most underserved communities. Nicole has authored two books and contributed chapters to two anthologies. She also hosts a weekly podcast that discusses critical issues in the Black community from a public health and social justice perspective.
In today's episode of The Public Health Joy Podcast, Nicole shares her insights on the experience of being a Black professional in the public health workforce, why she didn’t do her doctorate in public health, and why you can bring the public health lens to any space and it proves relevant. We discuss the basic foundation on which public health was established, the impact of our lived experiences, and the importance of community. To hear more about operating in the disconnect and making success for yourself, be sure to start listening now! Enjoy.
An introduction to our guest on today’s episode. Nicole D. Vick; public health expert, educator, civic leader, and author. [0:01:00]
Resonating and relating to the same struggles in the Black public health workforce. [0:02:00]
Nicole gives us the tea about who she is, what she does, and what she’s got going on. [0:03:00]
Why Nicole didn’t do her doctorate in public health. [0:04:20]
Bringing the public health lens to any space, and making it relevant. [0:06:20]
We delve into a discussion about the foundation of public health. [0:07:00]
Bringing with you, your lived experiences. [0:11:50]
Nicole unpacks how she became interested in the workforce. [0:17:20]
The importance of community. [0:20:55]
Operating in the disconnect. [0:22:10]
Making success for yourself. [0:24:25]
Theory versus practice: why a textbook won’t teach you everything you need to know. [0:28:30]
Finding the joy in the trenches. [0:33:00]
Where to find out more about Nicole D. Vick. [0:34:15]
Public health researchers and professionals often adopt a top-down approach that assumes that education, resources, or "expert" assistance can empower communities. The truth is communities already have all the power they need. True empowerment requires collaboration to jointly increase control over the factors affecting the lives and well-being of community members.
To discuss shifting power dynamics and rethinking who holds power in our communities, we are joined by Chinonye "Chi Chi" Egbulem, a seasoned social impact consultant and public health social worker with over a decade of experience. Combining her love for art, politics, and social justice, Chi Chi is committed to advancing equity in communities by designing and implementing effective policies and programs.
Drawing from her extensive work in youth development, community health, and economic development in low and middle-income areas, Chi Chi shares her insights on the pitfalls of traditional empowerment approaches. She also highlights the importance of leveraging our knowledge and privilege to drive meaningful change, the role of mindfulness-based tools in addressing trauma, and much more!
For a fresh perspective on empowerment and the collaborative effort required to foster genuine community development, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/
The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.
87 Listeners