Why Are You Passionate About Public Health?
To understand the driving force behind professionals in the public health sector, we asked five experts, including an epidemiologist and a health educator, why they are passionate about public health. Their responses range from a personal experience fueling disease prevention passion to promoting health and well-being as a source of their passion. Dive into these insights to discover what fuels the passion in public health.
- Fuelling Disease Prevention Passion from Personal Experience
- Combining Positive Impact and Career Variety
- Allowing for a Broader Community Impact
- Rooting from Public Health’s Societal Role
- Promoting Health and Well-being Fuels Passion
Fuelling Disease Prevention Passion from Personal Experience
I grew up in South Sudan, where poor access to medical services was exacerbated by war, internal displacement, overcrowded living conditions, and frequent disease outbreaks.
When I fled the war in South Sudan to Kenya, I lived in yet another overcrowded refugee camp in the remote northeastern Kenya, where medical services were equally poor and disease outbreaks were common. It was this experience that made me believe that disease prevention holds the key to public health—especially in areas where clinical medical services are very poor.
A few years ago, I went back to South Sudan, where I coordinated a community-based health program to prevent onchocerciasis in the rural, almost inaccessible areas.
John Ujwok
Epidemiologist, CDC Foundation
Combining Positive Impact and Career Variety
I am passionate about public health because it is a field that aims to help people on both an individual and societal level. Because of the large scope of this field, there are a lot of different career paths you can take with a background in public health.
My public health specialization is in health promotion and behavioral science. Even within this branch of public health, there are many different ways to help people. You could focus more on the individual level by engaging in health coaching, for example. Or, you could focus on creating public health interventions that target a larger group of individuals.
The rewarding feeling of knowing the positive impact of your work keeps me feeling passionate about the public health field.
Lauren Magdaleno
Health Educator, University of California, Berkeley
Allowing for a Broader Community Impact
As a medical doctor, it’s probably pretty obvious why I am passionate about public health. Mainly, it’s because it allows me to have a broader impact on the well-being of entire communities and populations, rather than just individual patients.
Public health initiatives have the potential to prevent diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, and address health disparities, ultimately leading to a healthier and more equitable society. It’s deeply fulfilling to work on initiatives that can save lives, reduce suffering, and improve the overall quality of life for many people, and this passion is what drives me to dedicate my career to public health.
Dr. Nabil Salib
General Practitioner and CEO, MyDoc Urgent Care
Rooting from Public Health’s Societal Role
I am deeply passionate about public health because it underpins the very foundation of a thriving society and a robust healthcare marketplace. As a healthcare marketplace owner, I recognize that a healthy population is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one. Public health initiatives reduce the burden on the healthcare system, making it more efficient and accessible.
Moreover, I’ve witnessed firsthand how preventive measures, vaccination campaigns, and health education can save lives and improve overall well-being. Public health is a vital driver of innovation in healthcare, pushing us to develop new technologies and treatments. It’s the bedrock of healthcare equity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to essential services.
Ultimately, my passion for public health stems from the belief that a healthier society is a more prosperous and equitable one, and I’m committed to using my platform to advance these principles.
Akshaya Srivatsa
CEO, Carebetter
Promoting Health and Well-being Fuels Passion
I am passionate about public health because I believe in the importance of promoting and protecting the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and populations. Public health encompasses a broad range of disciplines and strategies to prevent disease, promote healthy behaviors, and improve overall quality of life.
From addressing social determinants of health to advocating for policies that prioritize population-level interventions, public health has the power to create lasting and meaningful changes for individuals and society as a whole.
Evan Tunis
President, Florida Healthcare Insurance
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