The Public Health SPOTlight Podcast: stories, inspiration, and guidance to build your dream public health career
Sujani Sivanantharajah from PHSPOT.org sits down with public health heroes of our time to share career stories, inspiration, and guidance for building public health careers. From time to time, she also has conversations with friends of public health - individuals who are not public health professionals, but their advice and guidance are equally important. The emotions, energy, and passion that comes from these stories act as a reminder that this space we’ve created for the public health community is a space that you can lean on as you navigate your career. We believe that to build a successful career in public health does not mean that it has to live up to a certain level of standard set out by somebody else...or that we need to burn ourselves out in the process. We believe that you can craft a career perfect for you, and your unique life. The message we hope to get across through these conversations is that building a career is not only about climbing up the ranks, but about crafting a life that you want, around your unique needs, and one that gives importance to your mental health, wellbeing, and building relationships and friendships: you can only do good in the world if you take care of yourself. Through PH SPOTlight, you will connect with peers you have never met before, and build relationships in a deep and meaningful way. What you will hear the most, from every single person is also passion. Passion to do good. Passion to advance human health and the human race. And a passion to share back with the public health community.
Episodes
163 episodes
Grassroots to global, the evolution of a Public Health professional, with Glenn Laverack
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Glenn Laverack, a seasoned public health professional whose career has spanned continents and been shaped by his diverse experiences. His early years engaged with grassroots initiatives laid the foundation...
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Episode 163
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47:15
Crafting a career in Public Health: tales of serendipity and success, with Christie VanHorne
This week, our guest Christie VanHorne shares her career trajectory into public health from a background in history and involvement in humanitarian efforts. From working as a health educator to creating her own public health consulting bu...
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Episode 162
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57:34
Trust yourself to dream big, with former refugee & global health advocate Yasir Essar, MSc
In our latest podcast episode, we delve into a story of transition, courage, and the unwavering human spirit as our guest, Yasir Essar, swapped his dentistry scrubs for a career in public health amid the chaotic backdrop of a global pandemic an...
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Episode 161
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44:00
Tackling your fears head-on: why I started the podcast
In this episode, Sujani delves into her personal struggles with speaking in public and how it affected her career in public health. She reflects on her initial reluctance to speak in various settings and her journey of self-improvement through ...
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Episode 160
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9:20
From Microbiologist to Epidemiologist & supporting Public Health Entrepreneurs, with Dr. Charlotte Huntley, PhD, MPH
Today's episode features Dr. Charlotte Huntley, a public health entrepreneur and leader. We peel back the layers of her dynamic journey from a liberal arts and microbiology background to an influential career in epidemiology and entrepreneurshi...
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Episode 159
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41:03
Try the Career Club for free!
Welcome to the Public Health Career Club. From sitting down with accomplished public health professionals who will spill the beans on making the most of your degree, to personalized career advice during our office hours – it's all happening her...
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Episode 158
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11:13
Networking is everywhere, with Sujani
This week Sujani unveils the transformative power of weaving relationship-building into the very fabric of your daily life. From striking up a conversation with a colleague to reaching out to a professional you admire online, I'll demonstr...
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Episode 157
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12:48
Threading the pearls of your necklace: how every experience builds your public health career, with Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MPH
Have you ever found yourself at a career crossroads, contemplating a leap into uncharted territory? Join us as we navigate the captivating realm of public health careers with Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan. She shares her remarkable shift from engineering ...
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Episode 156
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42:47
How to use the right key terms in your public health job application, with Zoila Reyna
Unlock the code to public health job success with Zoila Reina of Public Health Hired, who graces our podcast with expert tips on mastering the language of the sector. If you've ever felt lost in a sea of job applications, Zoila's creation, the ...
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Episode 155
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22:21
Create the life you want, with Angeza Mohammed
Our guest this week, Angeza Mohammed, is a testament to the power of aligning one's passions with their profession. Follow her strategic yet dynamic career path and learn how mentally and physically envisioning her ideal life, strategic network...
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Episode 154
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39:53
How much can I get paid in public health?, with Sujani
In this episode, we lift the veil on public health salaries and discover how transparency in salary discussions can pave the way for more informed career decisions in public health. Sujani walks us through her own career, from initial s...
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Episode 153
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21:45
Public health consultants & entrepreneurs: Understanding the landscape, with Leah Roman and Vinu Illakkuvan
Today, unlock a world of innovation at the crossroads of entrepreneurship and public health consulting with Leah Roman and Vinu Ilakkuvan. They bring to light the motivations behind a groundbreaking survey on self-employed public health profess...
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Episode 152
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48:05
Why you need a personal brand, with Richa Bansal
Imagine catapulting your career to new heights by harnessing the transformative power of personal branding. That’s exactly what we're unpacking today with leadership coach Richa Bansal, whose insights into professional presence are nothing shor...
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33:53
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW) and how to become one, with Tasha Whitaker
Embark on a transformative journey with Tasha Whitaker, a seasoned Community Health Worker whose heart beats for public health education and advocacy. From her initial dreams of trauma nursing to becoming a beacon of hope and change within her ...
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Episode 150
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44:25
Land a job. Grow your network. Create your career path.
In this episode, Sujani discusses the launch of the Public Health Career Club, a membership-based community dedicated to empowering public health professionals. The Career Club, which opened its doors in October 2022, has quickly become a...
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Episode 149
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20:33
Where do I find public health jobs?
In this episode, Sujani breaks down the different places you can look for public health jobs. She breaks down the following four categories with specific places (20 in total) to look for opportunities:Generic Job Search Engi...
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Episode 148
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34:45
Can your strengths change?
Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and noticed something new? That's what happened to Sujani when she revisited the Gallup Clifton Strengths Finder Test 10 years later. Years of nurturing a public...
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Episode 147
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14:44
Reflecting on a year of growth and looking ahead to 2024
Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of public health, Sujani reflects on the past year's growth and anticipates the exciting new horizons that await in 2024. This episode is a celebration of the milestones achieved and a teaser of the novel ...
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Episode 146
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21:07
Five reminders when applying for public health jobs, with Sujani
In this episode, Sujani shares 5 reminders for anyone applying for jobs, especially during this period of economic uncertainty.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:The five reminders when applying to jobs:Net...
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Episode 145
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11:04
Find a problem and solve it, with Dr. Peter Singer, Former Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and cofounder of Grand Challenges & UofT Joint Centre for Bioethics
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Peter Singer, the Former Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and cofounder of Grand Challenges & UofT Joint Centre for Bioethics. They walk through Peter’s careers as a professor, co...
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Episode 144
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46:41
Using life circumstances to guide your public health journey, with McKenzie Schrank
In this episode, Sujani sits down with McKenzie Schrank to discuss how her experience with leishmaniasis influenced her path, incorporating personal interests into public health and vice versa, and using every little experience to shape your jo...
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Episode 143
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49:41
Understanding personal finances when planning your career, with Darla Bishop
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Darla Bishop to talk money in relation to public health. They discuss how Darla’s relationship with money contributed to her education and career path, reshaping perspectives and tools to help manage perso...
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Episode 142
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55:46
From Ebola outbreak response in Sierra Leone to public health research and driving innovation, with Asad Naveed
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Asad Naveed to talk about his work with the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, using social media as a platform for health education and mentorship, and providing guidance for those getting started in pub...
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Episode 141
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44:04
Public health entrepreneurship: an honest conversation about the journey, with Quisha Umemba, MPH, BSN, RN, CDCES, CHWI
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Quisha Umemba, the CEO of Umemba Health. They discuss what Umemba Health is and its mission to improve the public health workforce, Quisha’s experience with consulting work and creating her own company, an...
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Episode 140
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47:01
Why study public health?, with Dr. Jan Carney, MD, MPH, MACP
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Jan Carney, the Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. They discuss Jan’s reflections of the relationship between public health and h...
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Episode 139
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42:24