Public Health SPOTlight Podcast

Hosted by PH SPOT

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176

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Sujani Sivanantharajah, the founder of PHSPOT.org sits down with public health heroes of our time to share career stories, inspiration, and guidance for building public health careers. The message she hopes to share 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.

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60 recent

November 9, 20261 hr 5 min

Should I Get a DrPH?: Three Professionals Share Their Paths

Is a Doctor of Public Health the right move for you? In this panel replay from the PH SPOT community, three public health professionals with a DrPH, each at least two years into their careers since graduating, share what the degree is really like and what it did for them. None of them took a straight path. One started in pre-med, one was a registered nurse, and one came from law school. Two began in a PhD program before switching to the DrPH when they realized they wanted their work to live in the real world, not just in a dissertation. In this episode: Three very different paths into public health How they decided between a PhD and a DrPH The skills from the program that have mattered most in their careers How public health roles are expanding into hospitals, health systems, and unexpected industries Honest advice if you’re on the fence about pursuing a doctorate Moderator: Meghan Haffey, DrPH, MPH: PH SPOT Mentor and Associate, Scientific and Medical Research at Knowesis Inc. Meet the panelists: Alva O. Ferdinand, DrPH, JD: Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and Director of the Southwest Rural Health Research Center. Kayla Fair, DrPH, MPH, RN: Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health and College of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, with 15+ years across clinical, community, and academic settings. Daniela Aghadjanian, DrPH, MPH, CLSSGB: Senior Manager at Kaiser Permanente, with 12+ years of experience in public health, including leading Children’s Medical Services in Fresno County. Join PH SPOT Plus, our membership community: phspot.org/club Subscribe to the newsletter: phspot.org/signup

June 2, 202621 min

The Career You Planned vs. The Career You're Actually Building

Most of us didn't end up exactly where we thought we would when we first stepped into public health. And if you've ever felt quietly guilty about that — like you've somehow veered off the path you were supposed to be on — this episode is for you. Sujani gets personal in this one. She shares how she went from planning to be a dentist to stumbling into public health through an elective course and a John Donne poem that stopped her in her tracks. She talks about landing her dream job — and then building PH SPOT on the side because she couldn't ignore a problem she kept seeing. And she reflects on what it's meant to become a mother twice over, go on leave, and ask hard questions about what the next chapter of her career actually looks like. The through line? None of it was the plan. And all of it was exactly right. This episode is part of PH SPOT's 2026 theme — The Future-Ready Public Health Professional — and kicks off our Q1 focus on adaptability, transferable skills, and navigating a career that doesn't always go in a straight line. In this episode: Why Sujani's original plan had nothing to do with public health The moment a John Donne poem changed everything How PH SPOT was born from a mentoring problem Why non-linear careers aren't a detour — they ARE the path Three things every public health professional needs to remember when they feel off-track A 5-minute reflection exercise to help you see how far you've actually come 🔗 Join PH SPOT+ : phspot.org/club🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter: phspot.org/signup

May 19, 20261 hr 51 min

Adapting to the Future of Work - Panel Discussion

The public health workforce is evolving faster than ever — and careers in this field no longer follow a straight line. In this episode, we're sharing a special replay of our Q1 PH SPOT+ member panel, where three public health professionals joined moderator Meghan Haffey for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to adapt to the future of work. This panel is part of PH SPOT's 2026 programming theme — The Future-Ready Public Health Professional — and kicks off our Q1 focus on workforce trends, transferable skills, and navigating a field that's changing in real time. The conversation covers what excites these professionals most about the future of public health, the biggest shifts they're seeing in the workforce right now, how they've personally navigated adaptability in their own careers, and what early and mid-career professionals should start doing differently today to future-proof their careers. Meet the panelists: Meghan Haffey , DrPH, MPH — Moderator, PH SPOT Mentor, Associate for Scientific and Medical Research at Knowesis Inc. Marybec Griffin , PhD, MPH — Assistant Professor & MPH Program Director, Fairfield University Nour Sharara , MPH — Strategy & Partnerships, Field Intelligence Inc. Keshini Saggar , BDS, MBA, MPH — Communications & Project Lead, Harvard Medical School; Head of Marketing & Community Relations, Nucona Research In this episode: Why public health is becoming more interdisciplinary — and what that means for your career How transferable skills open doors you never expected What adaptability actually looks like in practice (beyond the buzzword) The role of curiosity, relationship-building, and showing up online in building a future-ready career Areas of public health that are ripe for innovation and change 🔗 Join PH SPOT+: phspot.org/club 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter: phspot.org/signup

May 11, 202616 min

We're Back — Life Updates, Lessons, and What We're Up to in 2026

Sujani is back at the mic after almost a year away — and in this episode, she's keeping it real. She shares what the past year actually looked like: a new role, a second baby, solo parenting stretches, sleep deprivation, and the hard decision to pause the podcast rather than do it poorly. She also reflects on why rest is not the same as giving up — and why she thinks you need to hear that too. Then, Sujani looks ahead. She introduces PH SPOT's 2026 theme — the Future-Ready Public Health Professional — and walks through the four quarterly themes shaping this year's content and programming: adapting to the future of work, becoming a digital public health professional, building a portfolio career, and sustaining long-term impact. Whether you've been here since the beginning or this is your very first episode, this is a great place to start. In this episode: Why Sujani stepped away — and what made her ready to come back A shoutout to the PH SPOT team who kept things going A listener story that reminded the team why this work matters PH SPOT's 2026 theme: The Future-Ready Public Health Professional A breakdown of the four quarterly themes and what's planned How to join PH SPOT Plus (formerly the Public Health Career Club) 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter: phspot.org/signup 🔗 Join PH SPOT Plus: phspot.org/club

May 20, 202554 min

REPLAY: Public health leadership in action, with Anjum Sultana

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! Last week I talked about " Leadership Skills Every Public Health Professional Should Develop " and mentioned two episodes from 2020 where I sat down with two amazing guests to discuss leadership. This week, I wanted to make sure you had a chance to listen to the second one of these episodes - with Anjum Sultana. -------- In this episode, Sujani sits down with Anjum Sultana. Anjum is someone Sujani has known for a number of years and has interacted with via phone calls and messaging/email, but this was the first time they both "saw" each other (virtually), so it was a special conversation. Anjum’s advocacy and leadership work is also something that Sujani has been inspired by over the years. The conversation with Anjum is not only jam-packed with inspiration and motivation to be a leader in public health but also weaves tangible first steps for all of us to take. Public health needs many strong leaders to push agendas forward, and we hope that by sharing stories like that of Anjum's, you walk away feeling like you too can be a leader in public health. You’ll Learn How Anjum defines leadership Whether she intentionally chose to become a leader in her space, or it naturally occurred A bit about the young Anjum, her first memory of thinking that she could be a leader, and how her dad was an inspiration to her, which has resulted in the work she does in her community Attributes of a good leader (skills to build on for anyone wanting to be a leader in their space), and skills Anjum wished she had gained early on Things students can focus on specifically while in school to set themselves up to become a strong leader Step-by-step how we can go from feeling passionate about a topic/issue/cause to taking incremental action that leads to change. Whether leadership only comes from a management/senior-level role (hint: no it doesn’t) Whether leaders are born OR if leadership can be learned Challenges Anjum faces as a leader in her space A final example where Anjum showed that she is a leader in her space: she talks about her journey first authoring Canada’s First Feminist Recovery Plan . It is the first nationally-focused one in the country and possibly the world She encourages the PH SPOT community to read it, make it your own, and reach out to her should you be interested in taking action Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

May 13, 202544 min

REPLAY: Fuelling your leadership drive in public health with Nadia Akseer

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! Last week I talked about " Leadership Skills Every Public Health Professional Should Develop " and mentioned two episodes from 2020 where I sat down with two amazing guests to discuss leadership. This week, I wanted to make sure you had a chance to listen to one of these episodes - with Dr. Nadia Akseet. -------- In this episode, Sujani speaks Dr. Nadia Akseer, an Epidemiologist-Biostatistician who has spent over 10 years leading research and analyses of clinical and population health datasets in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, as well as nutrition in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ethiopia and other low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, Nadia was identified as a Canadian Women Leader in Global Health, and in March 2019, she was awarded the 2019 Emerging Public Health Leader Alumni Award from the Public Health Alumni Association of the University of Toronto. We speak about the leadership drive Nadia possesses, when she decided she wanted to become a leader in her space, and whether you need to be in a management position to be a leader, amongst other topics. And of course, I couldn’t let her go without asking about her multiple meetings with Bill Gates, to present and collaborate on some of her work. You’ll Learn The leadership drive, and what it is What leadership means to Nadia How and when Nadia decided that she wanted to become a leader in this space she was passionate about Whether one needs to be in a management position to be a leader (hint: absolutely not) Natural born leaders versus people given the right opportunities to become a leader How Nadia goes about seeking new opportunities (as she is someone who thrives on being challenged and stimulated) A glimpse into the career path she took: from Biostatician at SickKids, to Global Health Research at SickKids, then to Harvard, and now at Gates Ventures How her view of leadership has changed over time Verbal Communication and its importance in good leadership A leader Nadia looks up to: Dr. Zulfiqar Butta Reflections from her meetings with Bill Gates to present her research and work together on countries that have managed to reduce child stunting Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

May 6, 202532 min

Leadership Skills Every Public Health Professional Should Develop

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! Leadership in public health transcends job titles—it's about how we inspire action, communicate vision, and guide others regardless of our position. This essential skillset helps navigate the complex, messy work of creating healthier communities through building trust and mobilizing stakeholders toward common goals. Discussed in this episode: What leadership really means in public health Why it's absolutely necessary The specific leadership skills you need to develop How you can build leadership skills — even if you’re just starting out Join the Public Health Career Club for leadership development resources, mentorship opportunities, and community support: phspot.org/club. Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

April 30, 202514 min

May 2025 Career Club Update: Events & Opportunities for Public Health Professionals

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! We're back with our monthly update on what's happening inside the Public Health Career Club - our membership community designed to support you in building your dream public health career. Whether you're looking for accountability partners, financial guidance, or mentorship opportunities, our May 2025 lineup has something to help you advance your career goals. Social Hour on May 6th - connect with peers in public health in a casual setting New Co-working sessions on May 7th and 28th using the Pomodoro technique to help you focus on important tasks "Doing Good and Doing Well" workshop on May 15th with Dr. Darla Bishop exploring financial strategies for public health professionals Office hours with mentors Dr. Marissa Robinson (May 19th) and Megan Haffey (May 27th) for personalized career guidance Live Resume Review Clinic on May 21st with Latika, offering real-time feedback on job applications Final session of our "Launch Your Idea" workshop series, focusing on post-launch discussion and next steps Check out phspot.org/club to learn more about our light and premium membership tiers. Connect with us on LinkedIn or email hello@phspot.org with any questions about joining our community! Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

April 22, 202524 min

10 Public Health Careers You Might Not Have Considered (With Real Job Examples!)

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! Public health careers extend far beyond traditional roles, with exciting opportunities in tech, communications, behavioral science, and entrepreneurship that offer both impact and excellent compensation. The roles explored in this episode include: UX designers in health tech creating intuitive tools while ensuring clinical accuracy Digital health communications specialists managing online campaigns and combating health misinformation Behavioral science consultants designing programs to change health behaviors Public health data storytellers turning complex statistics into compelling visual narratives Global health logistics coordinators ensuring medical supplies reach their destinations Infection prevention and control practitioners reducing healthcare-associated infections Policy analysts working in non-governmental organizations and think tanks Corporate social responsibility managers with health focus leading community investment Humanitarian health coordinators working in crisis zones Public health entrepreneurs creating innovative health solutions independently Your challenge this week is to research one of these roles that sparked your curiosity. Explore organizations hiring for that position, read job descriptions, and potentially connect with professionals in that field. Share your discoveries with us by tagging PH SPOT on social media, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and check out our Public Health Career Club community at phspot.org/club. Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

April 14, 202531 min

Effective Networking Strategies for Public Health Professionals

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text! Networking isn't about schmoozing with random people or handing out business cards—it's about building genuine relationships rooted in curiosity, generosity, and mutual benefit that can transform your public health career journey. What we talk about in today's episode: Up to 80% of jobs are filled through networking connections rather than job boards Your network already exists—start by auditing connections from school, past jobs, and online communities Approach informational interviews with genuine curiosity and specific questions after doing your research Be active in online communities like LinkedIn groups or the Public Health Career Club Follow up consistently and look for ways to provide value to your connections Everyone has something to offer regardless of career stage—fresh perspectives are always valuable Networking doesn't require extroversion—one-on-one conversations and quiet consistency work just as well This week, take one small action: reach out to someone you admire with a genuine, specific question about their work and see where the connection leads. Join the Public Health Career Club at phspot.org/club for more support in building your public health career. Support the show Join The Public Health Career Club : A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers. Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

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