Public Health Careers podcast episode with Amanda Spence, MPH
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📲Amanda Spence, MPH on LinkedIn

Amanda is the Senior Manager of Program Partnerships at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

She is a public health equity strategist and program leader with over 10 years of experience across healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors. She’s passionate about creating innovative, community-driven solutions that close systemic gaps and improve health outcomes.

She conferred her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a focus on the Developing World and a minor in Anthropology from SUNY Geneseo, and later completed her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College.


In today’s episode you’ll hear and learn more about
1. How her work focuses on closing systemic gaps in public health through equity-centered programs.
2. Why addressing the needs of the most marginalized communities benefits everyone.
3. How understanding systems thinking is crucial in public health and why that pushed her to pursue a MPH
4. Why advocating for oneself is key to career advancement
5. How pursuing real-world experience during grad school can invaluable.

And much, much more!

Chapters:
@0:00 Trailer
@2:45 How do you identify & tell us a little about your personal background?
@4:54 Health Equity & Community-Driven Program Design
@6:51 Applying a health equity lens to program design and implementation
@8:09 A program or partnership you’re especially proud of
@10:16 Cross-Sector Public Health Experience
@11:39 Essential skills for today’s public health professionals
@13:27 The future of public health careers
@18:30 What does public health mean to you?
@18:55 BA International Relations - Developing World; minor in Anthropology – SUNY Geneseo
@26:44 Master of Public Health – New York Medical College
@28:44 Graduate school’s impact on your leadership journey
@40 56 Planned Parenthood Federation of America – Multiple Roles
@33:44 Inside your role as Senior Manager of Program Partnerships
@38:49 What do you enjoy most about this work?
@39:44 What is most challenging?
@42:41 Can you share a recent anecdote that illustrates a key lesson you've learned?
@44:20 The Furious Five

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- Omari Richins, MPH on LinkedIn

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In this conversation, Omari Richins, MPH discusses the current state of health care in the U.S., highlighting the significant spending on healthcare with poor outcomes compared to other wealthy nations. He emphasizes the impact of policy changes on marginalized communities, particularly regarding Medicaid and SNAP, and the barriers these changes create for accessing healthcare. Richins advocates for continued efforts in public health and the importance of community support and advocacy to address these challenges.

Resources:
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Medicaid work requirements
- Big Beautiful Bill | NBC News
- Responding to Federal Medicaid Reductions | KFF
- ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ could unravel N.C.’s Medicaid expansion | NC Health News

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in. Let's all work together towards a culture of health, wellbeing, and equity for all.

⭐⭐ SUBSCRIBE & Leave a 5-STAR REVIEW! ⭐⭐

Follow & Support:
- Join The Public Health Community

- The Public Health Millennial on IG

- The Public Health Millennial on LinkedIn

- The Public Health Millennial Website

- Omari Richins, MPH on LinkedIn

- Support on The Public Health Store

Public Health Careers podcast episode with Nkechi Michel, MPH
🎯 Learn more about this episode and resources mentioned
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📲Nkechi Michel, MPH on LinkedIn

Nkechi is a Human Services Program Planner-Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program in Sacramento County.

She is a passionate public health educator and program strategist with over a decade of experience in health education, grant management, and community-based programming, particularly focused on maternal health, nutrition equity, and chronic disease prevention.

She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education and her Master of Public Health in Health Education from California State University, Northridge.

In today’s episode you’ll hear and learn more about
1. The importance of community engagement for effective health education
2. Why listening to the community’s needs aids in successful program development and implementation
3. The importance of language in public health and how it affects perceptions and has potential to affect outcomes

And much much more!

Chapters:
@0:00 Trailer
@3:14 How do you identify & tell us a little about your personal background?
@4:57 Community Health Engagement Strategies
@7:41 Applying a Health Equity Lens
@10:48 Leadership Through Program Planning
@13:17 Effective Engagement Strategies in Underserved Communities
@15:20 Centering Community Needs in Program Design
@18:33 What does public health mean to you?
@20:38 Prior to Bachelors
@23:04 B.A of Public Health Education and Promotion at CSU, Northridge
@29:05 Undergrad Takeaway's
@30:39 Peer Health Educator at Operation Samahan Community Health Clinic
@33:41 MPH in Community Health Education at CSU, Northridge
@36:25 Takeaways
@37:58 Teacher’s Assistant at Los Angeles Unified School District
@40:42 Linkage to Care Case Manager at APLA Health
@43:26 Case Management Specialist (temp) at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
@ 46:36 Infectious Disease Care Coordinator - Saban Community Clinic
@49:31 Relocation - Career Break
@1:05:19 Postpartum Doula a Empowered Roots Doula
@55:10 Sacramento County Public Health
@1:07:55 Past Guest Question
@1:10:05 The Furious Five

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in. Let's all work together towards a culture of health, wellbeing, and equity for all.

⭐⭐ SUBSCRIBE & Leave a 5-STAR REVIEW! ⭐⭐

Follow & Support:
- Join The Public Health Community

- The Public Health Millennial on IG

- The Public Health Millennial on LinkedIn

- The Public Health Millennial Website

- Omari Richins, MPH on LinkedIn

- Support on The Public Health Store