What skills and mindsets will carry you through a career in public health?
Now working across government, nonprofits, and research, four alumni of George Mason’s College of Public Health shared insights for job seekers during “Building Your Public Health Toolkit,” a virtual panel hosted by the CPH Alumni Board.
Watch the full event here, or read tips based on their conversation below:
1. Policy fluency
Know what issues your state or local government is prioritizing, and where the funds are going. “Understanding what the governor has as a priority, where the dollars are allocated, what the population needs are, that’s huge,” said Vincent Pereira, MHA ’14, senior business manager at the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
2. Strategic volunteering
Join student groups, community organizations, or nonprofits or with a public health focus—or bring a public health lens to those that don’t. Look for opportunities to position yourself as the go-to for health-related issues.
3. Data literacy
Be able to analyze and interpret health data, and to tell a story or make an argument with it. Kelly Kogan, PhD ’23, a nutritionist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, noted that it’s essential to understand bias in data: “If you're not aware of it, your data won’t tell the full story.”
4. Networking
Even before you land a formal job or internship in the public health field, introductions can open many doors. “We often think it has to be specifically job experience, but introducing yourself to someone is a really good way to make connections,” said Syreen Goulmamine, MPH ’23, science programs manager at the Society for Women’s Health Research. “You can make a public health focus out of a social setting if you’re intentional.”
That outreach doesn’t have to be formal. A 15-minute Zoom or a quick walk around campus can be easier to schedule and less intimidating than a structured meeting or interview. “Ask people to go to coffee. People love talking about themselves,” said Cordelia Cranshaw, LCSW, BSW ’14, a licensed social worker and founder/CEO of Acts of Random Kindness.
Guest speakers at classes or at events are also worth approaching. Ask a question, express interest, and follow up. That’s how Kogan made a career pivot from law to public health. After chatting with a speaker following a class, she landed a research internship—then a postdoc, then a USDA job.
5. Ease with AI
Panelists encouraged job seekers to be competent and comfortable using artificial intelligence tools to increase efficiency and impact. “AI is the future,” Cranshaw said. Kogan added a caution to understand its limitations: “My mind was blown by what it could do—and also by how wrong it could be.”
6. Strategic alignment
Learn how your work fits into the larger national picture. For researchers, Pereira encouraged identifying high-need, high-cost populations and using data to show how targeted investments can save money and improve outcomes. “You can have a return that's a cost-savings to the state, employer or buyer,” he said.
7. Creative storytelling.
Sharing public health stories through data visualizations, videos (short form or long), or written narratives can be a powerful approach for highlighting overlooked communities and issues. “Making it real, making it practical, making it make sense... that can be a huge differentiator,” Pereira said.
8. Verbal prowess
In public health it’s essential to demonstrate skills in writing, presenting, and public speaking, panelists said. “Writing stays with you,” said Cranshaw. “It helps you conceptualize your thoughts and define your expertise.” Kogan added that she wished she’d practiced public speaking skills earlier: “How to give a good talk—that’s something I didn’t realize I’d need so often.”