Alumni career spotlight: Lizbeth Hernandez

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Andy Ware

In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Lizbeth Hernandez

Employer: IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Current position: Clinical Research Specialist
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, 2022

Why did you choose your major/program?
I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare but I was unaware of all the available roles and career opportunities. I found out about the HSM program through my advisor. Many of my skills and interests helped me connect with this program. It’s amazing what happens behind the scenes in healthcare and I really wanted to play a role in that.

Do you have any research interests?
My grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer, therefore I was always curious to learn about what occurs behind the scenes during these vulnerable moments. Cancer research is a whole different world. I have learned so much in so little time. Every day I come in to work, I learn something new and that’s what it should be about: to never stop learning. The work that is being done here is astonishing. I’m excited for what the future will bring and the impact that it will make, not only to our community, but to individuals across the country.

Briefly describe your career path.
I always worked during my college years and also spent a lot of time volunteering at Paws’ Pantry. I spent some time working as a patient service representative at the IU School of Dentistry. I also worked for Campus Health during the pandemic. I started off doing Covid testing and with time I played a role as an oversight leader. During the summers I would go back home and work in the RV manufacturing industry. It was very hard physical work but I learned a lot and it definitely helps build character.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
My role includes consenting patients to participate in cancer research. Our research is not a treatment study. We collect specimens and bodily fluids (blood, tumors, etc) from patients, bank them, and send them out to researchers across the nation, including to the National Cancer Institute. I also do some work by helping send out shipments. I core and package specimens down at the lab and send them out to the researcher that requested them. There are also projects that we are assigned to work on, which are great learning opportunities.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
To stop worrying so much and focus on the present. I spent a lot of time worrying about what the future would look like. Now looking back, I am in a position that I never imagined having but I’m happy and still learning every day.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
As repetitive as it may sound, NETWORK. Create connections/relationships with your professors and at your internships. Stay active on LinkedIn. Also, attend events in school where you can meet professionals in your field. Unfortunately, a degree is just a degree if you don’t put yourself out there and meet people that you can learn from and help you throughout your journey.

The application process is so competitive and it’s so much easier when you have those connections. It also helps you navigate the different careers that are out there.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
The most significant thing that happened to me was having the opportunity to secure a job right after graduation. It was something I was always worried about but I feel like the HSM program does a great job of preparing its students and handing them the right tools to be successful. Also, focusing on my timeline other than those who surround me has always been important to me.

Being a first-gen student, there are many hardships I faced alone in a whole new city away from my loved ones. Being able to say that I graduated and right after, secured a job that I knew I would enjoy is something so valuable to me. There were times when I could not see the end of the tunnel but I’m here now and this is just the beginning!

What’s next for you?
I decided to stay here in Indianapolis because there are more opportunities for me here than back home (Ligonier, IN). As of now I’m focused on learning more in my current career and growing as a professional. I’m hoping in the next year or two to continue my education.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite memory was probably all of our capstone classes. Sarah Johnson poured her heart out and helped us prepare for life after graduation. Our last class was very emotional and I knew everything I learned during my time with Sarah were things I will bring along with me throughout my journey.

Experts gather to discuss the impact and future of AI in health care

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Andy Ware

By Lisa D. Gill

Dr. Kun Huang, chair of the biostatistics and health data science department at the Fairbanks School of Public Health, co-hosted the 3rd Annual Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Innovation Conference, “Moving from Reactive to Proactive” with Dr. Shaun Grannis of the Regenstrief Institute. The hybrid conference was held March 25-27, 2023 at the Regenstrief building and online.

Several faculty members from the biostatistics department presented on various topics and moderated panel discussions. Researchers from Regenstrief, Indiana University, IU Health, Eli Lilly, Harvard Medical School, Purdue University, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, and other institutions also shared their work.

Investigators used AI in many ways both broad and specific, from improving computation speed and accuracy, to cleaning up data sets. AI was also able to see connections between data points that humans may not notice, improving diagnosis significantly.

Keynote speaker, Kenneth Mandl, explained that AI could be very effective at mundane tasks, such as taking notes and processing claims. Some organizations are piloting these AI programs, including insurance companies using AI to process claims.

Dr. Mandl noted that the future of AI will rely on the accessibility of data. He teased future uses, as AI is learning to digitize scents; that data can be used to create perfumes, and for possible diagnosis, like pets who can smell disease.

The panel discussions at the conference showcased work in progress already and sparking ideas about what AI could do in the future. One important issue that was addressed often was the human biases that AI can learn. There were several ways of dealing with this, but the most important element was to recognize that they are present.

An effective method was the careful assigning of tasks to AI. Some tasks are performed better by humans, like resume screening, and some were performed better by AI, like reading X-rays and cell classification. There was an entire panel discussion devoted to ethics around Artificial Intelligence, including recognizing health care disparities.

In addition to using AI behind the scenes to analyze data, some groups are using AI in the clinician’s office. One program was able to offer remote neurological diagnosis, using video of movements, that patients captured from their cellphones.

Those videos were then reduced to just the elements of movement. The videos could then be added to the database for machine learning while also being de-identified.

The future of AI is fascinating at best, and dangerous at worst. Many at the conference seemed to agree that guardrails were needed. Researchers also need to be thoughtful about the way machine learning is used.

Its uses, so far, appear limited only by the imaginations and budgets of the investigators.

Lisa D. Gill is the administrative assistant to the department chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.

Alumni career spotlight: Hana Tingle

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Andy Ware

In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Hana Tingle

Employer: Healthcare Claims Management
Current position: Client Account Specialist
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Degree(s): IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, 2022

Why did you choose your major/program?
I always wanted to be involved in healthcare. After starting at IUPUI I found I aligned more with the business side of it instead of the more bedside and hands-on, patient-facing side.

Do you have any research interests?
Bridging gaps in healthcare disparities with low income individuals and/or minorities.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started as a CNA in high school and originally majored in nursing. I eventually switched and landed on health services management and found I really enjoyed the content and scope of a potential career there. After starting at my current position in revenue cycle management related to healthcare, I found I enjoyed this area the most and still do.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
I will work tasks assigned ranging in follow ups, reviews, tracking and/or data entry as well as some training, or as we call it “nesting” where a new hire will observe and watch me work and have the opportunity to ask questions.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
That it’s okay to change interests and career fields as well as majors and related studies because it’s never too late.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
The healthcare system and healthcare overall will forever be changing, but our job is to stay on top of these changes to better serve our communities, patients, and employees.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I bought my first home and have started studying for the LSAT with a goal to apply to law schools around spring of 2024.

What’s next for you?
Continue my role at Healthcare Claims Management and furthering my knowledge and understanding of healthcare revenue cycle management.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Going to one of the FSPH hangout nights with some of my classmates before our advance finance final and just hanging out and taking a brain break before our last final ever.

Reflections on a journey into health administration

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Andy Ware

When Master of Health Administration student Leslee Milby was young, she was often told she could become a doctor, nurse, lawyer, teacher, or police officer when she grew up.

So, when it came time to select a major as she entered college, Milby chose biology-chemistry so that she could go to medical school after graduation. But that didn’t last long.

“I failed out of college my freshman year and quickly learned that being a doctor or nurse was not in the cards for me,” Milby said.

She then took what she thought was going to be a permanent break from school to enter the workforce so that she could support herself, finding an entry level position scribing for an ophthalmologist. Shortly after starting that scribe position, Milby came to the realization that health care was where she belonged.

“I enjoyed assisting the physicians and interacting with the patients,” she said. “I felt a great sense of accomplishment knowing that we were making a difference in our patients’ lives, even if I only had a small part in the process.”

This sense of accomplishment triggered motivation within her to explore more career opportunities within health care. Milby would find a new position as a clinical research coordinator, but she understood that if she ever wanted to explore more career opportunities, she was going to have to go back to school.

She entered the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program at Purdue University and enrolled in it to broaden her knowledge of health care. Shortly after graduating from Purdue, Milby joined the Master of Health Administration program at the Fairbanks School of Public Health.

“Although I failed early on in my educational journey, I took my experience as a learning opportunity,” Milby said. “I found what I was passionate about and set goals to achieve them. I may not have taken the straightest path to get to where I am, but I am glad that it is the path I took.

“I would not go back and change a thing because if I did, I may not have ever realized that I have a future as a health care administrator.”

Milby has thrived during her short time as a master’s student at the Fairbanks School of Public Health, including being accepted into the Eskenazi Health Scholars program, which offers dual degree MHA/MPH students a generous scholarship and the unique opportunity for hands-on training in the health system.

“I feel like the opportunities will be endless once I have my MHA,” Milby said. “I do know that I will take what I have learned during this program and apply it to a health care system that is making a difference in the health of patients that they are serving.”

She was also recently announced as the 20th recipient of the Bachrach Family Scholarship of Excellence in Healthcare Administration for her excellent leadership qualities, academic achievements, and community involvement.

So, what’s next?

“I love health care as a whole and I want to do it all,” Milby said.

She recently accepted a position as a full-time Administrator in Training (AIT) with Hoosier Village, a senior living community in Zionsville, Indiana.

Well done, Leslee. We look forward to seeing all the many great things you will accomplish in the world of health administration.

Alumni career spotlight: Kayla Saunders

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Andy Ware

Kayla Saunders

Employer: Department of Veterans Affairs
Current position: Ambulatory Care and Processing Section Chief
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Degree(s): 2019, Bachelor of Science of Health Sciences; 2021, Master of Health Administration

Why did you choose your major/program?
After minoring in health services management in undergrad at IUPUI, I decided to pursue my higher level education in health administration. This program would allow me to stay involved in the healthcare environment and help people and their families, while also being involved in operations.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started as a student intern within the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2018, and served as the assistant research compliance officer, health systems specialist, and business manager for the facility.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
An average day in my role is rounding within the outpatient clinics of our medical center, while also touching base with our clinical partners to ensure that we are all collaborating to meet one common goal: serving our nation’s veterans.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell myself that it’s okay to not have everything figured out and that the health administration field has so many different pathways and avenues to follow. You never will be siloed or stuck, and you are able to still make an impact on patient care while being in healthcare operations.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
How valuable networking is, along with being aware of the culture within any organization is key to your success and strategy.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I’ve had two new roles since I’ve graduated (business manager and ambulatory care and processing lead). This has allowed me to get more exposure to healthcare operations and staffing to ensure that our patients are able to receive care in a timely manner.

What’s next for you?
I’d like to see myself serving as a service line administrator within another VA hospital throughout the country, and eventually work my way up to the executive level of a VA hospital.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
I really enjoyed the MHA capstone class with Steve Reed. It allowed me to get exposure to a real-world operations problem and be able to come up with feasible solutions for the sponsor organization to take into account.

Finding your happy place is good for your health

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Andy Ware

We asked our student ambassadors to identify their “happy place” on campus.

Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, Epidemiology student

Campus Center is probably the place that I enjoy being in the most. It really helps relieve my stress after long days of classes, and it’s a great place for me to hang out with friends.

I’ve started to head there more recently this semester, especially with how I feel it’s a better place to meet others with what it has to offer.

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

My favorite spot on campus is Lockefield Green. Here, students can relax in the sun, play volleyball, basketball, frisbee, and hammock. A lot of times when it is nice, there are events held here.

You can always count on this space as a spot to lay a blanket out and have a picnic.

Gabby Fleming, Epidemiology student

I have multiple spots on campus that I would consider “happy spots.” However, I find myself to be the happiest when I’m sitting near Wood Fountain right outside of the library and education and social work building.

This is my happy place for many reasons. At the fountain, I am able to sit outside and soak up all the vitamin D that the sun has to offer me. I also enjoy the white noise that is offered by the running water too. This spot also has a lot of tables that allow me to do my homework while I’m there as well!

For all of those reasons, you will find me at the Wood Fountain alot when I am on IUPUI’s campus.

Grace Hicks, Epidemiology student

It’s almost the end of the semester, which means finals week is coming up! In order to gear up for this, we asked the ambassadors where their favorite place on campus was and why? This is ambassador Grace Hicks’ response: Give some love to Ruth Lily Medical Library!

Watch on Twitter

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

The Indianapolis Canal is only a short walk from IUPUI. This is a great place to unwind as well as being where the IUPUI Regatta takes place!

This is my favorite place to go and is super unique to our campus.

Shania Miller, Health Services Management student

National Institute for Fitness and Sport – NIFS is IUPUI’s university campus gym that’s a great place to work out or participate in workout classes.

NIFS is also a great resource for athletes and students to get help or tips on working out properly. This is my happy place on campus because it has the perfect environment to focus on yourself and destress in ways beneficial for your own health.

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

“Sunrise reminds us that we can start a new beginning from anywhere.”

One of my favorite spots on campus is the top floor of the IUPUI Riverwalk Garage! It is right across the street from the NCAA Headquarters and National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS).

The sun rises behind the skyline and makes for some of the city’s best views. Watching the sunrise has contributed to a healthy routine and puts life into perspective for me. I feel most grateful for my experiences and the opportunities I have in Indianapolis when I am watching a new day start with the skyline in front of me.

May every sunrise bring you hope and may every sunset bring you peace!

Healthy ways to manage your stress

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Andy Ware

In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we asked our student ambassadors to share tips on how they combat stress.

Gabby Fleming, Epidemiology student

Hey guys, this week I am going to share a rate of my stress level on a scale from 1-5 (1 being low, 5 being very high) in honor of April being Stress Awareness Month.
Personally, I would rate my stress level at around a 4 meaning I am moderately stressed often. With the end of the semester nearing, responsibilities and my academic work are piling high. However, I feel as though this feeling is common amongst college students around this time.

With that being said, there are a few things that I like to do to help lower my stress level. One thing that I like to do is homework and dinner with my friends. This allows me to get my academic work completed while also spending my time in a comfortable and happy environment.

Another thing that I make sure to do to help manage my stress level is to not overwork and overextend myself beyond more than I am capable of. As a college student, I find that you get the best version of you when you allow yourself the time to take care of yourself. With that being said, taking care of yourself can entail different things among different people; finding what works best for you is what matters most!

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

For Stress Awareness Month, I wanted to discuss how I personally am dealing with my own stress. My stress is currently about a 4/5. With school, work, and my upcoming summer plans, there is a lot to think about!

I like to manage stress by taking time to myself, going outside and taking in nature, and finding time for family and friends. I know finals can be a stress-inducing time. But there are a ton of resources for students to utilize on and off campus and online. Don’t be afraid to reach out during periods of stress!

Grace Hicks, Epidemiology student

This is only my second year at IUPUI and let me tell you-I am STRESSED! Finals are coming up and there are group projects galore and it can get crazy trying to juggle school work and life.

Unlike a lot of people, I welcome small bits of stress. No one wants crushing stress, but I find that a little bit will help me accomplish more and be more productive. Stress wakes me up and pushes me toward that finish line!

As my classes get harder, however, I am finding that I am very busy and don’t have a lot of me time. That stresses me out more than school! I can be productive if I know I can give myself a break after completing a huge assignment. To do this, I try to give myself an hour a day to decompress before bed. Usually, I read for that hour, which allows me to chill out and take a break before the next day.

Shania Miller, Health Services Management student

This week’s stress on a scale between 1-5 I’d say I scored at a 7. Trying to balance college, work, personal life, and extracurricular activities can be a challenge or very overwhelming sometimes. High levels of stress can affect how you academically perform and your mental health status.

So some ways I combat stress is by using my calendar to keep track of my life schedule and important events, which helps me avoid overbooking my day and do better at time management. Also, another way I combat stress is by taking a mental health day when needed or setting aside some time where I can unwind and take so deep breaths to ground myself.

A couple of tips I’d recommend to help manage stress are to make sure you are getting enough sleep along with avoiding unhealthy habits that contribute to stress. Such as procrastination, which can trigger stress due to limited time and a delay in getting things done.

I hope these few tips and ways you can combat stress help you, so in the future when you are having a stressful day you can turn it around for the better.

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

As a student-athlete wrapping up my master’s degree and final semester at IUPUI this month, it feels very fitting for this month to be about increasing awareness of the causes of stress and how to combat it. Simply becoming more aware of my stress and knowing when to initiate combative strategies has helped me throughout my college career.

Don’t overlook your stress! Here are a few tips to reduce your stress:

BREATHE – slow your breaths and relax your shoulders
Exercise – release natural endorphins
Journal – release negative thoughts and feelings
Laugh – watch bloopers of your favorite comedy show

Life is stressful – really, really stressful, but I hope you can find two minutes today to become aware of your stress and do something about it because you deserve to be in a better mood!

Alumni career spotlight: Michaela Trame

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Andy Ware

In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.

Michaela Trame

Employer: Vital Incite
Current position: Population Health Strategist
Location: Carmel, IN
Degree(s): Indiana University, MHA, 2019

Why did you choose your major/program?
After getting my bachelor’s degree in exercise science, I knew I wanted to help people in healthcare; I just had no idea in what capacity. Once learning about the MHA program, I knew it was something that could help me take the next step in figuring out what I wanted to do. Even as a young professional, I knew I wanted to be a leader in the healthcare space and I felt that this program would give me the tools, knowledge, and skills to get there.

Briefly describe your career path.
After graduating with my MHA, I started as a project coordinator for KSM Consulting, now Resultant. During my time there I had an incredible experience working my way into project management roles and really utilized a lot of the skills I developed through the MHA program such as strategic outlook, relationship building, and goal setting. After a couple of years there, I realized that I needed to get back to my true passion, which is population health. That led me into my current role at Vital Incite.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
I work with employers and benefit advisors to strategize data-driven solutions to improve their employees’ health. An average day would include me creating reports for my clients that take a look at the health of their population using aggregate data via medical and pharmacy claims as well as any other vendor data source such as a wellness program.

After creating this report and identifying trends, I pull out key points and opportunities to move forward and really make an impact on their population’s health. For example, perhaps a group has high ER utilization, low primary care engagement, and poor chronic condition management. Depending on the resources available to that particular client, I might recommend implementing an annual physical incentive or if there is one already in place, urge that they reconsider the current offering since it does not seem to be motivating the population to engage in care.

Overall, I work with my clients to identify these gaps and strategize the best way forward given the unique situations of each population.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
Don’t let career norms or typical career paths forge your way. Figure out what you are passionate about and how you can make an impact, then think about what that career might look like. There is no right way to make a difference.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
Only 10 percent of our health is determined by genetics, everything else is determined by our behavior and environment. If we want to make an impact on the healthcare system, we must focus on the things we can change. I use this every day in my career as I work with employers to be proactive regarding their employees’ health.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
Giving birth to two wonderful, healthy babies!

What’s next for you?
I love where I am at in my career and I don’t think I will ever be a person that knows what is next. I do know that I always want to be challenged, I thrive on ambiguity, and I will inevitably follow my passions.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Competing in the UAB case competition under the guidance of Ann Johnston and Nir Menachemi. Traveling to Birmingham with my mentors and peers was an incredible personal and professional experience that I will never forget!

Why public health?

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Andy Ware

In honor of National Public Health Week, we asked our student ambassadors to share their journeys to the world of public health.

Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, Epidemiology student

I had been interested in creating change when I was younger, and my parents had always wanted me to jump into a career in healthcare. While working in healthcare isn’t something that I am very fond of doing on a daily basis, I felt public health was a much better fit for me as I grew up.

I never really knew much about public health or how much it was impacting our lives as we see today. That was, until a full blown pandemic came into our lives. One of my dad’s friends had also pushed me to look into public health as he works in the field too.

These two things really inspired me to jump into public health at IUPUI, specifically in epidemiology.

Gabby Fleming, Epidemiology student

Gabby chose to share a video of her public health journey.

Watch Gabby’s video

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

Kate started out as a clinical healthcare major, as many do. After careful consideration, she realized that clinical care was not for her, and she set out to find her calling. As she was looking into non-clinical healthcare roles, she stumbled upon public health and fell in love.

Now a health services management major, with an epidemiology minor, Kate is working towards a role that she didn’t even know existed before finding public health!

Grace Hicks, Epidemiology student

As someone who is new to the ambassador program, I am super excited to share my story with everyone!

When I was a freshman, I enrolled in a first-year seminar that focused on exploring health careers. Like many people, I was told of clinical health careers in high school so that is what I decided to do. I had no idea what public health had in store for me!

One day, a representative from Fairbanks came to our class. She talked about all of the majors and the impacts that public health had on the community. I was so fascinated and immediately set up meetings and informational interviews to learn more.

I had my “ah-ha” moment when I walked into my first public health class; I knew that this was where I was meant to be.

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

Ever since I was little I was interested in the healthcare field, as well as the diseases that I learned about in history books. To be honest, I didn’t know much about how important the role of public health is until my mom recommended I investigated the major.

Public health is such an expansive field that was a perfect fit for me that combined both the science and humanity aspects. I got to fulfill my middle school love of the bubonic plague, with focusing on epidemiology.

It is great to work in a field that is directly helping communities as well as individual health. Public health will give me a unique view as I continue, hopefully, onto studying medicine.

Shania Miller, Health Services Management student

I decided on my major because I have always had an interest in health care and how the system operates outside of clinical.

I myself have experienced complicated health while trying to navigate through the challenges in health care. This motivates me to improve healthcare for the better by focusing on improving health lteracy, health equity, and access to healthcare.

Being an advocate in making sure to deliver good quality care while reducing healthcare costs and closing disparity gaps is part of my mission as a future healthcare leader.

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management and a minor in Epidemiology in August and I will be graduating with a Master’s in Health Administration in May.

I knew I wanted to pursue a degree from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI when I discovered the impact that alumni are making all over the country. Inspiring change and making an impact on the health of the community that I live in is something that I have been passionate about in my career and a public health degree has laid a solid foundation for issues that impact population health and healthcare systems.

Join us and the American Public Health Association in celebrating National Public Health Week

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Andy Ware

Public health is crucial and critical to our society. It combats threats to our individual and collective health and promotes practices that help every American live as long and as well as they can. That’s why we are excited to be a part of National Public Health Week 2023, celebrated April 3-9.

This year, we’re joining the American Public Health Association in “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health.” The COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing public health crises in the U.S., like racism and climate change, have shown us the importance of a robust public health system equipped to handle the diverse needs of the communities being affected. By working together, we can have a more inclusive system that supports well-being and health equity for all communities.

So how can you get involved? Celebrate and reinforce gratitude and support for public health and advocate for services that incorporate cultural humility. Look for ways to strengthen your community connections, locally and globally. Name and dismantle racism and oppressive structures in your community. Hold accountable those responsible for climate change. Urge your elected leaders to prioritize families by advancing policies for paid sick leave, a living wage, and health in all policies. Demand protections for public health workers by ensuring public health authority. There are countless ways to make your voice heard and become part of the movement for public health!

To get more information and make more connections, join us, APHA and NPHW across social media. Learn more about this year’s daily themes, and don’t forget to RSVP to events throughout the week. Let your voice be heard! You can also check out APHA’s toolkit for other ways you can keep the momentum going in your community.

Join us as we come together and work toward a brighter, healthier future!