How did you come to work at the Health Department? How long have you been at the Health Department?

I have been with the Fairfax County Health Department for 4 years, but I have been working with the county for 5 years. After 10-years as a Public Health Analyst in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, I transitioned to local government and have not looked back. 

What is your role at the Health Department?  

I am the Health Safety Net Coordinator for the Fairfax County Health Department. It is a small but mighty team that works to engage, develop, support, provide subject matter expertise, technical assistance, and leverage existing relationships with safety net community providers (e.g., Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)), free clinics, local health systems (e.g., INOVA), and other Fairfax County government agencies (e.g., Community Services Board, Department of Family Services, and others) to expand access, foster service integration among its various partnerships, improve population health, and increase equity across patient populations. 

What inspired you to work in public health?  

It was a combination of academic and life experience. I have always wanted a career in healthcare, but also wanted to have an impact on communities, especially places where socioeconomic factors impede the ability of residents to live optimal lives. As a kid, I wanted to be a dentist. In high school, that changed when I injured my knee playing football as I was inspired when the orthopedic surgeon showed me pictures of the procedure and I learned that he was a former NFL doctor! In college, I majored in sports medicine, aspiring to be an orthopedic surgeon. However, the arrow pointing toward public health changed during my Senior year in one of my health studies classes. While studying the top chronic conditions in the U.S., we looked at a CDC chart highlighting AIDS cases over time that showed African American cases rising while other racial/ethnic populations declined or remained steady. This stark disparity planted a mustard seed of inquiry to look further into population health disparities (a burgeoning topic at the time), which eventually led to learning more about public health. What finally sold me into public health was the multidisciplinary platform it utilizes to improve population health. Keyword: multidisciplinary. It takes more than one discipline, more than one person, more than one approach. It’s a shared responsibility. It wasn’t just about chronic conditions but the underlying factors, largely socioeconomic, that impact optimal health and well-being. My desire to work in healthcare and experiences growing up as a "city-kid” felt like a natural fit into a field where I could be a team player contributing to the greater well-being of society.

What is something that you wish people knew or understood better about your job? 

It is a challenge to obtain understanding that we do not provide direct client services or manage a specific program, like chronic disease intervention. Our work is primarily in engagement, relationship, and partnership building.  We support our partners financially and non-financially (e.g., technical assistance, subject matter expertise). Yes, we have goals, objectives, and support our work with data as well as utilize evidence-based studies. On the other hand, we are also guided by values recognizing systemic inequities experienced by individuals with limited resources and/or circumstances.   

Can you describe a time when our community has inspired you/your work?  

I am inspired by learning from individuals with more experience, knowledge, and insight. As a kid, I always loved listening to stories because you get to learn about others. For me this is a lifelong journey, so watching, listening, and learning from, people that I work with (directly or indirectly), is inspiring enough