2nd Year Fellow Interview: Evelyn Sharkey

Evelyn Sharkey, MPH, MSW

Population Health Service Fellow, 2014-2016

Fellowship Placements: City of Milwaukee Health Department and the Community Health Improvement for Milwaukee's Children (CHIMC) Project

What were you up to prior to your Fellowship?

After college, I joined Teach for America and taught high school science in Baltimore, MD, for 2 years. Teaching and living in Baltimore was an invaluable experience that has really shaped what I want to do with my career/life, first with helping me decide to go back to school for public health and social work. I got my MPH and MSW degrees from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, which is where I was right before moving to Wisconsin for the Fellowship.

What inspired you to take the Fellowship route rather than a different type of job/school/etc.?

I decided to take the Fellowship route—the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship in particular—because of the mentorship, support, and peer network provided by all of the staff, faculty, preceptors, and fellows involved. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity the Fellowship provides to hone my skills and gain experience in the areas of public health that I think will best prepare me for the next stage in my career.

What are your main areas of interest within public health?

My main area of interest in public health is epidemiology, and how it can be used to address health inequalities and inequities.

What is one thing (or many!) that you are working on right now in your Fellowship?

I recently started a secondary Fellowship placement with the Community Health Improvement for Milwaukee’s Children (CHIMC) project, a community-based research study that aims to address disparities in immunization rates among children in Milwaukee. I’m excited to add this placement, which ties in nicely with the immunization-related projects I’ve worked on at the City of Milwaukee Health Department (my initial placement).

In addition to my work with CHIMC—which will mostly involve conducting a survey of the immunization practices and policies of daycare agencies in Milwaukee and analyzing enrollment, recruitment, and outcomes of the overall CHIMC initiative—I’m continuing my work with the City of Milwaukee Health Department. Right now I’m conducting an analysis of disparities in rates of gastrointestinal illness among children in Milwaukee, overseeing the provider- and public-focused activities of a HPV vaccine grant received by the Immunize Milwaukee! Coalition, and working with a public health practicum student on a consumer food safety survey.

Do you read a public health journal/blog/website regularly?  If so, what?

I’m particularly interested in communicable diseases and emergency preparedness, so I regularly read news from the University of Minnesota’s Center for InfectiousDisease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), and I receive daily e-mail digests from the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) of the International Society for Infectious Disease.

What do you like best about living in Milwaukee?

Summer is a great time to be in Milwaukee—there are so many festivals and special events (it is the "City of Festivals," after all!). Also, I’m a big fan of going out to eat all year long, and Milwaukee has some great restaurants; some of my favorites are Beans & Barley, Honeypie, and Purple Door Ice Cream (not technically a restaurant, but it has delicious ice cream).

2nd Year Fellow Interview: Jameela Ali

Jameela Ali, MPH

Population Health Service Fellow, 2014-2016

Fellowship Placements: Wisconsin Center for Public Health Education and Training (WiCPHET) and the Minority Health Program at the Wisconsin Division of Public Health

Madison, WI

What projects are you currently working on?

At WiCPHET, I'm creating a series of online modules addressing cultural awareness for public health professionals. At the Division of Public Health's Minority Health Program, I'm creating a cultural awareness toolkit for public health professionals that will highlight specific populations and their cultural beliefs as it relates to health and treatment

Why did you decide to pursue a career in public health?

I was inspired to help people live healthier and have a better quality of life by influencing and changing things on a systems level.

What made you decide to join the fellowship program as opposed to other career or educational options?

After grad school, most of my experiences were in hospital administration or with nonprofits whose missions were somewhat related to public health but not exclusively. I had come across the fellowship opportunity three years in a row and finally the third year, I decided to apply because it was important for me to gain more direct public health experience (such as local or state government) with the flexibility to choose projects and create my own path for two years. That is not always the case with a regular job, and that's what makes this fellowship so unique. 

What has been your favorite part of the fellowship so far?

I've really enjoyed the monthly fellowship meetings. It's a great opportunity to connect with the fellows as well as other professionals in the field. I always walk away from the monthly meeting have learned something new and/or feeling inspired. 

What is one of the most important things you have learned over the course of your fellowship so far?

Patience is always necessary but especially so when trying to effect change on a system level. Perseverance is another important one. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Long road trip out west. International travel is great but there is something to be said for exploring our own country and its beautiful natural parks. 

2nd Year Resident Interview: Karina Atwell

Karina Atwell, MD

University of Wisconsin Preventive Medicine Residency Program, 2014-2016

Madison, WI

When did you start the Preventive Medicine Residency?

My Preventive Medicine Residency started in July of 2014. It is a two-year program, which includes getting my Master in Public Health. 

What have you done so far as part of your Residency?

The first year was spent completing my MPH degree, doing practicum work with the Wisconsin State Health Department, and continuing a small amount of clinical work at my former Family Medicine Residency Clinic, Wingra Family Medical Center, where I helped to teach resident physicians, see patients and lead QI projects. 

What were you up to prior to starting the Residency?

Prior to the Preventive Medicine Residency I was completing my three-year Family Medicine Residency training in the UW-Madison program. I graduated in June of 2014, just prior to starting my second residency and MPH.

What inspired you to apply for the Preventive Medicine Residency Program?

My interests in primary care, underserved communities and community health have always naturally fostered an interest in public and population health. The importance of better understanding, and gaining skills in, these fields was reinforced during my Family Medicine Residency where I was taking care of a diverse and underserved population within my primary care clinic and observing the inefficiencies of the health care system throughout all of my clinical training within the hospital and outpatient sectors. I was frustrated by my inability to make impactful change and decided to pursue focused training in public and population health to supplement my clinical skills. 

What are your main areas of interest in medicine and public health?

I am passionate about bridging the worlds of clinical medicine and public health in ways that foster more collaborative efforts for improvement at the levels of the individual patient and broader community and systems. I also want to engage in teaching and research as a mechanism to make awareness and skills in public health an expectation, rather than the exception for practitioners.

What is one of the most important things you have learned over the course of your Residency so far?

Meaningful change is always a team effort! 

What are you looking forward to doing in Madison this summer?

I grew up in Madison and always look forward to summer when the city comes alive after the brutal winter months. Going to farmer's markets, sailing on the lake and sitting on the Memorial Union Terrace will never get old.

2nd Year Fellow Interview: Stephanie Kroll

Stephanie Kroll, MPH

Population Health Service Fellow, 2014-2016

Fellowship placements: Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Program and Public Health Madison & Dane County

Madison, WI

What projects are you currently working on?  

I am working on many projects!  My main projects currently are: 1) a needs assessment around sexual and reproductive health in Dane County; 2) co-facilitating a Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (CoIIN) to reduce infant mortality in Wisconsin, focusing on criminal justice reform and tax credits; and 3) a process evaluation of the Perinatal Nurse Home Visiting program at Public Health Madison & Dane County.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in public health?  

I wanted to work on prevention and upstream indicators for health.  It just makes so much sense to focus there!  After I took my first public health class, there was no going back.

What made you decide to join the fellowship program as opposed to other career or educational options?  

I thought it was a great opportunity to explore different avenues of public health and to grow my list of skills and experiences. 

What has been your favorite part of the fellowship?  

Meeting so many awesome people working in public health!

What is one of the most important things you have learned over the course of your fellowship so far? 

If you feel uncomfortable, it means you will learn a ton!  Take risks!

What’s your favorite restaurant in Madison?  

Brasserie V!!

2nd Year Fellow Interview: Carly Hood

Carly Hood, MPA, MPH

Population Health Service Fellow

Wisconsin Center for Health Equity

Health First Wisconsin

Wisconsin Division of Public Health

Madison, Wisconsin

When did you begin your Fellowship?

I started the Fellowship in August 2012. While I participated in orientation activities in early July, I was finishing credits for my global health certificate during the month so I didn’t actually start at my placement sites until August.

Where is your Fellowship placement?

My placement sites were originally at Health First Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health in the Coordinated Chronic Disease section. Since my interest area has evolved and much of my work is equity focused, I have maintained my Health First Wisconsin placement, but transitioned to doing more work with the Wisconsin Minority Health Program and the Wisconsin Center for Health Equity. It’s nice that the program is adaptable; my preceptors and sites have changed to suit my interests and ensure I’m getting the most I can out of the Fellowship.

What were you up to prior to your Fellowship?

Prior to the Fellowship I had been gallivanting internationally for several years; I was teaching English, volunteering, working on photography, and shaking my sense of wanderlust (never leaves btw…). Post international work, I moved to Wisconsin to pursue my Master of Public Affairs at the Robert M. Lafollette School of Public Affairs and kept finding health justice was the policy area I was most interested in. Just before starting the Fellowship I completed both my Master of Public Affairs and Master of Public Health degrees. My coursework was heavily policy analysis and global health.

What inspired you to take the Fellowship route rather than a different type of job/school/etc.?

The Fellowship seemed a great way to TRY ON different aspects of public health. It’s such a broad field and it’s so easy to get pigeonholed in specific roles and jobs. Rather than jumping into a particular job, the fellowship has allowed me to dabble in a wide variety of projects, requiring use of different skills and specialties. To me, this meant I’d be better equipped in the long run to choose a job that aligns most closely with my desired professional objectives and the skills I enjoy using. It’s allowed me to both determine what I LIKE to do day in and day out, and what I DO NOT like to do. I should also note, this flexibility means the Fellowship requires a lot of self-direction. Since there’s no pre-determined “job deliverable” or particular skill set required, you sometimes have to look harder for those projects you want to work on or create them yourself! But I enjoy that.

What are your main areas of interest within public health?

Having the economics and policy background that I do, I definitely come at public health with that lens. My main area of focus is how social policies—those related to income/poverty, employment, education and housing—ultimately impact health outcomes. Having studied economics in undergraduate school at Lewis and Clark College, I view things at the systems-level and often take a very global perspective (details aren’t my forte. See? I’m learning about how my brain works in the Fellowship!). I’m fascinated by how we set up our societies, programs, institutions, etc. to support or inhibit health and well-being—which I believe is a human right. There are a lot of countries around the world that have established recognized pillars or foundations for their citizens (access to education, housing, healthcare, and financial support in times of need) which leave their populations healthier, living longer, and requiring less money to be spent on “band aid” solutions down the road.

What are some things you are working on right now in your fellowship?

The biggest projects I’m currently working on include:

1) Implementing and evaluating a professional development training for my public health colleagues to encourage a focus on the social determinants of health;

2) Researching the link between social policy and health outcomes and presenting this information at orientations, trainings and conferences; and

3) Trying to turn efforts towards writing/publishing for my last 7 months as a Fellow!  

What is one public health achievement you think will happen in the next 25 years? What is one you would like to see in the next 25 years?

I think people will start to connect poverty to health a bit more and I HOPE this means we start considering bigger poverty reduction/child support policies at the national and state levels (we could take a page out of the books of some other countries in this respect).

I would LIKE to see traditional health professionals (doctors, nurses, hospitals, clinics) adopt practices/advocate for broad policy change that would have a more far reaching impact on patient health outcomes than individual, clinical care alone. I think this, too, is attainable. The more people can understand that health is not just in the hospital or clinic, the quicker the solutions will come.

Do you have any fun insider tips about life in Madison?
Get a CSA! Community Supported Agriculture is HUGE here and it’s amazing! For 2 summers now, I’ve picked up a box of veggies from a local farm every other week and spent about $50 a month on yogurt, tofu, and beans in the store. It saves money, it’s delicious, and it supports Wisconsin farmers. Do it!

2nd Year Fellow Interview: Erica LeCounte

Erica LeCounte, MPH

Population Health Service Fellow 

City of Milwaukee Health Department

Center for Urban Population Health

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When did you begin your fellowship?

July 1, 2012

Where is your fellowship placement? 

I’m placed with the City of Milwaukee Health Department and the Center for Urban Population Health.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on four main projects: 

1) I’ve been developing an evaluation plan for the DAD Project, a new home visiting program for fathers with young children or men in a father role.  I’ve been researching and designing surveys and evaluation tools to measure outcomes, and I will also be facilitating focus groups with mothers and fathers to get feedback about the program.

2) I am also working on a home visiting evaluation to see how well the Empowering Families of Milwaukee, Nurse Family Partnership, and Prenatal Care Coordination programs are doing in helping mothers have healthy pregnancies and healthy children.  So far I have been working on an IRB application and will soon begin analyzing program data.

3) I am working to develop a prematurity surveillance system and analyzing data to get a better understanding of premature births in Milwaukee.

4) Finally, I am working on a life expectancy project, which involves calculating and mapping life expectancies for all zip codes in Milwaukee County.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in public health?

I took a course in undergrad in maternal and child health.  The course introduced me to public health, and I realized that there are other ways of improving health than becoming a physician.  I also learned a lot about developing programs and evaluation plans, which really introduced me to the field of public health and made me want to pursue a career in this area.

What made you decide to join the fellowship program as opposed to other career or educational options?

I chose the fellowship because I had spent my entire life in school and I wanted more work experience, which I knew I would need for the jobs I am interested in pursuing.  I also thought the fellowship would be a great opportunity to grow and develop in ways that I wouldn’t be able to if I had stayed in school for another degree or accepted a job right out of grad school.

What has been your favorite part of the fellowship so far?

The ability to explore different career options.  My background is in epidemiology, so in my first year I focused mostly on projects involving data.  In my second year I have been able to focus more on planning, implementing, and evaluating programs.  It has helped give me a broader range of experience and a better idea of what I want to do career-wise.

What is one of the most important things you have learned over the course of your fellowship so far?

Definitely to take advantage of every opportunity I’m given and utilize the people around me.  It’s great to be able to take advantage of my preceptors, especially when I have questions about any ideas I have or about different career paths.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

This is a hard question for me – there are so many places I want to go!  I guess I’d say Hawaii because it would be great to take a nice long vacation on the water.

2nd Year Fellow Interview: Christina Hanna

Christina R. Hanna, MPH

Population Health Service Fellow

AIDS/HIV Program, Division of Public Health

Madison, Wisconsin

When did you being your Fellowship?

July 1, 2012

Where is your Fellowship?

My Fellowship placement is located at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response, AIDS/HIV Program

What were you up to prior to your Fellowship?

I had a three year gap between undergraduate and graduate school. I spent two years teaching English in South Korea after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After my time in South Korea, I moved to Michigan where I had a number of things going on including an internship for the Michigan HIV/AIDS Drug Assistance Program at the Michigan Department of Community Health. Then I completed my MPH at the University of Michigan School of Public Health before beginning the Fellowship.

What inspired you to take the Fellowship route rather than a different type of job/school/etc.?

I applied to the Fellowship because it provided me with an opportunity to explore my options and experience different approaches to public health which I felt would help me figure out what I wanted to pursue and accomplish. The fellowship has provided me with this opportunity, as well as the flexibility to explore my interests and gain additional skills as a young public health professional.

What are your main areas of interest within public health?

Sexual and reproductive health; women’s health, social justice, health equity, family and community health issues related to birth and incarceration issues, and community health and resiliency.

What is one thing (or many!) that you are working on right now in your fellowship?

A: I’m in a transitional phase right now, just wrapping up some big projects and starting new projects. I am finishing up a qualitative evaluation on the Linkage to Care Program (pilot program that provides assistance with linkage and retention to medical care for HIV positive individuals) in which I conducted client interviews on their experiences with the program. Results from the evaluation may impact future program implementation and best practices for HIV service providers.

I’m just starting a project with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on their In School Pregnancy/Parenting Interventions, Resources, and Education (InSPIRE) grant in which I’m currently developing needs assessment tools for use by the school districts and DPI.

I’m also working on a couple of projects with the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health. I’m assisting them with the planning of the 2014 Wisconsin Women’s Health Policy Summit by developing materials for the event as well as assisting with logistical planning issues when needed. I’m also working with the WAWH to disseminate the results of the evaluation of the Wisconsin Adolescent Health Care Communication Program as a promising practice.

Do you read a public health journal/blog/website regularly? If so, what?

I receive Department of Health and Human Service newsletters from the Office of Minority Health and the Office of Adolescent Health.  I also follow the blog of an MPH classmate and friend who writes about living with Type 1 Diabetes (http://www.typeonederful.com/).

What is one public health achievement you would like to see in the next 25 years?

I would like to see a shift in how mental health is addressed and to decrease the stigma of having a mental health issue and seeking treatment for one.  Stigma prevents many people from acknowledging they are having trouble dealing with life challenges or a known mental health issue. Mental health issues not only affect the daily functioning of the individual, but having a mental health concern makes it more difficult to manage other health issues. I believe that poor mental health is strongly connected to challenges people face in terms of other health issues like obesity, addiction, and the well-being that comes from social and emotional connections with other people. By addressing mental health in a holistic manner, we could see an improvement, not only in individual and community health, but also in social and economic wealth.