What makes you feel lucky about working in public health?
“I feel lucky about working in public health because public health is everywhere! The work that public health professionals do affect people every single day, whether we know it or not. It touches everything in the world around us! For example, it’s present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the policies that keep us safe as we go about our days. I feel lucky knowing the work we do has such a large impact on the health and safety of so many.”
What’s one moment you’ve had helping the community that’s been worth it’s weight in gold?
“There’s been so many! I will say that working with community members and community organizations during the pandemic has been the most humbling experience in my career thus far. While we all experienced hardships during the pandemic, the gratitude I received during that time from so many in the community is something I’ll never forget.”
What makes your job important in the context of public health?
“I help educate on the importance of environmental health, assist on projects that will help public health to get a better understanding of air quality in the county and work with community members and partners to support and grow sustainability and climate change projects. I hope the work I’m doing will one day help contribute to projects in Franklin County that will improve the air we breathe and help our communities become more prepared for and resilient to climate change.”
What do you want our communities to know about you, your team or public health?
“Franklin County Public Health has a Sustainability Section! Not all local health departments have a section dedicated to sustainability initiatives. If you are interested in learning how you can adopt more sustainable practices or want to learn more about climate change impacts and solutions, we’d love to connect with you!”
What’s a green practice that you follow in your life?
I’ve fallen in love with composting over the past few years. After learning that for each Franklin County resident, 5 pounds of food is landfilled per week, I wanted to do my part in reducing my household food waste. Not only is it satisfying to know I’m helping to divert food waste from our landfill, but once a year I get the most incredibly nutritious soil that my indoor plants and garden love! The best part is how easy it is to start composting. It doesn’t take up much room either. There are so many different composting options available! Whether it’s curbside composting programs or worm composting, there’s something out there for everyone!