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Career Spotlight: State Health Departments
January 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Watch our webinar recording for an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from representatives at state health departments as they share their experiences, insights, and the vital roles they play in the field of public health.
During this engaging session, our esteemed panelists discuss their day-to-day responsibilities, the impact of their work on community well-being, and the collaborative efforts involved in managing public health initiatives at the state level. We are also joined by a specialist from Human Resources at a state health department. This representative shares crucial knowledge about hiring practices and provides guidance on navigating the diverse array of career opportunities available in this field.
Watch to learn more about working in a state health department and hear from those at the forefront of public health.
Partner Organization:
Moderator and Panelists
Joanne Pearsol, MA, MCHES
Director, Workforce
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Moderator
Joanne Pearsol, MA, MCHES, is a director of workforce at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). Her portfolio has included a fellowship program, a workforce peer network, and the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS); she now focuses on pipeline and recruitment programs including the recently launched PublicHealthCareers.org. Joanne has spent her entire career at local, state, academic, and now national association public health levels. She is a former deputy director at the Ohio Department of Health and was previously the associate director at the Center for Public Health Practice at the Ohio State University College of Public Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in community health education and a master’s degree in workforce development and education.
Leanne Alarid, MPH
Health Educator II/Local CAIR Representative (LCR)
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch
Panelist
Leanne Alarid is a health educator working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch as part of the team that supports the statewide immunization registry, CAIR (California Immunization Registry). Leanne received her MPH from UCLA in 2019 and has been a Local CAIR Representative (LCR) for Los Angeles County for the past 3 years where she supports healthcare providers with enrollment & training to utilize CAIR for reporting their patients’ immunizations. During the Covid-19 pandemic & subsequent vaccine rollout, Leanne helped onboard hundreds of new medical provider offices into CAIR so they could document Covid vaccines administered. She has also worked on outreach projects supporting providers in the VFC Program (Vaccines for Children) and Skilled Nursing Facilities. Outside of work, Leanne enjoys spending time with her dog, Huey, reading, and trying out new recipes at home.
Sandi F. R. English
Deputy Chief, Recruitment Outreach
Maryland Department of Health
Panelist
Sandi English is the Deputy Chief of Recruitment Outreach at the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Human Resources. Holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from Hampton University, Sandi has played a pivotal role in shaping and executing recruitment strategies that have significantly contributed to the department’s ability to attract exceptional talent. Her dedication to facilitating meaningful employment opportunities and her commitment to community impact are hallmarks of her professional ethos.
A notable achievement in Sandi’s career is creating and leading the Public Health Workforce Development Internship Program at the Maryland Department of Health, which she continues to oversee. Launched over a year ago and now welcoming its 5th cohort, this innovative program has provided over 100 students from various Maryland institutions and beyond with practical public health experience. It bridges academic learning and real-world application, equipping participants for successful careers in the public health sector
Caryn Vincent, MPH
Organizational Advancement Officer
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Panelist
Caryn Vincent is the Organizational Advancement Officer in the Division of Public Health at Nebraska DHHS. Caryn oversees all the organization’s workforce development, strategic planning, accreditation, public health infrastructure modernization, stakeholder engagement, and legislative efforts to ensure alignment across the Division. She provides leadership to align key public health programs to support meeting and achieving the Division’s vision and priorities and works to support collaboration across all public health programs to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Division of Public Health.
Caryn has broad public health experience, spanning nonprofit, local, and state public health organizations. She holds a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a Doctor of Public Health Candidate in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.