Just Say Yes!
Notes from the Panel on Exploring Careers in Public Health
A distinguished panel of public health professionals convened in Goldberg Lounge on February 25 to offer advice and encouragement to WashU undergraduates interested in public health. The event, co-hosted by the WashU Center for Career Engagement and the Program in Public Health & Society, was moderated by Dr. Eleanor Bergquist, a faculty member in PH&S. Professionals from a wide range of agencies and institutions provided insights into navigating and succeeding in the public health profession.
The panelists' diverse experiences allowed them to share specific, practical, and invaluable tips with students learning about the field of public health and the broader professional world. The discussion covered many topics, but a recurring theme emerged: "Say yes!" The experts agreed that embracing opportunities and stepping into new and sometimes daunting situations is crucial for success, often leading to surprising and valuable outcomes. They emphasized that while self-care should always be a priority, adopting a “say yes” and generosity mindset is beneficial as long as it fits within one's schedule.
Networking and community-building were also frequently mentioned. The panelists encouraged students to identify and nurture their existing support networks while taking risks to expand and diversify them. They highlighted critical thinking, the ability to question, and clear communication as essential skills for public health professionals. The need to combat misinformation with creative, masterful language and a command of new technology was underscored.
In addition to these soft skills, many panelists noted the importance of being able to read and write a budget. They also highlighted the benefits of becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) by successfully completing the CHES exam. Learning how to network effectively was deemed crucial, with guests providing several specifics on how to do this successfully.
Finally, the panelists strongly conveyed the importance of students using their voices. They emphasized that the intellect and talent of WashU students should never be underestimated. When addressing the complex health challenges of the future, students must be bold and make themselves heard!
Moderator:
Dr. Eleanor Peters Bergquist, PhD, MSPH, MA Senior Lecturer, Public Health & Society
Panelists:
Poli Rijos, Director of Youth Development Partnerships, St. Louis Mental Health Board
- Poli Rijos is a community engagement practitioner and bilingual licensed clinical social worker serving as the Director of Youth Development Partnerships at the Saint Louis Mental Health Board (MHB), a local public funder. Poli brings over 19 years of experience developing and overseeing partnerships and coalitions with non-profit agencies, educational, health, and civic institutions in the St. Louis region. Her professional experience includes serving as a Behavioral Health Consultant, Pediatric Medical Social Worker, Adult Medical Social Worker and Linkage to Care Coordinator for the St. Louis City Department of Health. Additionally, Poli served as Center Manager at the Center for Community Health Partnership and Research at Washington University’s Institute for Public Health. While serving as the Initiative Lead for the Gun Violence Initiative at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University, Poli coordinated the launch of the St. Louis Area Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (Life Outside of Violence) and the St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission (VPC). Poli was born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently lives in St. Louis City.
Greta Todd, (recently retired) Executive Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Affairs, St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Greta brings over 30 years' experience leading non-profits in community outreach, DEI initiatives and government affairs. Her professional experience also includes Director, Advocacy and Outreach, St. Louis Children's Hospital; Director, Government and External Affairs, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; and Associate Director, Federal Government Affairs, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Washington, DC. She earned her Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science at Illinois State University and then earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Georgetown University.
Diane Webb, Director of Clinical Trial & Science Communications, Health Literacy Media
- As the Director of Clinical Trial & Science Communications at Health Literacy Media (HLM), Diane works with partners to create customized health literacy programs and products, with a focus on our Clearly Communicating Clinical Trials (C3T) program. Diane applies evidence-based health literacy and plain language strategies as she writes and edits materials. She also develops and delivers trainings to improve health literacy skills for a variety of audiences. Over the years, she has helped to create the structural processes for the C3T program that guide the team as they write, review, design, and user test clinical trial materials, including lay summaries, informed consent forms, and trial recruitment materials. Diane holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Behavioral Science and Health Education & Epidemiology from Saint Louis University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Stacie Zellin, Community Strategist III, PreventEd
- As a Community Strategist, Stacie Zellin’s work at PreventEd is focused on providing health education and professional trainings to the community. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health at Montana State University, and then earned a Master of Public Health at Saint Louis University. She holds a certification as a Community Health Education Specialist (CHES), and strives to effectively communicate and translate complex health information to both general and targeted audiences.
Brittany Jones MSW, MPH, CPH - Assistant Director of Clinical and Community Integration, Racial Equity Initiatives, Saint Louis Integrated Health Network
- Brittany Jones, a catalyst for racial justice and equity, moved to St. Louis in 2018 to participate in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. Following her passion to build and advance collective power, Brittany was accepted into Action St. Louis's Black Organizing Summer School and became a community organizer with Reproaction. In 2019, Brittany began working for the St. Louis Integrated Health Network and is now the Assistant Director of Clinical and Community Services and Racial Equity Initiatives. While working full - time, Brittany pursued her dual master's degree in Social Work and Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated in May 2024. Most recently, she was appointed to the St. Louis City's Board of Health and Hospitals, working to coordinate and advance the city's community engagement efforts. Brittany is affirmed and committed to realizing equity, healing, and liberation via systems change and advocacy.
Arianna Muckerman currently serves Vice President, Chief of Staff for External Affairs at Centene Corporation.
- In this role she reports to Centene’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs who oversees Centene’s Federal and State Government Relations, Public Policy, Communications, PAC, Community Relations, Public Affairs, National Partnerships, and the Centene Charitable Foundation. In this role, Arianna works across all External Affairs’ functions, helps to drive strategic initiatives, enhances organizational alignment, and ensures seamless operations. Since joining Centene in 2016, Arianna has held roles in Corporate Strategy, Health Policy, and Medical Affairs. In Corporate Strategy, she played a significant role in supporting Centene’s annual Strategic Plan, which is pivotal in setting Centene’s direction at the executive level; she also led work on key projects including a vendor assessment on SDOH providers, serving as the financial lead for Centene’s Foundation, conducting market and competitive intelligence on specific vendors, and developed a business plan for the launch of a new product. During Arianna’s time in Health policy, she leveraged her public health expertise by successfully leading cross-functional public policy efforts on topics ranging from Medicaid redeterminations to COVID-19, interoperability, and behavioral health. In Medical Affairs, she was a project and program lead on various population health programs including flu vaccination and hospital ER readmission diversion. Prior to joining Centene, Arianna worked in Washington, DC in health policy. She received her BA in Communications, with a concentration in Business from Boston College, and a Master of Public Health, concentrated in health policy analysis from Washington University in St. Louis.
