OzTREKK Podcast: Exploring the world of public health

27 January 2021

Exploring the world of public health with the Head of University of Sydney School of Public Health Joel Negin

Joel Negin, Head of University of Sydney School of Public Health
Discover more about studying public health!

Public health. It’s an area of healthcare that has been referenced frequently this past year.

But what exactly is public health? Could it be the perfect career for you? Will there be a demand for public health practitioners after COVID ends?

In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Negin, Professor and Head of the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. Originally from Toronto, Joel has travelled the globe working in public health. He has spent the last several years, however, in Sydney, training students to make a difference in their own way!

He gave us an insider glimpse into the world of public health—from the issues being tackled each day to the reasons why you may want to consider studying public health. Whether you’re an aspiring healthcare provider or just have a passing curiosity for global health, this episode is for you!

Check it out here on Stitcher or Spotify!

Here’s what we covered!

  • Joel’s background and how he ended up working in public health
  • What public health is and how it relates to social justice
  • How studying in Australia benefits Canadian public health students
  • What a typical day in public health looks like
  • What public health practitioners do
  • Upstream and downstream factors on public health
  • Why people go into public health
  • Interesting backgrounds that students bring into public health degrees
  • How a public health degree can benefit other areas of healthcare like medicine or dentistry
  • How students know if public health is the right program and career path for them
  • The importance of public health beyond COVID concerns
  • COVID’s effect on conversations about public health and society
  • Public health issues in Australia and Canada
  • The University of Sydney’s public health program in relation COVID
  • How interest in public health degrees has increased due to COVID
  • What COVID contact tracing reveals about human behaviour
  • Communicating data analysis to the public
  • Mental health awareness in public health initiatives
  • Successful public health projects
  • Joel’s public health project in Fiji
  • Joel’s advice to future public health students

Do you have questions about studying public health? Email meghan@oztrekk.com or reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram. Keep an eye—or rather ear—out for our next episode!

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