What do you love most about working in STD prevention?

This is an easy answer – the people.  I have had the privilege to work with STD prevention staff from across the country, including local, state and federal employees, and non-governmental organizations.  These staff are the most dedicated public health servants I have ever worked with.  They are engaging, fun, creative, committed and consistently do phenomenal work at comparatively fractional costs.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing our field?

Unfortunately, there are many challenges – I will highlight just a few.  Firstly, STD prevention has always struggled to ascertain sufficient financial resources.   Even during current times of unprecedented increases in STD morbidity, heightened concern regarding antibiotic resistance and limited treatment options, funds specifically targeted to STD prevention have remained stagnant or decreased.   We need to be better advocates for STD prevention resources and framing of STD complications and consequences as major public health concerns.  Secondly, STD prevalence continues to be a major health equity issue.  Social determinants of health continually play large roles in this ongoing imbalance and we need to infuse STD prevention within our local and state health equity frameworks and programmatic activities.  Lastly, we should strive to improve stewardship of community engagement within high risk populations.  Working with our communities as partners to solutions, not regarding them as part of the problem, will enhance empowerment, trustworthiness and a shared commitment to improved health outcomes.  STD prevention programs should seek out relevant local leaders and public health staff to serve as champions and ensure STDs are part of the discussions related to community health assessments and improvement planning.

When you’re not working, what’s your favorite thing to do with your free time?

I really enjoy working in my yard.  I can get lost in my own thoughts and it allows me to channel my inner “landscape architect”.   I also love theatre and sports, which are favorite past times of my two youngest children.  As such, I do a variety of activities in support of Theatre Arts for my eldest son’s high school and I coach my 10 year old’s soccer team.