How did you become interested in your field?
In 2007, when looking for graduate degree opportunities that would align with my previous work and interest in the areas of social justice, income security and food security, I had never come across the words “health promotion” in combination with one another let alone thought of health promotion as a potential field! In the past I had considered a Masters of Social Work program, but did not pursue the degree as the strong component of direct service work that was part of an MSW did not feel right for me.
I can’t really recall how I discovered the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the time, but its Health Promotion program spoke of a focus on the social determinants of health — another expression I had never heard of — stood out to me. I was immediately drawn to the Health Promotion program’s focus on addressing social inequities as way to impact positive health outcomes. This approach to addressing health and well-being in communities by focusing on systemic barriers and structural inequities made a lot of sense to me. Monica Nunes, MPH (2010) Research Analyst, Health Promotion and Prevention Team, Provincial Support Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
What do you enjoy most about your current career position?
I work as a Research Analyst in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Health Promotion Resource Centre. The Centre offers capacity building activities and content expertise to public health, health promotion and prevention professionals in the areas of mental health promotion, substance use and tobacco to support evidence-based practice. I conduct research projects, literature reviews, environmental scans and other research processes as needed by the Health Promotion Resource Centre.
What I like most about my work is how the Health Promotion Resource Centre is active in supporting the public health sector in Ontario to better articulate its role in addressing mental health. Historically, the role of public health in mental health in Ontario has not been well described. Consequently, I am very proud of our recent provincial scan, documented in the report, Connecting the Dots, which surveyed public health units in Ontario to determine how they are addressing child and youth mental health. These “big picture” findings will help public health and other system stakeholders in promoting mental health at a provincial level. In what ways has your DLSPH experience had an impact on your career and who you are today? My experience at DLSPH truly enhanced my ability to critically think about issues from multiple vantage points. For instance, as a Health Promotion student, our training involved conceptualizing health problems in a holistic manner and thinking about responding to health issues not only at the individual level, but to also consider the social determinants of health. I believe our health system is increasingly employing these upstream approaches and it’s very rewarding to support this kind of thinking and direction.
In what ways has your DLSPH experience had an impact on your career and who you are today?
My experience at DLSPH truly enhanced my ability to critically think about issues from multiple vantage points. For instance, as a Health Promotion student, our training involved conceptualizing health problems in a holistic manner and thinking about responding to health issues not only at the individual level, but to also consider the social determinants of health. I believe our health system is increasingly employing these upstream approaches and it’s very rewarding to support this kind of thinking and direction.
I was immediately drawn to the Health Promotion program’s focus on addressing social inequities as way to impact positive health outcomes.
How did your experiences at DLSPH help you to overcome obstacles you’ve faced as a public health professional?
As a young public health professional one of the major obstacles I face is finding meaningful employment in the field. My experiences at DLSPH were essential in overcoming this obstacle, as the training I hold from DLSPH is well recognized and valued by potential employers in the field.
Many of the health issues we face today require innovation and new approaches to resolve. Believe in your ideas even though they may seem different from what others have done in the past.
Describe any significant relationships with fellow students or faculty. How did these relationships help you?
Working with Dr. Cameron Norman and the Youth Voices Research Group (YVRG) during my last year of the Health Promotion program was truly a formative time for me in my emerging career in Health Promotion. YVRG focused on engaging young people through technology, social innovation and arts-informed community-based research to promote health.
Not only was Dr. Norman a caring and inspiring mentor, but I was also able to apply the theories I learned in the classroom to a real world context through YVRG projects. I am truly grateful for that opportunity and I attribute several of my current strengths as a public health professional to the experiences I had at that time.
What was your favourite course at DLSPH?
I enjoyed Dr. Blake Poland’s Qualitative Research Methods course. Our lives are storied and I believe our personal narratives tell us so much about our realities and the socio-political context of these lived experiences. The course was an opportunity to explore this approach in a practical way.
What advice would you give to younger alumni or current students who aspire to follow a similar career path?
Many of the health issues we face today require innovation and new approaches to resolve. Believe in your ideas even though they may seem different from what others have done in the past. Also, I would say continue to explore the public health trends that are occurring outside of your particular subject area of interest. There may be creative solutions in one area that are transferable to the issue you are most passionate about.
What would you say to a prospective student who is considering DLSPH?
Your peers are an incredible resource for social support, exchanging information about the field and career networking. Take time to you share your interests with your peers and learn about theirs. Several of my peers from the Health Promotion program have become peer mentors as I build my career. Others have become close friends. I am grateful to have met them at DLSPH!