PHEC 425: The Heart of Public Health with Visha Patel

Today we continue our new series dedicated to answering a crucial question: "What is Public Health?" This series was created to energize and demystify a field that's often misunderstood, undervalued, and underfunded. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring leaders, who use compelling storytelling and plain language to explain their focus areas, no heavy jargon allowed.

In this episode, Dr. Huntley welcomes Visha Patel, an oncology nurse, cancer epidemiology researcher, and passionate public health advocate. Visha shares her personal journey from bedside nursing to population-level impact, unpacking how public health works behind the scenes to protect and uplift communities. Together they explore the definition of health, the many dimensions of public health work, the value of plain language communication, and the vital role of empathy, conversation, and storytelling in elevating public health's value for everyone.

Resources

▶️ Join the PHEC Community

▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes

▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting