Hi, Atlanta!

I had an interesting conversation with the president of the 25,000-member American Public Health Association, Nandi Marshall, who started her term in November. 

Marshall has deep roots in Georgia. She graduated from Spelman College and went on to earn a doctorate in public health at Georgia Southern University, where she now serves as associate dean of the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health.

Much of her research has focused on infant and maternal health, especially breastfeeding. She helped lead a project looking at Georgia mothers’ experiences of pregnancy and postpartum care. She and her team also equipped mothers in Chatham County with cameras, and published a book highlighting their photos and personal stories of barriers they faced in breastfeeding.

Marshall said that she and other public health advocates are worried about federal changes to public health. Though budget cuts were not as drastic as first proposed, she said instability and restructuring in the system are concerning. 

“I don't think it's just Georgia that's worried about how we're going to move forward with public health. I think it's everybody,” Marshall said. 

But Georgia has some things going for it, she said, starting with its abundance of public health education programs. 

“We have a powerhouse in this state of training the next generation of public health workers,” Marshall said. And public health research benefits Georgia residents in areas ranging from vaccination to food security. 

Marshall said she wants to ensure that rural perspectives are included, not “an afterthought.” She gave the example of the rush to telemedicine and virtual education during the pandemic, which helped many but could not reach parts of the state that lack reliable internet access. 

“Looking at health from the local level and having that local expertise helps to make sure that that specific county's needs are being met. What's happening in Bulloch County is completely different than what's happening in Fulton County,” Marshall said. 

Public health students at Georgia Southern and across the country are anxious about the future of their profession, she said. But she hasn’t lost hope and tries to impart that to them. 

“Public health is everything. You can attach any career, anything to health outcomes,” Marshall said. She encourages students to look at the transferable skills they’ve learned, like program planning, public speaking, research, and leadership.   

Marshall cites her own experience as an example. Her studies in religion at Spelman shape how she approaches public health. 

“There are pieces that I'm able to use in my career now, because community engagement is my calling card.” 

• A CORRECTION: In last week’s newsletter, we had a typo in the amount of Georgia’s public health budget: It’s $922 million+, not billion. Wouldn’t that be something? Thanks to the alert reader who pointed out the error.

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday: Neighborhood Nexus will host its quarterly data breakfast at 8:30 a.m at Mercy Care on Decatur Street. The theme is Groundhog Day and there will be donuts. 🍩 Register here for more details. 

• Feb. 27: Science for Georgia hosts Jazz Hands! Science Comedy at Wild Heaven West End; doors open at 7 p.m. Get tickets here. 

• March 5: The Southern Alliance for Public Health will hold a training on using data for impactful storytelling at noon. More details and registration here. 

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