Jessica Davies, MPH ’21, is driven by a deep commitment to public health—a field she feels found her rather than the other way around.
I am incredibly passionate about public health. I always say I didn’t find public health, public health found me. When you’re feeling burnt out, the best thing to do is find the areas that spark your passion for public health and do your best to return to that work. That’s what we did with our staff at Panhandle Public Health when we were immersed in our COVID response. Ask yourself, “What was the reason I really want to be in public health?” Return to that.
For me, I build energy through working with diverse groups of people who are working toward a common goal, especially in the realm of public health. I also enjoy facilitating and leading community groups through action plans and then being a part of their work coming to fruition. That’s ultimately where I build energy and what I go back to in my work.
It would be remiss to not say that there’s been tremendous moral injury from all that we’ve been part of in public health over the last few years. As public health workers, we have an incredible commitment to serve our communities, and going back to that motivation is always best.
