Partners launch new podcast celebrating diverse voices in the public health workforce

The UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH), the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) and the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH London) have today launched a new podcast series – Belonging in Public Health – which explores and celebrates how identity shapes careers and experiences across the public health workforce.

Public health initiatives are delivered by a diverse and multi-professional community, and the people working to protect and improve the health of local, regional, national and international communities join public health from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds.

There is no single route into, or experience of, a career in public health. Released monthly, each episode features a guest discussing their journey into public health, how their identity has shaped their practice, what belonging means to them, and the challenges they see facing the profession.

The series is hosted by Samia Latif, FPH Board Member and Chair of the Faculty’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Matthew Bazeley-Bell, Deputy Chief Executive of RSPH, with guests invited from the specialist and wider public health workforce, from every stage in their career journey, and from across the UK.

In the opening episode Matthew is joined by Dr. Robyn Stephenson who reflects on her journey from clinical medicine in rural Jamaica into public health after seeing patients with treatable conditions repeatedly arrive at hospital in crisis. Robyn discusses leading the decentralisation of an HIV treatment service in rural Jamaica, co-founding Margin2Centre – a non-profit that supports health systems to better serve marginalised women – and how her identity as a queer, Black woman and post-colonial subject shapes her practice.

Alongside each episode, listeners can book a limited number of 15-minute one-to-one conversations with the featured guest through the series’ Human Library offering.

Belonging in Public Health invites listeners to ‘borrow’ a speaker – providing an opportunity to ask questions, hear more about a guest’s career in public health, or simply connect with a colleague whose journey resonates with their experiences.

Episode 1 is available now via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts and other major podcast platforms – subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode.

You can let us know if you are enjoying the podcast or have any other feedback by emailing [email protected].