Patience, perspiration, and passion, with Dr Firdosi Mehta
09/06/23 • 38 min
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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Firdosi Mehta, an adjunct professor at York University. They discuss his previous work at the WHO, the eradication of smallpox and polio, and his current work with mentoring and educating students and young professionals along their public health journeys.
You’ll Learn
- What motivated Dr. Mehta to pursue public health after his time in medical school
- Dr. Mehta’s memories of the WHO’s work in eradicating smallpox and his own work towards eradicating polio
- How kindness, compassion, and empathy is at the root of public health
- Networking and reputation building tips for job seeking
- Dr. Mehta’s mentoring experience and advice for students and young professionals
Today’s Guest
Dr Mehta has over 30 years of Public Health experience, more than half of which were with the WHO. He has worked in several countries and regions of the world. Dr Mehta completed his medical education in India after which he served in the Indian Navy Defense Services. He then served in the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman in various capacities for 10 years, the last being Director of Surveillance and Disease Control. Dr Mehta then joined the World Health Organization and worked in Somalia from 1998 – 2002, where he was responsible for supporting the control of TB and all other communicable diseases in a complex emergency situation. He moved from Somalia to Indonesia in 2002 in the capacity of Country Advisor Tuberculosis Control program (Mega High burden country) for seven years. Dr Mehta subsequently moved to Sri Lanka in 2009 as the WHO country Representative until 2014. His experience in emergency and humanitarian action, communicable disease control, health system issues, mental health and a keen focus on addressing non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka have been well recognized and acknowledged. He is an Adjunct Professor at York University and University of Toronto in Canada, as well as a senior Mentor on several mentoring platforms. In recognition of his contributions to the Global Health Program at York, a Global Health student prize has been named after him in 2022. He is a member on the Governance and Advisory committee on Human Trafficking at the Peel Institute on Violence prevention, Family services Peel Toronto. Also a member on a Lived experience Advisory committee on research at the Centers for Addictions and Mental health (CAMH) Toronto. Member on the Steering Committee on Research for Mental Health Equity in the Asia Pacific – Digital (REMAP-D) based at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Advisor on “The Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship” Nigeria, which is a platform created by Hutzpah Centre for Innovation and Development - a social enterprise aimed at promoting innovation across sectors in Africa
Resources
- Follow Dr. Mehta on LinkedIn
- Read more about Ali Maalin, the last man with smallpox
- MultiPod Mentoring
- Learn more about Family Services of Peel
Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.
Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!
Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!
In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Firdosi Mehta, an adjunct professor at York University. They discuss his previous work at the WHO, the eradication of smallpox and polio, and his current work with mentoring and educating students and young professionals along their public health journeys.
You’ll Learn
- What motivated Dr. Mehta to pursue public health after his time in medical school
- Dr. Mehta’s memories of the WHO’s work in eradicating smallpox and his own work towards eradicating polio
- How kindness, compassion, and empathy is at the root of public health
- Networking and reputation building tips for job seeking
- Dr. Mehta’s mentoring experience and advice for students and young professionals
Today’s Guest
Dr Mehta has over 30 years of Public Health experience, more than half of which were with the WHO. He has worked in several countries and regions of the world. Dr Mehta completed his medical education in India after which he served in the Indian Navy Defense Services. He then served in the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman in various capacities for 10 years, the last being Director of Surveillance and Disease Control. Dr Mehta then joined the World Health Organization and worked in Somalia from 1998 – 2002, where he was responsible for supporting the control of TB and all other communicable diseases in a complex emergency situation. He moved from Somalia to Indonesia in 2002 in the capacity of Country Advisor Tuberculosis Control program (Mega High burden country) for seven years. Dr Mehta subsequently moved to Sri Lanka in 2009 as the WHO country Representative until 2014. His experience in emergency and humanitarian action, communicable disease control, health system issues, mental health and a keen focus on addressing non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka have been well recognized and acknowledged. He is an Adjunct Professor at York University and University of Toronto in Canada, as well as a senior Mentor on several mentoring platforms. In recognition of his contributions to the Global Health Program at York, a Global Health student prize has been named after him in 2022. He is a member on the Governance and Advisory committee on Human Trafficking at the Peel Institute on Violence prevention, Family services Peel Toronto. Also a member on a Lived experience Advisory committee on research at the Centers for Addictions and Mental health (CAMH) Toronto. Member on the Steering Committee on Research for Mental Health Equity in the Asia Pacific – Digital (REMAP-D) based at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Advisor on “The Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship” Nigeria, which is a platform created by Hutzpah Centre for Innovation and Development - a social enterprise aimed at promoting innovation across sectors in Africa
Resources
- Follow Dr. Mehta on LinkedIn
- Read more about Ali Maalin, the last man with smallpox
- MultiPod Mentoring
- Learn more about Family Services of Peel
Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.
Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!
Previous Episode
Environmental Health and Safety, with Lynniece Warren
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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Lynniece Warren, the Executive Director of Risk Management at California State University, San Bernardino. They discuss Lynniece’s career journey, what environmental health and safety is, and tips on finding your niche in public health.
You’ll Learn
- How Lynniece discovered public and environmental health
- Tips on how to find opportunities for job shadowing
- What the role of an environmental health and safety specialist may entail
- The importance of building relationships with the community and those you are trying to influence or educate
- How COVID changed the responsibilities and technology needs for environmental health and safety
- The importance of being financially and legally aware in this role and how to gain these skills
- What a day as an Executive Director of Risk Management looks like
Today’s Guest
Hi, my name is Lynniece! My passion for public health has evolved into a dynamic international twenty-year career! Collaboration, analyzing, problem-solving, and measuring progress are what I enjoy professionally!
My administrative leadership at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) facilitates student, faculty, and staff success through the Offices of Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety. It's such a pleasure to oversee programs that prioritize the well-being of everyone on our campus and work with partners to protect the University's assets. Our teams work tirelessly to provide a safe environment for more than 23K students, faculty, and staff at our San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses. Let's talk about, ERM, insurance, health and safety, change management, and shared governance when you have time!
Resources
- Follow Lynniece on LinkedIn
- Learn more about the American Society of Safety Professionals
- Learn more about the National Environmental Health Association
- Learn more about the American Industrial Hygiene Association
- Learn more about the Occupational Health and Safety chapter of the American Public Health Association
Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.
Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!
Next Episode
From biomedical engineering to Public Health, with Shantanu Mishra
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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Shantanu Mishra, a biomolecular engineer and a current MSc Public Health for Development candidate. They discuss Shantanu’s work in public health after completing his engineering degree, his current experience as a Chevening Scholar at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical, and advice for gaining public health work experience for those considering a career in this field.
You’ll Learn
- Shantanu’s early interest in biology and how he went from chemical engineering to biomedical engineering to public health
- Shantanu’s work in health education with Teach for India and Triggerise
- Advice on landing public health or health adjacent jobs without previous public health education or experience
- Tips for effective networking and being diligent in your everyday tasks
- Shantanu’s experience as a Chevening Scholar at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and what he is working towards in his public health journey
Today’s Guest
Shantanu Mishra is a Biomolecular Engineer, currently a MSc candidate pursuing Public Health for Development as a UK government Chevening Scholar at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. With over 5 years of work experience prior to graduate school he was working as an Assistant Consultant within the Public Sector Governance portfolio at Oxford Policy Management in New Delhi at the intersection of governance and health systems strengthening with a focus on Bihar. He has worked on evaluations and big data across cross-cutting themes of WASH, Climate adaptation and business reforms during his time in the non-profit space.
Resources
- Connect with Shantanu on LinkedIn
- Learn more about Teach for India
- Learn more about Triggerise
- Learn more about the Chevening Scholarship
Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.
Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!
Public Health SPOTlight Podcast - Patience, perspiration, and passion, with Dr Firdosi Mehta
Transcript
Be passionate about what you do and what you have. It will stand you in good stead and I've always been passionate about what I do. I care about what I do. It stems from the- the innate desire to do good, and to make a difference in people's lives.
SujaniWelcome to PH SPOTlight, a community for you to build your public health career with. Join Us Weekly right here. And I'll be here too, your host Sujani
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