Episode #425 The Heart of Public Health with Visha Patel
- Laura Hollabaugh
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- Oct 6
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
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.
Meet Visha Patel
Visha Patel is a current MHS candidate in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, specializing in cancer research. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Psychology from Wichita State University and further specialized in Oncology nursing at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She recently collaborated on one-of-a-kind research with Dr. Michael R. Desjardins, focusing on trends in gynecologic cancer across the U.S. to determine whether late-stage diagnosis is associated with social determinants of health using spatial analysis.
Visha has collaborated to develop the BSPH Peer Coaching Program at Johns Hopkins to provide support and guidance throughout graduate student experience, fostering their academic and professional development. She also works with the Office of student disability services, overseeing and supporting a team of graduate assistants to enhance support and accessibility. She is focused on making public health studies available to everyone. At the core of her work, Visha Patel is driven by a profound commitment to community well-being and a strong belief in the transformative power of public health research. Whether identifying and addressing data bias or devising more effective ways to convey findings, she is dedicated to improving the accuracy, accessibility, and impact of public health research.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Health is “complete physical, mental, and social well-being,” not just the absence of disease—a perspective rooted in the World Health Organization definition.
Public health focuses on the well-being of entire communities, protecting people through research, data, policy, and advocacy, regardless of background or status.
Sharing personal stories, especially from lived experience in nursing or family history, helps people connect emotionally to public health and understand its far-reaching value.
Public health is broad and intersects with numerous fields—it’s not confined to laboratories but includes hands-on work, community engagement, and policy changes.
Explaining public health to family and friends using plain language and relatable examples is a powerful tool for increasing understanding and support.
Historical wins—like smallpox eradication—and recent examples like COVID-19 vaccination campaigns show the impact of public health “behind the scenes”.
Every public health professional’s story is an opportunity to advocate for the field’s value, especially when talking to people who may not understand its breadth.
Raising the public’s understanding of—and appreciation for—public health makes it harder for decision-makers to cut crucial programs, strengthening our collective resilience.
“Public health is not just working in a lab. It’s research, policy, advocacy, and connecting with communities to make real changes.”— Visha Patel
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Public Health Consulting To Support You
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
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