Episode #428 How Courage Transforms Public Health Leadership, With Kristi McClamroch, Phd, MPH
- Laura Hollabaugh
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Dr. Huntley welcomes back Dr. Kristi McClamroch, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, disruptor, and founder of Courageous Public Health. This episode dives deep into the power of courage—what it means, why it matters, and how public health professionals can lean on courage as a practice and pathway to resilience during times of uncertainty and upheaval. Drawing from her journey as a mom, scientist, leader, and creator, Dr. McClamroch shares actionable guidance for individuals and organizations striving not just to survive but to transform and rebuild public health in 2025's rapidly shifting environment.
Meet Kristi McClamroch
Kristi McClamroch, PhD, MPH, is an infectious disease epidemiologist, public health strategist, and storyteller with three decades of experience leading research, programs, and people across academic, nonprofit, and government settings. She is the founder and CEO of Courageous Public Health, LLC, a consulting firm committed to helping women lead with authenticity, vision, and courage in a complex and imperfect public health system.
Dr. McClamroch’s journey through public health is rooted in both scientific expertise and lived experience. She earned her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MPH and BS in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. Over the course of her career, she has worked as a university professor, epidemiologist, program evaluator, youth development director, technical writer, and executive director. Her research has spanned global HIV/AIDS surveillance, adolescent sexual health, and social justice in underserved communities. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and served as a principal investigator on community-based grants, all while mentoring the next generation of public health professionals.
In 2024, Dr. McClamroch launched Courageous Public Health to center healing, justice, and personal transformation as essential components of public health leadership. Through keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and podcasting, she creates spaces where women in public health can explore their stories, reclaim their power, and take unapologetic action for equity and systemic change.
Dr. McClamroch is also the host of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, where she interviews courageous BIPOC women doing the work of public health. Her guests are changemakers who are reshaping what it means to lead. Her voice is known for its honesty, warmth, and depth—reflecting her core belief that public health work is personal, and that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of it.
When she’s not leading Courageous Public Health, Dr. McClamroch is writing her first book—a memoir weaving together personal narrative, ancestral trauma, and public health insight—leaning into her vision of courage, freedom, connection, and kindness, and living very much out loud.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the commitment to act despite fear—especially in public health.
Bravery means acting without fear, while courage is moving forward despite it.
Fear can be a catalyst in our professional lives, turning anxiety into vision-driven action and personal growth.
Public health professionals must recognize and celebrate daily acts of courage to combat burnout and amplify impact.
The chaos and systemic challenges faced today are intentional barriers; pausing to process emotions and taking bold steps forward is essential for resilient leadership.
Courage, like positivity, is contagious within teams, organizations, and the entire field.
Rebuilding public health after challenging years isn’t just a task—it’s an opportunity to create something stronger, more inclusive, and visionary.
Dr. McClamroch provides a custom framework and workshops for public health organizations, focusing on embedding courage into workplaces, leadership, and culture.
"Fear is actually an opportunity for me to take action... to be courageous and still take action." — Dr. Kristi McClamroch
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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.