Episode #470 Naming What We Mean, With Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
When "Health Equity" Becomes a Whisper
Across the field, more organizations are quietly softening or dropping the words "health equity" from their vocabulary. Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH, Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Projects at Health Leads, has chosen a different path. In this conversation with Dr. Huntley, she explains why naming the work clearly, even when it feels risky, is essential to sustaining it.
From Middle Tennessee to a National Nonprofit
Jacquelyn traces her path into public health back to an undergraduate advisor at Fisk University who pointed her toward summer programs in health disparities research. What started as a curiosity about lead exposure in older homes grew into a career centered on chronic disease, maternal and infant health, and community based programming. That foundation eventually led her to Health Leads, where she now works at the intersection of healthcare, public health, and community.
Redefining What Support Looks Like
Dr. Huntley and Jacquelyn dig into what health equity actually requires on the ground, from housing instability among children to the funding gaps facing community health workers, doulas, and home health aides.
Jacquelyn shares how she leads two national initiatives, the Health Equity Community Collaborative and the Community Based Workforce Alliance, both built to elevate the people doing frontline work rather than simply advocating on their behalf.
Leadership Rooted in Relationship
One of the most compelling threads in this episode is Jacquelyn's case for relationship building and self care as real leadership strategies. She describes how connection, rest, and even love as a deliberate practice help sustain partnerships during one of the most strained periods public health has faced in years.
About Our Guest
Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH
Jacquelyn S. Dalton, MPH, is the Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Projects at Health Leads, a national nonprofit celebrating its 30th year of work at the intersection of healthcare and community health. She brings over a decade of experience in public health, community health, and health equity leadership. Before joining Health Leads, Jacquelyn focused on addressing health disparities through academic research, community engagement, and community health programming at Meharry Medical College. Driven by a deep commitment to social justice, she is passionate about building collaborative initiatives and partnerships that uplift historically underserved communities. Jacquelyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Fisk University and a Master of Public Health degree from Tennessee State University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice. Outside of her role at Health Leads, Jacquelyn also provides consulting services in cultural humility training and strategic facilitation for cross sector partners.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Health starts outside the clinic.
Jacquelyn explains that Health Leads was built on the idea that healthcare alone cannot keep people healthy. Addressing housing, food access, and transportation matters just as much as what happens in a doctor's office.
Naming the work clearly is a form of leadership.
As many organizations shift away from explicit language around health equity, Jacquelyn continues to define it plainly: making sure everyone has what they need to achieve health, not the same things, but the right things for them.
Community based workers need sustained funding, not just recognition.
Jacquelyn's work with the Community Based Workforce Alliance advocates directly alongside community health workers, doulas, midwives, and home health aides, many of whom carry high trust but limited resources.
Relationship building is a strategic leadership tool, not a soft skill.
Jacquelyn and Dr. Huntley discuss how slowing down to connect with partners on a human level, rather than staying purely transactional, strengthens collaboration during difficult seasons.
Self care and community care sustain the field.
Through initiatives centered on rest and connection, Jacquelyn is helping public health professionals avoid burnout while continuing to show up for the communities they serve.
Co-design leads to better solutions.
Jacquelyn emphasizes bringing the people most affected by an issue into the room to help build the solution, rather than developing programs for communities without their input.
The need for public health has not changed.
Even amid shifting funding priorities and political climates, Jacquelyn encourages listeners to remember what first drew them to this field and to hold onto that reason.
"We like to say that having those conversations is actually a part of the work." — Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH
🎙️ Community Exclusive
This episode includes an After the Mic bonus conversation available only to PHEC Podcast Community members.
Join The PHEC Podcast Community
The conversation doesn't have to end when the episode does.
If you're looking to connect with other public health professionals, epidemiologists, and change-makers who are passionate about improving health outcomes, we invite you to join our growing community.
Join the community today and continue the conversation with public health professionals who understand your work and share your commitment to making a difference.
Connect With Our Guest:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Public Health Consulting
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.
Comments