In this episode we talk with Dr. Nikki Kay a specialist Public Health physician currently based at the Duke-NUS Medical School Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) and SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) in Singapore.
We discussed:
Her 16 year career in public health medicine starting from her background and what motivated her to want to work in public health
Her experience taking care of family during the peak of the AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe and similarities of the HIV pandemic with COVID for health care workers
The decision to pursue medicine and what she enjoys about being at the frontlines of patient care
What she studied for her undergraduate and her many interests and work experiences as a public health swiss army knife!
Working at the frontlines of COVID in Singapore in 2020
Taking breaks in your career and learning to avoid burnout-Take care of you!
What public health means to her
The particular value of patient care experience in public health
Skills that she has that she found useful in her clinical-public health roles
How she navigates working with different stakeholders at different levels in her work and maximizes her experience and knowledge for the benefit of communities and people
Nikki the public health shapeshifter? Public Health CIA or FBI? Let's find out!
Word to the wise:
Knowing that you have what it takes for roles- believe in yourself!
You don't have to be perfect for an opportunity so do not talk yourself out of it
Don't skimp on Quant skills!-Do a little bit more math than you are comfortable with. It will come in handy
Work on your writing skills
Qualitative methodology is key
Soft skills- get to know to people in the field- stay connected
To those especially looking to pivot- say hi to people and Network
