National Public Health Week (NPHW) runs from April 1-7 and joins communities across the United States, in recognizing the important contributions of public health professionals and bringing awareness to issues facing our nation’s collective health — from the environment to access to essential resources.
One vital issue is the dire need for more health professionals. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), the United States will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire 200,000 nurses per year to meet the increased demand and replace retiring nurses. At NAF, we’re helping to bridge the healthcare gap, by shaping the next generation of health professionals through our Academies of Health Sciences.
Our Academies of Health Sciences pathway is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has nearly 18,000 students enrolled in 98 academies nationwide. Our Health Sciences students are provided career-focused curricula and hands-on learning experiences, such as clinicals in hospitals, to prepare them for continued studies in their post-secondary education. Kartik Tyagi, an NAF alum and 2021 NAF Alumni Award Winner, attributes his success, as the Senior Strategist for Policy and Communications at the NC Department of Health and Human Services, to the foundational experiences he gained at the Academy of Health Sciences.
“I was blessed to join the NAF Academy of Health Sciences at Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina as a ninth-grade student, an experience that afforded me engaging healthcare internships, professional certifications, and access to an expansive alumni and professional network. More importantly, though, it was the skillsets and personal growth through my academy experience that afforded me the opportunity to learn and develop as a health policy and management student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill…Ultimately, my experiences at NAF set me up for success in my current role that I began after graduating from UNC, leading communications, policy, and engagement strategy for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Child and Family Well-Being portfolio. And what a true privilege it has been to support expansive state and federal programs that directly support the physical, behavioral, and social needs of North Carolina’s children to ensure they are healthy and thriving in safe, stable, and nurturing families, schools, and communities.”
Additionally, mentorship played a key role during Kartik’s career journey in the health sciences field.
“A mentor who has made a difference along my health science journey is Mrs. Benicia Ledford, coordinator of the Enloe High School, Academy of Health Sciences in Raleigh, North Carolina and my first HOSA-Future Health Professionals advisor. Not only was Mrs. Ledford a supportive teacher who encouraged me in each and every capacity in the classroom as I took her biomedical science and pharmacy technician certification courses – but she empowered me to seek opportunities to develop my leadership and professional skillsets outside of the classroom, especially through opportunities in the community, as well as through organizations like HOSA-Future Health Professionals, an organization I have been involved with for nine years. Her mentorship truly had a huge impact on my journey, molding my interests in public health and healthcare, allowing me to realize what I was really, truly passionate about.”
Kartik is paying forward what was instilled in him through his academy experience, by serving on the Academy of Health Science Advisory Board at Enloe High School and by offering guidance to college-aged alumni as a mentor in NAF’s Alumni Mentorship Program.
“When speaking with students who are interested in health, I often share with them conversations I have had with some of my friends, who often tell me that one of the most universal aspects of our society is money. And although money does make the world go round, I’d argue that the most universal thing is health – healthcare – since it’s about much more than what happens at hospitals and doctor’s offices – it’s about public safety – mental health and well-being – basic needs — and social supports. Health professionals have a shared commitment – to care. A heartfelt commitment to ensure the success, secure the prosperity, and promote the well-being of all – to care for all people in all communities, regardless of age, gender, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation. Fulfilling this charge, though, can be done in more ways than you might think – from the hospital to the clinic, the community organization to the non-profit, the school system to the football field, the pharmacy to the insurance company, or the consulting firm to the government agency, a career in health knows no bounds. And if that sounds interesting to you, go for it.”
You can join NAF in celebrating National Public Health Week by exploring the resources below and learning more about our Academy of Health Sciences pathway.
Resources:
NAF Expedition in Partnership with AAMC
NAF Academy of Health Science Student Spotlight
Promote NPHW
