Working in health promotion and becoming CHES® certified, with Nakia Bolden

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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Nakia Bolden, a full time MPH student, certified health education specialist, and entrepreneur. They talk about what the CHES is and how to obtain it, working in public health with an undergraduate degree, and Nakia’s experiences starting her own health education business. 

You’ll Learn

• How Nakia became interested in public health and what motivated her to pursue a MPH
• How to start working in public health without a having a MPH
• What benefits can come out of being engaged in your profession’s community and how you can connect with these communities and networks
• Tips on how to balance your school, work, and personal life
• What a day in the life of a vaccine demand strategist looks like
  • How social media and infographic design skills can be fundamental to health communication
• What a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) is 
  • The process to becoming certified and maintaining certification
  • What opportunities being certified can open for you
• How Nakia experiences and handles imposter syndrome
• Nakia’s experiences with starting her own business and her goals for I Am Health Education
  • What kinds of resources are available through I Am Health Education

Today’s Guest

I am a Certified Health Education Specialist, CHES®. I have a bachelor's degree in health sciences and I am currently pursuing my Master of Public Health from Indiana State University. I have 3 years of experience in managing infectious disease programs to improve health outcomes and health equity. I am also a consultant at I Am Health Education, our vision is to "Promote and advocate for health equity and the Certified Health Education Specialist, CHES®, Certification"

Resources

• Visit Nakia’s website, I Am Health Education
• Learn more about The Black Ladies in Public Health Organization 
• Learn more about The Certified Health Education Specialist Certification and the Companion Guide for Health Education Specialists
• Buy the book 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think

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