Name: Ethan Greenblatt, CHES

Degree and graduation year: Bachelor of Health Science in Health Sciences, May 2019

Current position: Health Education Supervisor, St. Louis County Department of Public Health

What have you been up to since graduating from Mizzou?

Since I graduated in May 2019, I have been promoting and improving the health of individuals living in the St. Louis area. In June 2019, I started at Mercy Virtual as a Navigator for the Virtual Mental Wellness Program, where I coordinated referrals for counseling and psychiatry for hundreds of mental health patients through telemedicine platforms. Additionally, I enrolled several family/internal medicine practices around Mercy’s service areas in our program, where we could provide on-the-spot behavioral health consultation in areas that tend to lack mental health resources/providers.

In August 2020, I joined the COVID-19 Response Team at the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health. I began mailing letters to notify exposed individuals to quarantine and took over a contact tracing coordinator shortly thereafter, overseeing a team of volunteers (staff, nursing students, community volunteers, etc.) doing contact tracing for COVID in the community. When my boss at the time resigned, I applied for his position and took over as the supervisor of the entire COVID-19 response for Saint Louis County.

As the pandemic evolved and other communicable diseases like Mpox became more prevalent in the community, I transitioned into my current role as the county’s health education supervisor. I lead a group of eight community health educators who provide outreach and health education to individuals for COVID, Mpox and chlamydia/gonorrhea. I’m active with the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Midwest Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education Midwest, and I’m currently working toward my certification in public health and master of public health.

What is the most rewarding or unexpected part of your work?

Working in public health, I have a passion for helping others live healthier and happier lives. And that is the most rewarding part of my work — the ability to create significant impact in people’s lives and enable them to live in their best health.

Over the past few years, my team and I have assisted thousands of people with needs related to COVID, Mpox and STIs. Most of these are one-offs: People call requesting information on testing, vaccination or other resources, we give them the information they need and the call ends with a thank you. While that feels great, the most rewarding part of my job is helping individuals beyond that. Individuals who need more than just information, who may have lost their jobs or loved ones and need someone that can listen, support them and reassure them that they will be okay.

Being able to support these individuals with compassion and empathy goes such a long way and is significantly more rewarding. At the end of these calls, someone might tell you, “I will be grateful to you until the day I die” or “You are my hero.” These experiences are way more powerful and keep me motivated to serve my community every day.

How are you improving the health and well-being of others?

As a health education supervisor at the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health, I oversee the team that provides information and education on prevention/treatment of COVID, STIs and Mpox. Many individuals we work with have neither received this education nor know how to protect themselves and those around them.

I work each day to plan, implement and evaluate programs that reduce health disparities in our community. We address the unique needs of Saint Louis County’s underserved and vulnerable populations, training our team to provide culturally competent care and increasing access to essential services like testing and treatment. We promote health equity in our community and remove barriers to services that enable individuals to live healthier.

How did your time in the College of Health Sciences prepare you for success?

The College of Health Science has prepared me for success in many ways.

The curriculum and faculty at CHS were excellent and equipped me with the background knowledge and practical skills I needed to be successful in planning, implementing and evaluating public health programs. The practical experiences I gained as a CHS student were invaluable. Through the internship requirement, I was able to gain real-life experience assessing community needs and planning interventions that would remove barriers to healthy living in rural Missouri counties. This not only gave me great experience but also reassured my passion for public health and improving health outcomes in my community.

Beyond that, the networks and connections I made during my time at CHS have been instrumental in my career. My connections with faculty members, peers and public health professionals have provided ongoing support and collaboration opportunities. Faculty mentors have offered me continued guidance and opened doors to various opportunities, like continued professional development, guest lectures and supporting current students as an alum.

Finally, the College of Health Sciences ignited my passion for public health. The diverse, interdisciplinary curriculum exposed me to various public health issues and gave me first-hand experience improving the health of my community. The passion that was cultivated during my studies and experiences in CHS continues to drive my work, motivating me to tackle public health challenges through a health equity lens and make a significant difference in my community.

What’s a favorite memory from your time at Mizzou?

My favorite memory from Mizzou was kissing the 50-yard line of Faurot Field at halftime of Mizzou’s 107th Homecoming game. Any Tiger fan would agree Homecoming is Mizzou’s best tradition, and I was honored to be one of the 37 students to serve on the Homecoming Steering Committee that planned the festivities in 2018. Hearing “Every True Son” surrounded by thousands of other students, alumni and fans wearing black and gold, I was overwhelmed with feelings of pride and passion for my alma mater. It was an amazing feeling that I’ll never forget.

Any advice for students interested in following a similar path?

As I mentioned earlier, the practical experience I gained from my internship gave me first-hand experience in public health and ignited my passion for the field. I’d encourage students to participate in internships, fellowships or other volunteer opportunities with public health organizations, NGOs, hospitals or government agencies. Real-world experience is invaluable and helps you understand practical challenges and first-hand applications of public health.

Get involved as much as possible; your network (who you know) is everything. While you are still enrolled at Mizzou, join student organizations, volunteer around campus and meet new people who share your interests and passion for helping the community. Doing so allows you to meet new people, build connections, and discover new passions. After you graduate and enter the field, join professional organizations such as the American Public Health Association or the Society of Public Health Education. Attend conferences, seminars and workshops to meet professionals in the field. Networking opens so many doors and can lead to many opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, jobs and continued support beyond graduation.

Embrace professional development and opportunities for continuing education as much as possible. Just because you graduate does not mean you need to stop learning. In fact, you should never stop learning. Public health is a dynamic field that evolves with new research, policies and challenges. By actively continuing your education and participating in professional development, you will be more informed of the current trends and issues and will learn new skills that will help you respond to public health challenges.

Public health is a broad field with numerous specialties and disciplines. Identify your area of passion early and seek targeted experiences and education in that specialty. Additionally, public health is not just a job — it is a commitment to improving health outcomes and equity for all communities. Your passion, dedication and continuous learning will be key drivers of your success.

Finally, savor every moment of your time at Mizzou in the College of Health Sciences. Working 40 hours a week is great, but it is not college. This time is a unique and transformative period in your life; embrace the highs and lows, make the most of every opportunity and enjoy the journey. You’ll look back on these years with fondness and pride.