A blog post written by Brie Godin, a 2020-2022 Fellow
While a fellowship is typically thought of as a training opportunity, fellows in the 2020-2022 cohort were in the unique position at beginning our placements during the greatest public health crisis of our lifetimes: the COVID-19 pandemic. For many fellows, myself included, this has meant taking an active role in the COVID response soon after entering our placement sites. While challenging, this has provided an opportunity to develop important career skills and contribute to the public health workforce in meaningful ways.
For my placement, I have been assigned to the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Healthcare (OPEHC), one of the nine bureaus and offices in the Division of Public Health (DPH) at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. OPEHC has been deeply engaged in the COVID response since the pandemic began, with several staff serving on various workgroups and in leadership roles within DPH. OPEHC has also received grant funding to assist with pandemic response efforts.
Upon starting at OPEHC, I immediately became involved in a variety of projects related to the COVID response. These have included grant development, vaccination planning, and Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR), a system working to provide staffing support to healthcare facilities throughout the state. These projects have provided an opportunity to develop skills, such as communication and leadership, while actively participating in response efforts.
My most recent - and perhaps most valuable role to date - has been serving as a member of the vaccination taskforce, a group consisting of various professionals throughout the Department of Health Services. I have participated in the education and communications workgroup and have also taken on a leadership role as a liaison for Wisconsin tribal governments.
A unique aspect of the fellowship program is the opportunity to take active leadership roles within placement sites. As tribal liaison for the vaccination taskforce, I have been directly tasked with answering or seeking out answers to critical questions from the eleven federally recognized tribal governments in Wisconsin related to all aspects of vaccination. I have also been involved in the allocation and ordering process, ensuring that vaccine is safely and ethically distributed to our tribal partners.
My role in the vaccination taskforce in particular has led to incredible opportunities. For instance, I was able to participate in one of the first vaccine distribution events, a truly groundbreaking experience. I have also been privileged to participate in a variety of meetings and events such as a meeting of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. These opportunities have allowed me to make connections with professionals outside of my worksite, potentially leading to future opportunities.
While becoming directly involved in the COVID response shortly after beginning the fellowship has certainly been a “trial by fire” of sorts, it has been incredibly rewarding to know that not only am I gaining valuable skills in public health, but that I am directly contributing to the public health workforce in a meaningful way. Working in OPEHC during the pandemic has also provided the chance to actively witness and be involved in emergency preparedness. The 2020-2022 cohort truly has an incredible opportunity, and I am very excited to witness the continued efforts of this group within the COVID response.
