9: Journey to Disability, Aging and Behavioral Health Policy Advisor in D.C. Government with Michael J.E. Grier, MPH

Interview with Michael J.E. Grier, MPH

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Highlights from this episode:

1. Working in the intersection of health policy and public health
2. Join professional groups to expand your thought partnership
3. Highlights the importance of mental health and taking care of yourself

Episode 9 of Public Health Careers

Michael J.E. Grier, MPH talks about his public health journey to his role as a Disability, Aging and Behavioral Health Policy Advisor for the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services at the Government of the District of Columbia. He was traditionally studying undergraduate biology wanting to pursue medical school. Through his undergraduate journey he expand his horizon in part to one of his professors, Dr. Cynthia Burroughs, who helped him to think of health outside of just the medical route. Public health and an MPH was his plan B on his path to medical school, however he found love in the field of public health by finding his niche and thus didn’t pursue medical school after his MPH.

Michael did his Bachelors in Biology at Philander Smith College in Arkansas and completed his Master of Public Health at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with the concentration of health policy & management. He shares how he got his first job after his MPH by turning his preceptorship at the Arkansas Health Department into a full time position.

Driven by wanting to be in the Washington D.C. environment, Michael switched jobs to become a Campaign Organizer/Health Policy Advisor for the Democratic Party of Arkansas. He then jumped to CSR Incorporated as a Technical Assistance and Data Manager where he was able to work on the national Ryan White HIV program to collect, manage, and analyze the data. Then he switched to a government job because he wanted to be able to see the work he is doing and really see the projects through. This moved him to his current position as a Disability, Aging and Behavioral Health Policy Advisor. He actually stumbled across this job posting where he was able to find a position perfect to him – don’t limit yourself and click one more time.

His advice to students wanting to get involved says to find something you’re passionate about and find the public health in that! His two recommendations are: 1) get a therapist, even if you’re only seeing them every 6 months, and 2) find professional groups that you can join to help expand your network and your thoughts.