127: Public Health Strategist: Policy to Research to Regulation with Dr. Jovonni Spinner, PhD, MPH, CHES

Interview with Dr. Jovonni Spinner, PhD, MPH, CHES

Listen Here:

Highlights from episode:

1. Tips on how to work in public health regulation (FDA), policy (HHS), and research (NIH)
2. The power in choosing opportunities that align with your vision and mission for your life
3. The importance of sponsors in your career even more so than mentors

Episode 127 of Public Health Careers:

Dr. Jovonni Spinner, PhD, MPH, CHES is Founder and CEO of Beacon Public Health as well as Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Officer at the American Institutes of Physics. She is a visionary award-winning public health professional committed to improving health equity across the lifespan through research, communications, multi-sector partnerships and leadership.

Dr. Jovonni Spinner got her Bachelors in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduating she became an Outpatient Review Analyst at West Virginia Medical Institute. Then worked at the Virginia Department of Health in the Division of Immunization where she started off as a Consultant for the Vaccine for Children’s program. She was then promoted to Field Operations Supervisor and then Director of the Vaccines for Children Program.

She then went on to get her Master of Public Health at Emory University. Jovonni decided to move from her Director role into a Fellowship role as a Health Policy Analyst at HHS as a National Vaccine Program Officer. She then transitioned into a Public Health Analyst at national Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Jovonni then decided to pursue her PhD in Public Health at Morgan State University. She then moved into the Associate Director for Outreach & Communications at FDA, Officer of Minority Health and Health Equity. She now works as an Adjunct Faculty at Pacific College.

Her current roles are as Diversity, Equity & Belonging Officer at the American Institutes of Physics. As well as is the Founder and CEO of Beacon Public Health where they create solutions to help organizations address the pressing health needs of BIPOC communities to advance health equity and reduce health disparities.