136: Finding Your Way in the Public Health Field with Ajayi Pickering-Haynes

Guest: Ajayi Pickering-Haynes

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Highlights from this episode:

1. Making a path in public health and health equity as a student
2. Applying skills to nonprofit work in US V.I.
3. Being involved as a Master of Public Health student

Episode 136 of Public Health Careers

In today’s episode, we have Ajayi Pickering-Haynes who is a MPH candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Health Equity. Ajayi is a public health strategist, eloquent and passionate public speaker, thought and servant leader, and published writer. He works as Closing the Gap Program Coordinator & Health Equity Lead at State of Florida Department of Health as well as the Assistant Director of Youth Programming, Partnerships, & Advocacy at Positive Youth Development V.I.

He got his Bachelors of Biology at American University where he also got certified in Leadership and Ethical Development. During his time here he was a Death Investigation Intern & Researcher at Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Journaling Workshop Leader at Thrive DC and many positions at American University. Which included a cancer research lab assistant, technology borrowing & media services desk assistant, makerspace senior assistant, and teaching assistant.

He then proceeded to go to Americorps as a Student Success Coach at City Year. Then he transitioned to Orlando Health as a Patient Services Representative in the Neuro & Trauma Intensive Care Unit. He was then promoted to a Pathology Genetic Testing Sendout Specialist.

Ajayi then started working with an organization home in the US V.I. as the Program Coordinator of Positive Youth Development V.I. before his current role as the Assistant Director of Youth Programming, Partnerships, & Advocacy.

He then started his Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2022. Ajayi is currently working as a Research Assistant in the department of Health & Behavior & Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as well as a Closing the Gap Program Coordinator & Health Equity Lead at State of Florida Department of Health.