180: Public Health AmeriCorps: Addressing the Nation’s Public Health Workforce Crisis with AJ Pearlman, JD

Interview with AJ Pearlman, JD

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Highlights from this episode:

1. The role the Public Health AmeriCorps has played in addressing the public health workforce challenge, the successes, and challenges
2. Learning how all of us can advocate for policies to improve our community’s health
Working under Michelle Obama and being the Director for Policy, Let’s Move! at Office of the First Lady, The White House
3. The importance of representation and being in the room for policy decisions – and specifically when it came to ACA and queer
4. Being the chief of staff for the covid-19 response
5. And how nonlinear a public health career path can look

Episode 180 of Public Health Careers podcast

AJ Pearlman, JD is Director, Public Health AmeriCorps where they are addressing the public health needs of our nation by advancing more equitable health outcomes for underserved communities, and gain onsite experience for future careers in health and medicine

They are a results-driven health care policy and management professional with a proven ability to strategically set and achieve organizational goals and solve problems as they arise. Passionate about improving access to health care for all people, including children and youth, and developing future leaders to serve in social justice movements.

She conferred a Bachelor in Psychology at University of California, Los Angeles. During her time here she worked as a Research Coordinator, UCLA Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program.

After working for a bit, AJ decided to pursue a Juris Doctor at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. During their time here, they worked as Arizona Center for Disability Law, the Arizona State legislature, Democratic Staff. the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for Representative Harry Mitchell in US House of Representatives.

AJ then transitioned to a Policy Fellow at the National Center for Transgender Equality. They then shifted to State Policy Attorney at Break the Cycle, then the Health Resources and Services Administration, External Affairs Specialist & then Policy Advisor.

They took their talents and became the Associate Director for Policy, Let’s Move! at Office of the First Lady, The White House. Then transitioned into Senior Advisor, Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Services at the US Department of Health and Human Services before becoming the Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, Office for Civil Rights.

They then moved into the role of Director of City Partnerships and then Senior Director, City Partnerships at KABOOM! Then became the Health Lead, Personnel Appointments Team for Biden-Harris Transition Team.

AJ served as Chief of Staff for the COVID-19 Response.

They currently work as Director, Public Health AmeriCorps.