81: Multimodal and Inclusive Approches to Public Health and Art with Derek Holland, MPH, MFAc

Interview with Derek Holland, MPH, MFAc

Listen Here:

Highlights from this episode:

1. Intersection of art and public health
2. Creating inclusive approaches to discussing important public health topics
3. Pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts to further public health

Episode 81 of Public Health Careers

Derek Holland, MPH, MFAc is a public health practitioner of art and public health. He is currently a Master of Fine Arts student at University of Illinois Chicago where he is merging public health with his art work through multimodal approaches.

Derek began his university career at Temple University studying environmental sciences before switching over to public health. He left Temple after his sophomore year after they cut their men track & field team. He then completed his Bachelors of Science in Family Science at University of Maryland, College Park.

During undergraduate, Derek was a Group Facilitator at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, an On-Campus Intern at Athlete Ally, and a Volunteer Assistant Event Coach at University of Maryland Track and Field Camps. Additionally, he worked as a Community Activism and Youth Engagement Inter at Truth Initiative where he went on to become a Youth Activist Fellow. Derek was also a Health Educator at Baltimore County Department.

He then went on to get his Master of Public Health at Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. While here he was a Research Assistant at Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, a Research Assistant and a Master Research Fellow.

After having a tough time getting a position after graduating, Derek was able to work part time as a Strategic Initiatives Capacity Building Associate at Project HOME. He then worked as a Research Project Coordinator II at Washington University in St. Louis.

Currently, Derek is pursuing his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Illinois Chicago. Here is he is intertwining his love for public health into his multimodal art and hopes to use his art as a way of forwarding public health.