Exploring Careers in Public Health

For the full playlist, visit our YouTube channel, where you will find all episodes and more series in our MIDDVantage collection.

Episode 6: Preparing for the ‘New Normal’: How COVID-19 will change Healthcare

• Guest: Chris Bernene ‘90, Partner, Oliver Wyman
• Interviewer: Jeff Sawyer, Director of Employer and Professional Network Development
• Overview: Chris Bernene is a founding partner in Oliver Wyman’s Health & Life Sciences Practice. With over 20 years at the firm, he has pioneered strategies in healthcare, from digital transformation to financing and consumer strategies. Chris has been active within the Middlebury Professional Network, mentoring students through on-campus programming and consulting guidance.
• Watch Time: 35 minutes

Episode 5: Views from Infectious Disease and ER Physicians

• Guest: Dr. Andrew Hale ‘06, Infectious Disease Specialist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont and Dr. Russ Johanson ‘06, Emergency Medicine Physician
• Interviewer: Allegra Molkenthin ‘19.5
• Overview: Dr. Andrew Hale and Dr. Russ Johanson bring their experience in infectious disease and emergency medicine to discuss real-world challenges. Together, they’ve co-taught Middlebury J-Term classes on Emerging Infectious Diseases, blending their expertise and passion for education.
• Watch Time: 22 minutes

Episode 4, Part 2: Global Health: From Campus to Career

• Guest: Mikail Dastgir ‘10, Public Health Specialist at World Bank Group
• Interviewer: Asra Muhammadi ‘20
• Overview: Mikail Dastgir, a specialist at the World Bank, works on health initiatives in Southern Africa and South Asia. With a background in global health, Mikail shares how his Middlebury education led him to a career in international health, touching on infectious disease epidemiology and maternal health.
• Watch Time: 23 minutes

Episode 4, Part 1: The World Bank’s Role in Global Health

• Guest: Mikail Dastgir ‘10, Public Health Specialist at World Bank Group
• Interviewer: Asra Muhammadi ‘20
• Overview: In part one of his interview, Mikail provides an inside look into the World Bank’s global health initiatives and discusses the critical role it plays in improving health systems in low-income regions.
• Watch Time: 41 minutes

Episode 3: Vaccine Development Experiences from a Private and Public Enterprise Perspective

• Guest: Agnes Mwakingwe-Omari ‘02, MD, PhD, Senior Clinical and Research Development Lead, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Interviewer: Guadalupe Vega ‘20
• Overview: Dr. Mwakingwe-Omari details her career in vaccine development, from her early experiences in clinical research at the NIH to her current role at GSK, where she focuses on vaccine research.
• Watch Time: 31 minutes

Episode 2: Policymaking at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Guest:  Seth Kroop ‘02, Associate Director for Policy in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Interviewer: John Carew ‘20
• Overview: Seth Kroop discusses his journey from Middlebury to the CDC, where he shapes policies on healthcare quality and safety. He shares insights from his work in emergency response to public health crises, including COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika.
• Watch Time: 24 minutes

Episode 1: An Overview of the Global Health Landscape: Issues, Challenges, and the State of Affairs

• Guest: Pam Berenbaum, Director Global Health Program at Middlebury College
• Interviewer: Fariha Haque, Director, Middlebury in DC
• Overview: Pam Berenbaum, Middlebury’s Director of Global Health, provides an introduction to the global health landscape, touching on health policy and emergency preparedness. She shares her experience as an epidemiologist and her commitment to educating students in the field.
• Watch Time: 27 minutes