A year after finishing my MPH in 2001 I landed a job I absolutely loved as executive director at a community health center. But that program was eliminated after George W. Bush became president. I still vividly remember the surreal experience of stuffing the remnants of a job I found deeply fulfilling into boxes and walking into a state of uncertainty about what I might do next.
I’ve weathered many changes since then—nine roles with four institutions, navigating the public health field through fluctuations in funding and grants being cut. I have experienced being underemployed, overemployed, and everything in between—I have embraced reinvention. 
While public health is under severe threat, there are practices that can anchor us, support our resilience, and keep us on a course of professional growth.
1. Align with your core values.
My core values are shared humanity and service. I didn’t always know this, but now I can see them threaded through every role I have held. Identify your own values—they will help you choose roles wisely, and keep you grounded if you face an unwanted professional transition. A moral compass can help assess potential positions that may not seem ideal but in fact offer professional reward and personal fulfillment.
2. Leverage your YSPH training and practice experiences.
The specific skills I learned in my chronic disease epidemiology courses—such as data and project management, analysis, and grant writing—were essential. But it was the adaptive skills embedded in public health practice that made me versatile. Change management, adopting a learning mindset, forging community and academic partnerships, and systems thinking have proven vital in my career. These skills were seeded during my practice training at YSPH, including my time as a research assistant at the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center and a year-long practicum project.
3. Embrace potential.
Challenging times taught me the importance of being open to roles I might not have initially considered. When facing a layoff due to dwindling grant support, I transitioned from academic research to a program manager position at a local nonprofit. The position title was a step down, but I could see I would gain experience, the organizational culture was strong, and there was a path to promotion. Within the year, I was promoted to a higher title and salary. Immediate fit is good, but there may be promotion opportunities within an organization that can prove crucial to your career. My flexibility (and inquiry) led me to discover interesting and rewarding positions that were career boosters.
4. Draw from your relationships.
I learned the importance of seeking guidance and support from mentors and my professional network. They often recognized strengths in me that I didn't value in myself and provided critical connections. They have guided me toward more suitable roles when I was ready to settle for the next available position out of fear. Regularly communicating with mentors and peers helped me navigate my career path more effectively, especially because many had experienced similar struggles.
5. Prioritize your mental health and persistence.
The job search process can be exhausting and demoralizing, particularly in a challenging job market. I prioritized my mental health by setting small, achievable goals each day, which helped me maintain a sense of progress and control. Consistently applying to new opportunities was vital, even if a job description seemed a perfect fit and I was waiting to hear back. This persistence was key to staying motivated and resilient.
In my experience, public health is fundamentally about responding to change. It requires us to develop and practice adaptability. MPH training equips us with flexibility and resilience, qualities I believe will serve graduates facing our current uncertain times.
Susan Nappi, DrPH, MPH ‘01, is executive director of the Office of Public Health Practice.