For the first time, HSPH students have the opportunity to receive career coaching from working alumni as part of an official Career Services Office program.
Peter Crudele
The "career coaches'' are a part of the Career Services Office professional team and are available to meet with students by appointment at the office, which is located in Kresge G-29. The coaches are available during afternoons, evenings, and weekends to discuss various career development issues. These range from "nuts and bolts" matters such as the preparation of resumes/CVs to networking and learning about working in public health.
"Students always have asked for access to alumni who are actually in the public health field,'' Crudele said. "While I can talk to them about many career-related issues, these career coaches will be able to give them firsthand information on what the industry is specifically looking for. This group of career coaches brings to the table an amazing amount of experience and expertise that they are more than willing to share with the students.''
Although some students historically have contacted alumni on their own to talk about careers, the process was informal and not part of any official career services program, explained Crudele.
The coaches "`will work closely with the [Career Services] team to make sure all their interactions with the students are very professional and helpful,'' said Crudele. While the coaches are being compensated, students do not have to pay for the service, he noted.
So far, the program has lined up six alumni representing a broad range of public health careers to coach students. More are expected to be hired by fall.
The six include:
- Robert Barger, a family doctor who has served since 1989 as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Optimed Medical Services, an organization providing physician review to the managed care industry.
- Anthony Chen, a family physician working with the Cambridge Health Alliance in clinical care, administration, and community programs.
- David Netherton, Senior Director of Global Programs for InfoMedics, a pharmaceutical services provider that seeks to improve relationships between physicians and their patients.
- Jill Bassett, Deputy Chief of Staff for Massachusetts' new Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Harriet Epstein, an alumna who has worked for many years in community-based and international health programs.
- Catherine DeLorey, Director of the Women's Health Institute, an organization that provides workshops on women's health.
DeLorey said that she jumped at the opportunity to become involved in the career coaching program when contacted by Crudele.
"`Not only do I enjoy working with students, but I think this is an amazing roster he has put together for the students,'' she said. ``This is going to be a very valuable resource. I'm very much looking forward to it.''
She said that she sees her role as not just helping students tailor their resumes to specific fields, but leading them to resources, such as web sites and meetings, where they can get information and make contacts.
"Everybody talks about networking, but people don't exactly know how to do it,'' she said. ``Those of us who are out in the field probably have the best awareness of what's going on and where the opportunities lie.''
—ML
Copyright, 2009, President and Fellows of Harvard College
