Discovering Your Medical Specialty: A Workshop with Sarah Little

In the journey to becoming a healthcare professional, discovering one's medical specialty is a pivotal step. Recently, the Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship hosted an insightful session with Sarah Little, a Senior Global Practice Specialist at DAI. Sarah's extensive experience in global development and public health governance provided interns with a unique perspective on finding their niche in the vast field of public health.

Sarah began the session by sharing her own career journey. With a Master’s degree in Democratic Governance from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from American University, Sarah has dedicated her career to civil society strengthening and governance program development. She recounted her experiences designing and managing democracy and governance programs across Southern and East Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), as well as her work with the Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), where she piloted social accountability programs globally.

After sharing her career highlights, Sarah engaged the interns in an interactive activity designed to help them explore different roles within a community. Each intern volunteered to role-play as different members of a northern Nigerian community, such as local healthcare workers, community leaders, and citizens. The rest of the group interviewed these role-playing interns to uncover the problems and challenges faced by the community.

The role-playing exercise was a dynamic way to understand the multifaceted nature of public health. Interns gained insight into the various stakeholders involved in community health and the importance of collaboration and communication.

Sarah emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity and adaptability in public health initiatives. She guided the interns in identifying key health issues within the community, such as access to clean water, maternal and child health, and infectious diseases. 

The session concluded with a discussion on the future of public health and the potential career paths available to the interns. Sarah encouraged them to explore various specialties and find their passion within public health. 

In summary, the workshop with Sarah Little was an enlightening experience for the interns, offering them a deeper understanding of public health and guiding them in discovering their medical specialties. Through Sarah’s stories and the interactive role-playing activity, the interns learned the importance of collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement in public health. As they continue their internship, they are now better equipped to explore and define their paths in the ever-evolving field of public health.