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Public Health Week Profiles from Previous Years

 Helping prevent two of the country's most serious health threats.

Early on, Paj Nandi realized he was being pulled toward public health where he could make a difference on a larger scale. He volunteered for a summer internship through the World Health Organization’s tuberculosis prevention program in Thailand. It solidified what he really wanted to pursue as a career. He went on to earn his Master of Public Health degree at the George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Nandi manages the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program and leads a team of four. With funding from a CDC grant, the program focuses on environmental and system changes that can help prevent heart disease and stroke. A key is working to improve emergency response to be sure the right system is in place for patients to get timely treatment and proper care for a heart attack or stroke.

“Public health is about changing social norms and working to achieve health equity, and implement policies that create healthier, better communities,” says Nandi. The Healthy Communities project is another piece of important work focusing on developing policies and systems change to address chronic disease. We can’t rely on individuals and communities to carry the burden without policies that support healthy behaviors. Nandi and his team work with local partners to help communities in greatest need.

Improving quality of care can prevent reoccurring cardiovascular health issues, and that means working with physicians, nurses, and clinical staff to find long term solutions. Controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol are key things that happen at the community level, provider level, or work site level.

Nandi is proud of the blood pressure monitoring project piloted by his program. The wellness rooms on the first floor of each agency building have blood pressure monitors and easy to read instructions to help employees track their numbers.

These are examples of what drew Paj to public health: a chance to help people get the care they need, and influence change at the policy and system level for greater, lasting impact.