Sign Up for Public Health Weekly Newsletter
Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, an ASTHO member and a retired Air Force colonel, tells us how the military prepared him for his role in public health; Sara Bell, ASTHO senior analyst for Public Health Systems and...
Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, an ASTHO member and a retired Air Force colonel, tells us how the military prepared him for his role in public health; Sara Bell, ASTHO senior analyst for Public Health Systems and Planning, tells us about a recent ASTHO learning community series focused on public health planning; and ASTHO is sharing best practices for environmental agency resiliency planning.
State of Hawaii Web Page: Director of Health
ASTHO Blog Article: Balancing Structure and Flexibility for Effective Public Health Planning
ASTHO Report: State Resiliency Planning Considerations
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, November 8, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KENNETH FINK:
So, I began as a family physician, as a traditional reservist assigned to the 9/32 medical Squadron at Scott Air Force Base.
SILVERS:
The U.S. will honor its veterans on Monday. We sat down with ASTHO member, Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaii Department of Health. Fink also spent 23 years in the Air Force and retired as a colonel.
FINK:
I grew up actually seeing Desert Storm largely on television and I wondered, 'Why was it them and not me?' So, when I had the opportunity, actually during my fellowship, I did a direct commission into the Air Force and had a career in the Air Force Reserve component.
SILVERS:
Throughout his career, Fink has worked as a family physician, taught others as a military medical educator at the Uniformed Services University, worked as a flight surgeon, and much more. Fink talks about the similarities between the military and public health.
FINK:
What I found they both have in common is their mission orientation. Both were clear of their mission and I guess, for me, how much I value public service. So, having clarity of the 'why?' And I had that throughout my military assignments and I think I brought that to the, you know, our Department of Health today.
SILVERS:
Fink uses those skills he learned from military service.
FINK:
I have found the military to do a very good job in leadership development and succession planning and I've tried to bring some of that as well. Granted, I could do better, but I think that there are a lot of strengths that I have learned from my military experience that I've tried to bring in.
SILVERS:
You can learn more about Dr. Fink and his background by clicking the link in the show notes.
A recent ASTHO Learning Community series focused on public health planning for the U.S. Affiliated Pacific islands. Here's ASTHO's Sara Bell.
SARA BELL:
So, particularly those in any sort of planning capacity, so, be it community health assessments, community health improvement plans, strategic planning, data modernization plans, workforce plans.
SILVERS:
A big focus was preparing for change, says Bell.
BELL:
The learning community series really emphasized that effective planning is as much about structure as it is about adaptability. Participants learned that by starting with strong foundational elements like mission vision and a solid work group structure, they could create a clear path forward.
SILVERS:
Bell adds collaboration from employees of all disciplines was one of the most beneficial parts of the learning series.
BELL:
So, by bringing community health planners into the same virtual space as data, modernization, strategic, and even workforce planners, participants could really see how the planning cycle aligns across those different initiatives.
SILVERS:
An ASTHO blog article recapping the Learning Community series is now online. Use the link in the show notes to learn more.
Also today, ASTHO is sharing best practices for environmental agency resiliency planning. O'Keyla Cooper has more.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
In spring 2024, ASTHO and the Environmental Council of the States partnered to enhance resiliency planning for health and environmental agencies. After hosting regional listening sessions on disaster preparedness for vulnerable communities, they compiled a summary report to aid these efforts. You can download the full report by clicking the link in the show notes.
SILVERS:
Finally, this morning, sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Review Weekly newsletter. Get the latest top stories in public health delivered to your inbox each and every week. It's the perfect compliment to this newscast. And of course, the link to sign up is in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're off on Monday to honor Veterans Day, but we will be back on Tuesday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great holiday weekend.
