Angela Cochran, MS

Angela Cochran, MS Profile Photo

Division Director, Health Promotion and Community Services, St. Mary's County Health Department

Oct. 28, 2026

1233: Rethinking Soft Skills as Essential Public Health Leadership Skills

Angela Cochran, division director of Health Promotion and Community Services at St. Mary’s County Health Department, explains why skills such as empathy, communication, and intellectual humility are essential to effective leadership. She also reflects on her time in the Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health (DELPH) program and shares how the experience helps public health leaders build psychological safety, anchor decisions in organizational values, and strengthen collaboration.