Exploring Careers in Public Health | MIDDVantage

This series, Exploring Careers in Public Health, is a collaboration between the Career Center and Middlebury in DC, with contributions from Middlebury students and members of the Middlebury Professional Network. Whether you’re newly interested in public health or exploring career options, this series features interviews with professionals who share insights into the field’s challenges. Gain a close-up view of diverse roles in public health and discover potential career paths that make a difference on a global scale.

For the full playlist, visit our YouTube channel, where you will find all episodes and more series in our MIDDVantage collection.

  • Guest: Pam Berenbaum, Director Global Health Program at Middlebury College
  • Interviewer: Fariha Haque, Director, Middlebury in DC
  • Overview: Pam Berenbaum, Middlebury’s Director of Global Health, provides an introduction to the global health landscape, touching on health policy and emergency preparedness. She shares her experience as an epidemiologist and her commitment to educating students in the field.
  • Watch Time: 27 minutes

  • Guest:  Seth Kroop ‘02, Associate Director for Policy in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Interviewer: John Carew ‘20
  • Overview: Seth Kroop discusses his journey from Middlebury to the CDC, where he shapes policies on healthcare quality and safety. He shares insights from his work in emergency response to public health crises, including COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika.
  • Watch Time: 24 minutes

  • Guest: Agnes Mwakingwe-Omari ‘02, MD, PhD, Senior Clinical and Research Development Lead, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
  • Interviewer: Guadalupe Vega ‘20
  • Overview: Dr. Mwakingwe-Omari details her career in vaccine development, from her early experiences in clinical research at the NIH to her current role at GSK, where she focuses on vaccine research.
  • Watch Time: 31 minutes

  • Guest: Mikail Dastgir ‘10, Public Health Specialist at World Bank Group
  • Interviewer: Asra Muhammadi ‘20
  • Overview: In part one of his interview, Mikail provides an inside look into the World Bank’s global health initiatives and discusses the critical role it plays in improving health systems in low-income regions.
  • Watch Time: 41 minutes

  • Guest: Mikail Dastgir ‘10, Public Health Specialist at World Bank Group
  • Interviewer: Asra Muhammadi ‘20
  • Overview: Mikail Dastgir, a specialist at the World Bank, works on health initiatives in Southern Africa and South Asia. With a background in global health, Mikail shares how his Middlebury education led him to a career in international health, touching on infectious disease epidemiology and maternal health.
  • Watch Time: 23 minutes

  • Guests: Dr. Andrew Hale ‘06, Infectious Disease Specialist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont and Dr. Russ Johanson ‘06, Emergency Medicine Physician
  • Interviewer: Allegra Molkenthin ‘19.5
  • Overview: Dr. Andrew Hale and Dr. Russ Johanson bring their experience in infectious disease and emergency medicine to discuss real-world challenges. Together, they’ve co-taught Middlebury J-Term classes on Emerging Infectious Diseases, blending their expertise and passion for education.
  • Watch Time: 22 minutes

  • Guest: Chris Bernene ‘90, Partner, Oliver Wyman
  • Interviewer: Jeff Sawyer, Director of Employer and Professional Network Development
  • Overview: Chris Bernene is a founding partner in Oliver Wyman’s Health & Life Sciences Practice. With over 20 years at the firm, he has pioneered strategies in healthcare, from digital transformation to financing and consumer strategies. Chris has been active within the Middlebury Professional Network, mentoring students through on-campus programming and consulting guidance.
  • Watch Time: 35 minutes