Leading the Way Q&A: Facing Change at her Health Department, Allison Smith Turned to CSTE

By Ben Warden, CSTE Staff

Allison Smith, MPH is Chief Epidemiologist for the Dutchess County (NY) Department of Mental Health. While she initially sought out CSTE LEAD to help broaden stakeholder engagement during an increase of STI rates, the program also helped her navigate an uncertain time when the structure of her health department changed.

We recently spoke with Allison about her experience and how LEAD helped her manage the shake-ups and challenges she faced. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

What first made you interested in public health?
I feel like this is a common story with a lot of my epi colleagues [laughs]. When I started off college and undergrad, I wanted to be a physician. I realized about halfway through that it wasn't for me. But I was always interested in epidemiology from a medical perspective, and I was more interested in research as a position.  

My biochemistry professor covered John Snow and epi basics over the course of a week. I remember sitting there thinking, "Ooh, that's it. That's what I wanted to do." I just didn't really have a concrete name for it. No one had ever really told me about it. I went to grad school right after undergrad, and it was fortunately a great fit. 

(After grad school, Smith worked at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene before taking a position near where she grew up in Dutchess County, New York.)

How did you find out about CSTE LEAD?
I can’t remember exactly, but it was from a forwarded email or just from bouncing around the [CSTE] website. I remember looking at it and having an “aha” moment of this being the next step for someone who's been in the field for almost 10 years. I'm supervising, but I'm not technically management.  

[CSTE LEAD] is specifically tailored to someone with an epi background, which I thought was great because most of my supervisors that I've had personally have not been epis. So really putting together those leadership skills in epi I thought was the right thing to do for someone in my position.

Can you tell us a little about your project?
We had increased STI rates in our region and wanted to bring in alternative data sources and different data sets from our regional health information organizations. One example would be bringing health educators or nurses out to areas facing high STI rates to give education or prophylaxis, or whatever was needed.

But I was thrown a curveball when it was announced that our department was splitting into two separate departments. There would be a Department of Mental Health, as well as a Department of Health. It then morphed into navigating that situation as well.

What was your specific end goal?
Really, it became integrating the epi bio[statistics] team into other divisions across the department. We were normally called when people were like, "Hey, I think I'm noticing an uptick in chlamydia." Or, "Hey, we got a call about someone getting sick, they think it might be implicating this restaurant." Or, "Hey, I just need data on breast cancer rates." Anything like that. Now, I think the team is much more involved in those conversations from the get-go so they can actually provide their input and feedback because not everyone thinks like an epidemiologist.

Would you say you met that goal?
I think I was pretty successful, and I think it's growing a little more. I think the LEAD program strengthened my leadership skills, but I like to think I kind of [also] maybe pushed a little into the folks I was supervising, so they feel a little more empowered to take on those roles too.

Do you have any advice for those thinking about applying to CSTE LEAD?
Do it. Especially after seeing all my peers’ final presentations, because one of all of our takeaways was the flexibility needed. Learning to move and roll with the punches, so to speak. I think having that flexibility in mind and just knowing that you are going to be studying and gaining these skills throughout the program, that's only going to strengthen you as an epi. It is focused on epis, but I think the skills can be applied to anyone, and I think the way it is delivered is really well done.

Interested in receiving similar epi-related guidance? Learn more about CSTE LEAD!