AIM for PH: Navigating Aspiration, Inspiration, and Motivation for Public Health

MAYUR TRIVEDI

In India, the field of public health (PH) is rapidly growing and inviting individuals with diverse backgrounds to participate in its interdisciplinary approach. A pursuit that was once considered niche has now transformed into an enticing professional pathway for many young people. The PH training not only equips the aspirants with the necessary knowledge and skills to serve society and increase awareness among the underprivileged but also helps them in understanding the intricacies of the self, society, and the system. Through the captivating and highly interactive learning experiences provided, individuals can deeply engage in exploration and introspection, examining the purpose and potential of their career in public health. The AIM (Aspiration, Inspiration, and Motivation) for PH framework acts as a guide to nurture aspirations, draw inspirations, and foster motivation for individuals embarking on this transformative journey.

Aspiration in public health transcends mere career goals; it is a marathon, not a sprint. PH competencies, skills, and knowledge can accomplish a lot. Beyond the allure of immediate rewards, like campus placement, PH aspirants must envision their broader contributions to society. Success in public health is not one-size-fits-all; it's defined by individual journeys and the impact they create. This could manifest in various forms, from leading impactful organizations to becoming a social entrepreneur, or pioneering research or advocating for policy change, or entering academia to teach and mentor next-gen leaders.  While platforms like LinkedIn offer avenues for professional connection, true alignment with one's values and emotions is essential to define PH aspirations in absolute terms.  Some view getting a job in a world health organization as a success, while others see quitting such one to start an organization focused on tribal communities as a triumph.

Millennial PH aspirants often grapple with academic pressures and financial uncertainties. The transition from academia to the workforce can be daunting, overshadowed by stories of stagnation and low salaries. When collaboration is replaced with competition, anxieties and worries consume their social and professional worlds. In such moments of doubt, they require not just guidance but also inspiration to take a quantum leap to a higher orbit as a mid-career professional.  The diverse experiences of seasoned professionals—from grassroots activists to long-serving organization founders to development leaders—can ignite a flame of possibility. Such inspiration can also come from those who have found joy and peace from their unconventional choices. A young MPH graduate may find inspiration in her village health worker mother's efforts to single-handedly improve local water and sanitation challenges. The young couple's community physiotherapy work may inspire paramedical graduates to pursue social entrepreneurship.  Narratives of such lived experiences can infuse optimism and purpose into the journey and a vision to their desire.

Encouragement is necessary to start and sustain the desire and vision. Motivation in PH extends beyond motivational speakers and self-help books; it requires a collective effort to foster a culture of intrinsic recognition and support. While the industry may lack mainstream acknowledgment, PH institutions and practitioners play a pivotal role in nurturing and motivating aspiring individuals and their families.  Beyond traditional avenues of classrooms, meeting rooms, and conferences, public health conversations must extend to diverse realms—environment, development, gender, and beyond. It is important to acknowledge and applaud public health actions in the mundane and the exquisite.  In the broader context of preventing illness and injuries, the traditional examples of public health measures include wearing helmets and seatbelts, ensuring access to clean drinking water, and providing adequate toilet facilities. However, to address new-age public health concerns effectively, discussions on topics like rapes and violence, heatwaves, and air pollution should also be mainstreamed.  To that end, collaboration with professionals from allied fields would be needed to enrich the discourse with fresh perspectives and renewed vigour.  Besides the existing partners like clinicians, managers, sociologists, and economists, the renewed motivation for PH can come from multi- and interdisciplinary collaborations with new stakeholders like illustrators, engineers, analysts, communicators, planners, and psychologists.

PH in India is at an exciting juncture, breaking disciplinary boundaries and welcoming diverse individuals for exciting career opportunities in addressing complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. To effectively nurture the next generation of public health leaders, the PH schools and faculty must transcend conventional teaching paradigms of imparting knowledge to igniting passion and curiosity. By reframing questions and fostering dialogue around success and inspiration, faculty can empower students to chart their unique paths.  By finding meaningful answers to questions about defining success in a PH degree and sources of inspiration in the field, emerging leaders will pave the way for public health to become a dream career for generations to follow.  

(Mayur Trivedi is faculty at Azim Premji University. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or the positions of the organisation they represent)