From student to public health advisor: “I help make communities healthier through data-driven policies.”

Development, fun, and growth.

By development, I mean the skills I built during my Master’s, such as doing in-depth research, writing advisory reports, and presenting findings. Research was a big part of it. For example, technological innovations can improve patient treatment, but are they really better than standard treatment? And what do they mean for patients, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders? To answer such questions, you need to gather a lot of data.

I did a board year at my study association, Sirius, and I am grateful for that experience. It helped me grow in many ways. Working with five other board members and handling all responsibilities taught me a lot about teamwork and leadership, and I also made close friends who I still see regularly.

My work is very broad and involves different tasks, but it is all about shaping public health policy across mental health, lifestyle, living environment, and public health protection through vaccination and prevention. I advise the GGD’s management, including the director of public health, the executive board, and municipal policy advisors, on implementing new policies by drawing on data analysis and research.

For example, if data shows high rates of alcohol and drug use in Twente, and there is also a rise in mental health issues, I use that information to make recommendations on what policies should be carried out. I am also involved in neighbourhood surveys, working with residents and local councils to design living environments that encourage healthy behaviours.

Definitely my colleagues: everyone is motivated to contribute to the health of Twente's residents. The broad range of activities that GGD Twente carries out also motivates me. Perhaps most people associate it with COVID-19, youth healthcare services, school doctors, and the clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. But GGD Twente does so much more. We are developing a wide range of policies to ensure Twente’s residents live long, healthy lives.

For example, we ensure that people dealing with addictions and exhibiting worrying behaviour receive the professional care they need. Or when a new school is going to be built, we check for potential health risks: for example, a nearby livestock farm could pose a risk of diseases transmitted from animals to children. And we think about ways to cool cities down during heatwaves, which can be dangerous for the elderly or people with health conditions. Another important project is developing a regional suicide prevention policy and an action plan together with the national suicide prevention organisation. That includes training professionals who work with high-risk groups as well as launching campaigns to raise awareness about the helpline 113, among other things.

I started as a public health policy advisor for the municipalities of Dinkelland and Tubbergen, so the scope was local health policy. After three years, I wanted to make a step towards a more regional scope. In my Master’s, I learned a lot about healthcare optimisation in hospitals and the use of e-health in patient treatment. But when I started working, I realised I wanted to contribute to preventing people from needing healthcare in the first place. What can we do with all the data we have? How can we design the places where people live in ways that keep them healthy? That’s why I applied for the position at GGD Twente. I believe the network and experience I built in my previous role were crucial for landing the job.

Doing good research and knowing what that requires is essential in my work. Every day, I draw on my research skills when I write advisory reports and support my recommendations. My specialisation, which was focused on healthcare optimisation, was also helpful. It taught me to evaluate a process from beginning to end and think critically about improvements, and this critical thinking is a big part of what I do now.

I am still learning to delegate and collaborate. Sometimes, I find it hard to let others take on tasks. I am also learning a lot about long-term planning: policy implementation and measurable results take years, so strategic thinking is very important.

I would like to try taking a strategic advisory or management role, possibly at the national advocacy organisation for public health and safety, GGD GHOR Netherlands, or even the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. I am curious if I would like that type of work and if I would be good at it.

What was extremely valuable during my studies was attending events that involved connecting with the career field. Guest lectures, external projects, presentations—really try to attend those. The study association also organised symposiums and career days with professionals from different organisations. Such experience helps you figure out what you might enjoy doing after graduation. And when you graduate, don’t be afraid to start somewhere. The chance that your first job will be your dream job is pretty small, but you can always apply somewhere else. Getting started is the most important step.