Experts share lessons on building meaningful careers in public health in RGL Hub’s Brown Bag Session

In an effort to expand horizons, strengthen community, and guide new public health professionals in their careers, the Dr Rosita G Leong Primary Healthcare Hub hosted another Brown Bag Session, entitled “OccuPHation: Career Planning in Public Health.” Held on 16 August 2025, at Reset Café in Mandaluyong, the event gathered alumni, students, and practitioners from across the field. The program featured discussions on building public health careers beyond clinical practice, navigating purpose and sustainability, pursuing further studies, and redefining primary care. The night concluded with an open forum and networking session, giving participants a chance to connect with peers and mentors who share their commitment to advancing public health.

Dr Michael Caampued, President of the Alliance of Improving Health Outcomes, opened the session by tracing his beginnings in Gawad Kalinga. Through community immersion, he said, he gained deeper insight into the health and social realities of vulnerable populations. He highlighted how many discover public health not through rigid career planning but through lived experiences and the guidance of mentors who shape one’s path.

Dr Manuel Dayrit followed with reflections from his journey that began in grassroots work in Mindanao and led to leadership roles in national and global health. He reminded participants that careers in public health rarely follow a straight line and that resilience, adaptability, and a service mindset open door to opportunities in research, policy, and administration. “Success in public health is defined not just by our networks, but by the strength of the relationships we build within them,” he said.

“Success in public health is defined not just by our networks, but by the strength of the relationships we build within them.” 

-Dr Manuel Dayrit

In her talk on “Balancing Purpose and Paycheck,” Dr Kathy Reyes shared how her shift from pediatrics to public health revealed that careers are less about one big decision and more about a series of evolving choices. She noted that uncertainty is normal, and clarity often comes only after taking the next step. Urging the audience to build transferable skills in communication, problem-solving, and community engagement, she likened career growth to walking two dogs on leashes—sometimes one pulls ahead, sometimes the other. For Dr Reyes, adaptability, continuous learning, and the support of mentors and peers are essential, while true success lies in aligning work with both purpose and flexibility.

“Don’t just wait for opportunities—create them.” 

Dr Zhmair Umag

For Dr Zhamir Umag, a meaningful career begins with refusing to remain a passive participant. He encouraged participants to see themselves as shapers of systems, not just adapters to them, and reminded them that purpose is a lifelong pursuit rather than a single discovery. Drawing from his work in rural and community medicine, he underscored the importance of diversifying skills, carving out a niche, and creating opportunities when none seem available. Just as crucial, he said, are mentors, peers, and mentees, because relationships sustain a career as much as expertise. Fulfillment, not wealth or status, he stressed, is the more meaningful measure of success.

Dr Paula Melizza Valera, an ASMPH alumna and Sub-lead for Luzon at the Tulong, Ugnayan ng Lingap at Gabay (TUNAY) Project, also spoke about her path into public health. Coming from a family rooted in service, she described the challenges of forging a non-clinical career after medical school, often relying on the generosity of mentors who welcomed her in. Reflecting on a decade of work, she shared lessons on turning woundedness into empathy, honoring the wisdom of grassroots communities, and nurturing idealism without burning out. She was candid about the inevitability of failure and “ego death” but urged participants to build inclusive spaces that value dignity and authenticity, and to hold on to humanity as the foundation of meaningful work.

“Honor the expertise of communities and how they navigate the system.”

- Dr Paula Valera

Dr Alberto “JR” Ong capped the talks with his “Master Plan” for pursuing further studies, a session that resonated most with mid-career professionals weighing their next steps. Candid about his own academic struggles, he stressed that postgraduate opportunities are not only for top achievers but also for those who persist and realign their goals. He outlined motivations for further study—from career shifts to strengthening qualifications and personal growth—while noting there is no universal timeline. Some pursue graduate education immediately, while others benefit more after field experience. Dr Ong also laid out the realities of studying abroad, from financial costs to family responsibilities, and cautioned that a prestigious degree does not guarantee opportunities. What matters more, he said, are networks, skills, and the initiative to create opportunities rather than wait for them.

The Brown Bag Session closed with an open forum where participants reflected on the lessons shared and built new connections. Across all talks, a common thread emerged: careers in public health are rarely linear, often uncertain, but always shaped by community, adaptability, and a commitment to service. For the “lost but eager” beginners who joined, the session offered both guidance and reassurance that building a life in public health is less about following a fixed map and more about embracing the journey with courage and purpose.

The RGL Hub continues to support ASMPH alumni in primary healthcare and to foster collaborative opportunities. For potential partnerships, interested parties may reach out to Dr TJ Malvar via rglhub@ateneo.edu.