Training the Future Physical Activity and Public Health Workforce[Podcast Series]
[:55] Dr. Bantham introduces her guests, Dr. Marzell Gray and Dr. Alan Beck
Dr. Marzell Gray is Chair of the Physical Activity Alliance Professional Development Sector and Assistant Professor of Public Health at University of Minnesota Duluth.
Dr. Alan Beck, Past Chair of the PAA Professional Development Sector, current Chair of American Public Health Association Physical Activity Section and Project Manager for Interdisciplinary Public Health Research at Washington University in St. Louis.
[1:36] Historical intersection of public health and physical activity
“I think it all began truly with the London double decker bus study, where we found out that the folks that were more active on the buses were actually less susceptible to chronic disease.”
“And then if you continue and you fast forward, they’ve kind of been merged even more so together, where people that are in the public health field are working with those in physical activity, working with different organizations and groups to really promote physical activity, because we know that is a true foundation of being able to have healthier lifestyles and well-being.”
[4:52] Integration of public health and physical activity
“How does your background fit into public health, or vice versa? And I'm like, how doesn't it? Like health promotion is key to overall health for everyone and globally it has become a huge piece as well.”
“The most common one is, somebody begins in exercise science. like personal training, and they work one on one with individuals, and then gain an interest in more of a population level impact.”
[8:57] Training the future workforce
“The PAA Development Sector is really big about bringing students into the fold and starting them off, and like having them begin as a student in this area and then become the chair of the sector, or what have you, down the road. I think it's a beautiful integration now.”
[11:12] Finding your people
“So what I've been doing is I've been working more with people that are in exercise science, for instance, and able to collaborate with them in terms of my background and their specific work that they do…”
“There's no right or wrong way to do this, but you do have to be willing to put yourself out there to find these folks. Once you're in there and people learn who you are, we hold on to you with open arms, and we'll make sure and grasp you and move you forward in this as well.”
[14:45] Hot topics in physical activity and public health
“We have evidence-based interventions that work. They have been shown to work. There are all kinds of toolkits on government, like CDC, websites. We know these things work. I think we're moving more into the implementation science world of like, how do you implement these things?”
“They're doing it because they want to be able to help others that look like them and have the knowledge, or the base knowledge, to be able to motivate them and keep them motivated.”
[21:00] Mentoring future professionals
“And that's something that I know, even with the Physical Activity Alliance we've created this pilot for an internship where we can start having someone come in that way and start kind of seeing the background things that are going on in these nonprofit organizations.”
“Yeah, whenever somebody reaches out and says, Will you be my mentor? That sounds really official. You know, the American Public Health Association, they have a mentoring program. Our specific physical activity section has a mentoring program. But there's also unofficial mentors too.”
[26:02] Physical Activity and Public Health Specialist Certificate
“It's a, the physical activity public health specialist certificate that is based off of the ability to work and kind of learn on both sides. So it gets kind of a dive into both sides of things, and it allows you the ability to really kind of see how they kind of can be, how they work together.”
[29:15] Call to action
“Everything is local here. We're trying to make this big impact in increasing physical activity across our population, but that takes all of us to do that, and I think a bottom up approach is just as effective as a top down approach.”
“People like physicians and nurses that are meeting and seeing patients and clients on a regular basis could easily work with those in the fitness professional world that put a lot of time and effort into their education and certifications, whatever it may be, and working together to really just better population health.”
