Get involved. Share your story.
Write for The Public Health Workforce is Not OK newsletter
This newsletter is not just about my opinions. It is a platform for anyone who cares about public health.
Got big feelings about what’s happening in public health right now?
Want to say something about the RIFs, the RTO, the EOs - or just the general BS?
I speak acronym and you can unload on me. Get in touch.
I’m always looking for new contributors to this newsletter, and I will help you to express yourself and walk you through the writing process.
Why contribute?
We publish stories for two reasons:
External advocacy
To show people outside the field what public health actually is, why it matters, and what’s being lost.Internal support
To remind each other we’re not alone, and that what we’re experiencing right now is real.
Ongoing series open to contributors
We are currently running 3 series open to guest contributors. You can submit to any of the following:
📢Voices from the Field: Meeting This Moment in Public Health
Opinion pieces grounded in lived experience.💌Love Letters to Public Health
Showcasing all that we love about public health through poetry, prose, visual art, or other creative formats.🚪Resignation Letters
Real or imagined correspondence documenting what is happening to our workforce and institutions in real time.
Maximum length is 1000 words. Additional guidance is available once you get started.
What you can write about
You’ve got range. You do not need to sound like an academic paper.
A personal story about your experience
A reflection on what’s happening in the field
A critique of systems, policies, or decisions
A mix of lived experience and analysis
If you already posted something on LinkedIn, start there. Expand it. Go deeper. Add context. Your voice matters more than polish.
Who should submit
If you are one of the people who powers public health, then we welcome your perspective here.
If you’ve lived it, your perspective belongs here.
We welcome contributions from anyone who is:
Working or studying in public health
Formerly in public health
Trying to enter public health
Just one requirement: your piece must respect the fundamental principles of public health science, including the importance of data and evidence.
What makes a strong submission
Clear, honest perspective
Grounded in real experience
Says something that others need to hear
Accessible to readers inside and outside public health
No jargon-heavy writing. Write like a human.
Review the newsletter archive for previous editions of the newsletter to get a feel for our style and our scope. If you’re not sure whether your writing belongs here, reach out to me and ask.
What to expect
This is collaborative.
I will help you shape your draft
We will go through light editing together
You can accept or reject any edits
Your voice stays yours
Most pieces go through a couple of editing rounds before publication. I work closely with all contributors and will support you through the process.
How to submit
Start simple.
Send me a message on Substack or LinkedIn to tell me that you are interested in submitting to the newsletter.
I will reply with a link to a personalised, confidential Google doc through which we will communicate and collaborate on your draft.
Aim for a maximum length of 1000 words. Additional guidelines and template will be available within the Google doc.
All our communication will be asynchronously through LinkedIn messages and Google doc comments.
Confidentiality
If it is not safe for you to speak out right now, I understand. If you need to publish under a pseudonym, that can be an option. I will handle that with care. Message me.