Is there life after DPH-ing?

In this month’s member blog, we hear from Dr Helen Walters, a former Director of Public Health who now works for the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

It took me a while to find Public Health; quite a few years of GP-ing, flirting with NHS management but eventually the penny dropped, and I retrained. I loved Public Health practice, loved being deeply involved with a whole population, working in complex systems, networking across professional groups and working closely with the community.

DPH-ing was even better – especially in local government with all the above plus added influence and large doses of P(p)olitics too; the satisfaction of pulling levers only I could reach to make the lives of the most vulnerable and needy better.

But all good things come to an end – usually with yet another re-organisation.

So, what happens after you have been a DPH? Where can you go from there?

I have found it to be a really satisfying section of my career. Our public health world is quite small, word travels fast and opportunities are always arising. Because the system knew I was at a loose end it threw me into the Mayor of London’s office. Nobody knew what I was, what I could do or why they wanted/needed me – which was a great opportunity to create a job for myself. It wasn’t the first time I had written my own job description and then applied for my own job.

After working for Boris Johnson, which was quite a ride but exhausting, I applied for a job which, if I’m honest, I didn’t really understand. Once again, I found myself in a situation where my employer didn’t quite know what they wanted; so, another opportunity to carve out the role as I wanted it to be.

I found myself in a strange environment – I had no understanding of the academic system but I did have faith in my experience, my skills, my understanding of local government and a DPH’s needs for evidence. Clinging onto those I determined to be a change agent to help supply the evidence-base I would have liked to have had while being a DPH. I had a clear vision, was boringly repetitive about the need and happened to be in the right place at the right time when there was money up for grabs.

Here I must pay my respects to my erstwhile DPH colleagues who, when the opportunities arose, applied for HDRC funding, sent in requests to the PHIRST teams and generally showed themselves to be up for getting involved in Public Health research – thank you!

My career is not what I expected but it has been fascinating, fun, filled with great people and an opportunity to make the world a better place.

Bloom where you are planted.

Helen has recently been presented with the ADPH Alumni Award, given in recognition of her contribution to our work.