Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Schill

OVERVIEW

Name and Designation:

Jessica Schill, BScN, RN, MPH

Position/Employer:

Public Health Nurse, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH)

MPH Class of 2019

Practicum Placement:

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Interests:

Reportable Infectious Diseases of Public Health Significance, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), Rural Health, Food Security, Outbreak Preparedness and Management, Agriculture and Population Health, Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

What was your background before entering the program?

Before entering the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, I was practicing as a Registered Nurse (RN) at South Bruce Grey Health Centre in Chesley, Ontario. While providing patient care in the hospital’s emergency and acute medical settings, I was heavily involved in delivering the much-needed medical interventions required to limit disease progression. Knowing that many of the complications and conditions I was treating could be prevented or mitigated by successfully executing upstream health promotion and protection approaches, I enrolled in the MPH program.

What has been your journey post-graduation?

Having strong ties to Ontario’s rural communities and a passion for the intersection between agriculture and population health, I started my career after graduation as a Policy Advisor with the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO). During my time at BFO, I planned and promoted a farmer stress management initiative and a general wellness on the farm program. My responsibilities also included reviewing government food nutrition, sustainability, safety and labelling policies, and advocating for safe Canadian food sources. In addition, I facilitated the collaboration between several consumer-facing commodity groups to promote the quality and nutrition of food grown here in Ontario, and the importance of food synergy when these staple foods are incorporated into one’s diet.

More recently, I have transitioned to a Public Health Nurse position with WDGPH on the Congregate Settings Team (CST). Our team conducts IPAC assessments in the long-term care, retirement, group home, rehabilitation and shelter facilities within our jurisdiction, and provides the necessary resources to aid in the prevention and management of future COVID-19 or other disease outbreaks. In addition to my responsibilities with the CST, I participate in COVID-19 case and contact management, respond to IPAC complaints from community members, and follow-up on cases of reportable diseases of public health significance.

With the IPAC challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I enrolled in the Queen’s University IPAC professional development course. This course is a stepping stone on the pathway to enhancing my existing skill set and developing a greater breadth of knowledge as a regulated health professional working in IPAC. After completing the course, I plan to obtain my Certification in Infection Control through IPAC Canada.

What led you to complete your specific practicum placement?

The MPH program offers a variety of networking and seminar opportunities to meet prospective practicum advisors that currently work within your areas of interest. As a student extremely interested in infectious diseases, I met with Dr. Michel P. Deilgat, a Senior Medical Advisor with the PHAC’s Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, at the fall career day. After listening to Dr. Deilgat describe his passion for teaching and life-long learning, portray his extensive experience with public health at the national level, and illuminate what the practicum process and projects at PHAC would look like, I was inspired to apply for a placement with PHAC. In reflecting on my time at PHAC, I would highly recommend completing a practicum placement with PHAC to any MPH students interested in the epidemiology of infectious diseases, or federal policy and program planning!

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LinkedIn: Jessica Schill

Twitter: @jessica_schill

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