Alumni Spotlight: William Wang

OVERVIEW

Name and Designation:

William Wang, BA (Hons.), MPH

Position/Employer:

Policy Analyst, Office of International Affairs for the Health Portfolio – Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada

MPH Class of 2019

Practicum Placement:

Public Health Agency of Canada

Interests:

Global Health Policy and Governance, Healthy Built Environment, International Development and Affairs, Strategic Foresight, Tobacco Control, Knowledge Exchange

What was your background before entering the program?

I entered the MPH Program right after completing my Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociocultural Anthropology and Geography at Western University. A question that always interested me was, "What makes a good and healthy life?". Depending on who you ask, their definition and explanation will always differ.

As a social science student, I was taught to connect various inter-related concepts and examine issues from the target populations' lens and perspectives. With this training, I got involved in a multisectoral project examining how sociocultural, political, and environmental factors influence Fulani pastoralists' health and socioeconomic well-being across the Sahel region. As the project evolved, it became clear that public health was a field that permeated traditional academic boundaries. Thanks to this experience, I became more interested in exploring how social and cultural elements can influence health and lead to a better life. Whether it was examining how the built environment influences children's healthy behaviour or researching the unintended negative impacts that ecotourism can have on local communities, population health was always part of the discussion, and I started questioning why. My desire to satisfy this curiosity was ultimately why I chose the Western MPH program, and it is a decision I don't regret!

What has been your journey post-graduation?

After my MPH practicum, I was hired as a full-time policy analyst in the Office of International Affairs for the Health Portfolio. I'm currently a member of the Multilateral Relations Division responsible for managing Canada’s relationship with international/multilateral organizations working on public health, Canada’s engagement on global health governance issues and processes, as well as Canada’s positions on public health issues across the United Nations and Inter American Systems. My initial role was supporting Canada's engagement with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office of the Region of the Americas, where I had the honour to represent Canada and deliver Canada's intervention and policy positions. My responsibilities have since expanded beyond the PAHO file to support in managing Canada’s relationship with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). As of March 2020, I have been actively involved in Canada's COVID-19 response and will continue working with colleagues across the public, private, and NGO sectors to beat this pandemic together as "Team Canada."

What would you say to someone who is considering entering the field of public health?

My advice for someone looking to enter public health starts with reflecting on their interests and passions. Public health is a vast field ranging from epidemiology to policy to everything in between; therefore, it is important to know what aspects of public health interest you the most to set realistic and measurable career goals. The second piece of advice is to reach out to people currently working in the field and get an honest idea of the day-to-day work. We all romanticize certain roles and talking with an actual professional help clarify misconceptions and help set realistic expectations.

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LinkedIn: William Wang

Twitter: @TheWilofFire

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