No matter their background or expertise, the honorees of de Beaumont’s 40 Under 40 program are united in their dedication to advancing the field of public health. These emerging leaders are creating positive change in their communities while working in education, maternal and child health, law, policy, and other areas that benefit from their passion and innovation. Now it’s time for a new class of public health practitioners to join the 40 Under 40 List — and you could be one of them. Here’s how some of the members of the first cohort described what the experience has meant for them personally and professionally.

Get your application in by April 30 at 11:59 pm ET for your opportunity to be part of this esteemed group.  

“As a person from a marginalized community, it’s really easy to not see your work as important and to doubt your place in certain spaces. If you don’t buy into that, I would encourage you to apply. Really know your worth, know what it is that you bring to the table, and know the issues that you’re working to change. Don’t sell yourself short.” — Devin Hursey, Peer Educator and Public Health Advocate, Missouri HIV Justice Coalition

“Now more than ever before, we must uplift and recognize people in public health who are working to solve the many complex problems that have preceded us in hopes of building a more just and equitable future for ourselves and for those who come after us.” — Jamila Porter, DrPH, MPH, Director of Resilient Communities, Big Cities Health Coalition 

“We’re so stuck in talking about how the world is, and if you have a vision for how the world should be — even if it doesn’t seem practical, even if it doesn’t seem evidence-based, even if there are naysayers in your places and spaces — apply. Because all the folks I share this virtual stage with, they see the world how it can and should be. And we really need to uplift the vision and the audacity of the folks who are in the vanguard of this field.” — Aysha Pamukcu, JD, Policy Fund Initiative Officer, San Francisco Foundation

“When you are a transformative thinker, you also need community. And that is also what’s represented here. These are my brothers and sisters; we’ve only met once in person, but they are a part of my network. And they are kindred spirits out here fighting to transform these systems collectively. This is this is an important network for you to have beyond just professional reasons.” — Lauren Powell, PhD, Vice President for U.S. Health Equity and Community Wellness, Takeda  

“When you’re doing public health work or community work, it’s very much like altruistic work. It’s thankless work. It gets gets to be a heavy load to carry at times, because you feel like you’re doing it by yourself. It’s so much easier when you have 39 other people who you can look at who are pulling just as hard as you are in the exact same direction. It reinvigorates you.” — William Moore, CPE, Health Educator, Certified Perinatal Educator, and Lactation Educator, Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health

“This has been a program with intention, and I love the collaborative work and how we can all show up and be our unapologetic selves in the work. A lot of our work happens in silos, and this has been a space where we can talk among each other and be like, ‘Okay, so this is what’s happening here in my space. Can I get your thoughts about this? And how can I break down barriers to not continue to work in silos?’ ” — Syretta Shealey, Healthy CPS Specialist, Office of Student Health and Wellness at Chicago Public Schools

Do you have questions about the 40 Under 40 program or the application? Send us an email.

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