Leandra Olson got her first real introduction to public health when she was a junior in college at the University of Minnesota, taking part in an internship with the Minnesota Vikings Children’s Fund that focused on childhood obesity.

“A mentor at the time noticed that I seemed to have more of an interest in population-level health rather than clinical services,” said Olson, who grew up in North Dakota and graduated from the USF College of Public Health (COPH) in 2015 with an MPH. “She suggested I take some public health courses to explore this interest further. I ended up taking several—epidemiology was my favorite—before deciding to apply to MPH programs.”

Olson enrolled at the COPH in 2013 and quickly found a passion for maternal child health (MCH). She worked with Dr. Jennifer Marshall, a COPH associate professor and alumna, on the Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (FL MIECHV) Program.

“What interests me most about public health is how it impacts and intersects with so many other areas beyond just the health sector.”

Her experiences with the FL MIECHV Program helped her land a public health fellowship with the Federal MIECHV Program at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), her first post-graduation public health job.

“What interests me most about public health is how it impacts and intersects with so many other areas beyond just the health sector,” said Olson, who concentrated in epidemiology. “It is this intersectoral collaboration that is essential to improving health outcomes, achieving health equity and addressing disparities. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, public health was not as widely known or appreciated, but now there’s a better understanding of the importance of the field and how it can impact many other facets of society, including transportation, housing, education and the economy.

Olson eventually shifted roles within MCHB and began working closely with MCHB leadership to develop policies and strategies to implement more than 50 public health programs dedicated to improving maternal and child health.

“I worked on programs and policy issues focused on the MCH workforce, the Title V program, the MIECHV program and emerging issues in MCH, including the Zika virus, maternal mortality and disaster response. MCHB does such important work, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to it.”

“My office was the primary liaison between the U.S. government and the World Health Organization, which was an interesting place to be at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic!”

In 2020, Olson began working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Office advising on global affairs.

“My office was the primary liaison between the U.S. government and the World Health Organization, which was an interesting place to be at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic!” she said.

Olson supported HHS political officials, including the HHS Secretary, in global health negotiations and policy discussions. She also helped advance U.S. global health priorities at the World Health Organization and United Nations.

During her time at the HHS Office of Global Affairs, she is most proud of her work supporting the development of two White House initiatives aimed at enhancing the global health workforce.

“I love that my current role allows me to be creative and inquisitive in determining approaches to address health disparities.”

Today, Olson is a policy team lead in the Office of Minority Health at the HHS where she leads policy efforts to improve health outcomes and health equity for racial and ethnic minority populations.

“I love that my current role allows me to be creative and inquisitive in determining approaches to address health disparities,” Olson said. “I’m proud that my office is seen as a leader in making progress toward achieving health equity.”

According to Olson, being open to challenging yourself with new opportunities and focus areas is key to acquiring a diverse skill set and finding your passion.

“It’s important to explore different areas in your career to build a diverse and transferable skillset and expand your knowledge of various topics,” she said. “A mentor once told me to say yes to opportunities that excite you, and I think that is especially true to help you continue to learn and grow professionally.”

Alumni Fast Take

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

 A doctor—until I took organic chemistry in college!

Where would we find you on the weekend?

Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains with my fiancé and dog or checking out a fun restaurant in Washington D.C. with friends.

What superpower would you like to have?

Being able to communicate with dogs.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health