The USF College of Public Health’s (COPH) Bull Professional Engagement Network (BullPEN) and Academic and Student Affairs hosted “Igniting Passion for Professionalism” on October 14 to give students the chance to define what professionalism in public health means to them.  

The in-person networking event targeting graduate students provided an opportunity for students to practice their professional communication and public speaking skills. It also included a fashion show to showcase what students defined as professional attire with a special appearance from Rocky the Bull.  

“The concept of professionalism is often talked about in vague terms without a clear articulation of what it actually means. Likewise, the ‘unwritten rules’ of professionalism often tied to the concept of professionalism can feel like a barrier imposed by a ‘majority’ in the field (whether intentional or not) and it can create inequities in professional fields,” said Dr. Anna Armstrong, COPH associate professor and program director of BullPEN.  “So, to start from scratch a bit, and listen/elevate the voices of our students and their interpretation of professionalism is important in this process of ‘reclaiming’ professionalism in general and in public health.”  

BullPEN activities and resources are available to students throughout their entire time at the COPH, according to Armstrong. The program provides required and optional career planning and professional development opportunities while also cross-promoting relevant events for students, and “emphasizes professional reflection, intention and application to help students develop healthy, professional habits both now and in their future public health careers.”

The Igniting Passion for Professionalism event was just one of many the BullPEN program manages in order to provide resources and guidance to students.

“The presentations were spectacular. We had 10 students respond to one simple prompt, and they presented these amazingly unique but overlapping presentations capturing the intersection of the core of public health, its values and their own unique experiences. We heard everything from personal stories of growth, historical events, analogies and even poetry,” Armstrong said.

Ignite presentations are a style of providing information via a presentation in a more constrained manner. Presenters are forced to adhere to five-minute presentations, no more than 20 slides long, and speak less than fifteen seconds per slide, which are set to auto-advance. The style of communication “challenges speakers to be creative” according to the Ignite website.

Two online students, Hunter Drake and Namara Swillum, also joined for the presentation portion of the program. AJ Barthman, Alec Bowden, Neugenia Joseph, and Natalie Babenko also participated.   

“Between our professional fashion show, networking game and the Ignite event with rapid-fire presentations, students were able to engage in defining professionalism within the college, have fun while practicing networking and listen/support their peers who bravely took on the challenge to present,” Armstrong said.

A highlight of the event was a chance at earning an all-expenses paid trip to this year’s American Public Health Association conference in Boston.

Winners were chosen by a simple vote count, according to Armstrong, and the top four favorite presentations were selected.

“We originally had planned for two, however, Dean Petersen, who was in attendance, made the decision on the spot to select the top four,” Armstrong said.

This year, graduate students Elijah Bull, Dowensly Jean Brice, Juliet Winther and Kanika Chandra came out on top for their Ignite presentations.

“It was a sheer challenge presenting in the Ignite style, which I was doing for the very first time, and it was great to have a healthy competition,” winner Kanika Chandra said. “I am passionate about promoting healthy living and advocacy. We need people to change their casual attitude about unhealthy patterns in a lifestyle and our voices should be raised when there is a matter of concern at hand! [I am] ecstatic! I overcome a personal challenge and won; this ignites my passion for public speaking and mentoring.”

Armstrong said this event is planned to become an annual BullPEN endeavor and hopes to see an even larger crowd next year.

Learn more about BullPEN by visiting their website.

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health