Interview With a Global Health Professional: Portfolio Manager

(Our real interview subject is much better looking. Photo credit: timsnell)

1. What do you do?

I manage a number of USAID-funded health systems strengthening projects that my company implements globally and in developing countries.  My portfolio includes USAID bilateral projects in the former Soviet Union and Asia, as well as projects that evaluate global funding mechanisms for immunizations, develop tools to understand the costs of supply chains for reproductive health commodities, and create program monitoring systems for development agencies.  My primary role on these projects is to ensure technical quality, management effectiveness, and contract compliance.  I also provide short-term technical assistance on these projects as needed.

2. Where do you work? Is it a company, an NGO, part of a government, or something else?

I work for an employee-owned, for-profit company.  We perform work primarily for US government agencies, and have both domestic and international practices in a number of sectors, including health.  Our corporate mission is to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide.  In global health, we are known for our work in health systems strengthening, health financing, and private sector health.

3. How did you end up working in global health? Was it always what you wanted to do?

I have a Masters in Russian/Eurasian Studies.  I stumbled into global health because I took a job at a small USAID project focused on maternal nutrition and breastfeeding that was doing work in the former Soviet Union in the mid-90s.  After that project ended, I enjoyed working in health so much that I decided to pursue a career in global public health and was hired by my company.

4. What is your favorite thing about working in global health?

I think building relationships with people in the countries where I work.  I've built many professional relationships and lasting friendships with the extremely skilled and wonderful people with whom I've had the opportunity to work closely.  It also has been rewarding to share the successes of our joint work, as I had the chance to do often in Kyrgyzstan, where our Ministry counterparts have invested so much of their time and personalities in crafting successful health reforms.

5. What is your least favorite part?

Many parts of my job get overly bureaucratic at times which is probably true for everyone, and that makes me feel a bit removed from the expected end project of our projects - improving people's health.  It takes a trip to the field or some technical work every three months or so to help me remember that I have a pretty decent balance between the important task of managing a project effectively, and being able to still feel the tangible results of our work on people's lives.