Speaking Engagements & Workshops

Population Health Disparities

As an educator, I am deeply passionate about making knowledge accessible to a wide variety of audiences. My areas of expertise include population health, reproductive health, and racial/ethnic health disparities, particularly as they relate to maternal, child, and immigrant populations. It has been a privilege to have delivered lectures and led workshops in numerous venues: the classroom, academic conferences, the National Institutes of Health, and the Virginia Science Museum. Sample keynote lectures include:

Public Speaking

I’m biased—I think that I have one of the best jobs on the planet. I get to talk and write for a living! But the reality is, graduate school doesn’t generally teach students how to speak and present effectively. Things get REAL when those students go on to become assistant professors who are expected to effectively communicate to students and peers or go into corporate or non-profit spaces where they are expected to sell their ideas. I was lucky: I had great mentors who strongly encouraged me to present early and often at academic conferences and other venues. And, through Toastmasters, I’ve been able to hone my public speaking and leadership skills for almost the past decade, successfully competing in speech contests, learning how to give tailored feedback, and eventually earning the highest educational award Toastmasters has to offer. Along the way, I’ve learned tips and tricks from master speakers and storytellers. I now put these hard-earned skills into practice by giving workshops to students, faculty, and TEDx coaches and more about how to give effective, impactful speeches.

Coaching

I believe the world is better when great ideas have a spotlight and an audience. It brings me an incredible amount of joy to help people with important things to say to find their own unique voices. As a TEDx coach, I’ve learned that some of the most effective talks hone in on ONE big idea. This knowledge has fundamentally shaped my approach to helping speakers uncover greatness. I use the skills I’ve learned from competitive speaking and teaching fitness/dance to hone each speaker’s vocal delivery, teach them to use the stage to their best advantage, and ultimately, to help them form a deeper connection with audiences. I coach colleagues through important keynotes, students through conference talks, Toastmasters through competition speeches, and TEDx speakers approaching the big stage.