mentor others and give back in the way that my mentors have supported me. As an environmental health professional, ongoing learning is crucial. That is why I have attended and presented at the NEHA Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition almost every year since 2018. Adaptability is equally important in an ever-evolving world, espe- cially with climate change emerging as one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Active participation in professional organizations helps keep you updated on emerging trends. For instance, over the past year, I have been involved with the NEHA Climate and Health Committee. Through my involvement in the committee, I have had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the intersection between climate and envi- ronmental health, contribute to the field, and connect with colleagues nationwide. I have had endless stories over my entire career since my NEPHIP internship. I can truly say that I would not be where I am today if it had not been for the NEPHIP internship program. To any environmental health student reading this column, I highly recommend tak- ing advantage of this opportunity. About the Author: As a national air quality and public health expert and practitioner, Kaitlyn Kelly currently works at the Wash- ington State Department of Ecology as the supervisor of the Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities Grants Unit. This new program works to reduce air pol- lution in overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution. Before this role, Kelly was the air quality policy specialist at the Washington State Department of Health. In this position, she developed policy rec- ommendations and health guidance, with a focus on risk communication and develop- ing partnerships to build alignment across the state and improve public health capac- ity to respond to poor air quality. Kelly has a bachelor’s of science in environmental health from Baylor University and an MPH in environmental and occupational health sciences from UW. Corresponding Author: Kaitlyn Kelly, Supervi- sor, Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities Grants Unit, Washington State Department of Ecology. Email: kaitlynklly@hotmail.com
Photo 1. Kaitlyn Kelly conducts outreach about air quality at the local farmers market in Ellenburg, Washington, during her NEPHIP internship for Kittitas County Public Health Department. Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Kelly.
friends and I have had the chance to work with them again in later roles. Mentorship has been crucial at every pivotal moment in my career. My NEPHIP internship supervisor remains a close friend and colleague who I later worked with at the Washington State Department of Health. Early in my career, I realized the impor- tance of learning from other profession- als with more experience to gain a clearer understanding of the field. Everyone I have encountered in this field is enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge, provided you are receptive and curious. I have actively sought mentors at every stage of my environmental health journey—my internship supervisor, undergraduate advisor, graduate advisor, and various colleagues. Each of these individuals has significantly contributed to my profes- sional growth. After completing my internship and bach- elor’s degree, I pursued a master of public health (MPH) in environmental health and occupational health sciences at the Univer- sity of Washington (UW). My passion for air quality and love for the state drew me to UW, which was one of the few institutions at the time researching the intersection of cli- mate, air quality, and public health practice. It turned out that my UW advisor knew my
NEPHIP internship supervisor through their work on the state’s Wildfire Smoke Impacts Advisory Group. This connection led to working on this committee for my master’s practicum, where I developed a statewide risk communication tool kit on wildfire smoke for local health jurisdictions. This experience, along with my NEPHIP internship and my thesis on wildfire smoke and N95 respira- tors, paved the way for what I considered my dream job. For the next 4 years, I worked as an air quality policy specialist at the Washington State Department of Health, where I led the Wildfire Smoke Impacts Advisory Group and collaborated on a grant project with the Kit- titas County Public Health Department. My next career goal was to step into a lead- ership and supervisory role. A significant step toward achieving this goal was partici- pating in the NEHA Environmental Health Leadership Academy, where I gained invalu- able insights into eective leadership. Four months after completing the leadership pro- gram, I took on my current position as the supervisor of the Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities Grants Unit at the Washington State Department of Ecology. In this role, I am building a new team and developing a new grant program from the ground up. This position now allows me to
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October 2024 • our6)l o. 6=1ro6me6;)l e)l;0
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