YOUR ASSOCIATION
NEHA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Vildana Tinjic, MSc, CP-FS, HACCP, PCQI, CPO, LPN Linn County Public Health, Iowa
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is shin- ing a spotlight on the people within our membership through this feature in the Journal . This month we are pleased to introduce you to Vildana Tinjic, a senior environmental health specialist at Linn County Public Health in Iowa. She has been in the environmental health profession for more than 10 years. Tinjic conducts food safety and health inspections and com- plaint investigations to protect public health and prevent food- borne illnesses. She also conducts body art and tattoo facility inspections. Within Linn County, she serves as safety ocer to the incident commander during emergencies. She also is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee within Linn County. She is an active member of NEHA and serves on the NEHA Body Art Committee. Further, Tinjic is active in her state aliate—the Iowa Environmental Health Association—and is a member of its Mar- keting Committee. Why did you join NEHA and what aspects of member- ship have you found most valuable to your career? I joined NEHA to validate my credentials, learn from subject mat- ter experts and colleagues, and be part of a network addressing current issues in food safety, water quality, body art, food waste reduction, and public health. Specifically, I volunteered for NEHA’s Body Art Committee to contribute my regulatory experience, share knowledge, and advocate for safer standards and regulations in this industry. I aim to collaborate with like-minded individuals to create uniform standards for safer tattooing and piercing practices, leveraging my passion for learning, analytical mindset, and love for people, animals, cultures, food, and nature to make a positive dierence in public health and environmental safety. Why did you choose the environmental health field? My mission is to uncover the secrets behind why things are the way they are, whether it’s about people’s diets, pet health, or even the regulations surrounding piercings! Moving to the U.S. from Europe, I observed how lifestyles and food diets are dierent. The death of my immigrant Siamese cat from melamine poisoning in pet food highlighted the lack of unified standards in food safety. Concerns about pesticides, chemicals, other toxicants, and herbi- cides are present in our environment, and antimicrobial resistance further motivated me to advocate for better standards and educa- tion in preventing foodborne illness. Many food workers have no basic food safety education and I realized why we need to work on
improving food safety culture and accountability. When my friend asked me about the piercing of her 15-year-old daughter, I couldn’t oer any guidance or answers because we lack regulations or over- sight in this area. I wanted to know what I needed to do to learn to prevent, reduce, and advocate for our well-being. Please describe any hobbies, activities, or causes you are passionate about. I have a profound love for traveling, immersing myself in new cul- tures, meeting diverse people, and indulging in various cuisines. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of my passions, driving me to seek meaningful adventures and foster open communication. Additionally, I find joy in dancing, lending a helping hand when- ever possible, and learning new things. What is one thing that most people do not know about you that you would be willing to share? I consider myself a forward critical thinker who is direct. It takes courage to ask questions in other languages and to potentially challenge people through my questions. What accomplishment are you most proud of? I lived and survived a bloody war for 4 years and was able to save people’s lives in real war situations! I am proud of my open-growth mindset and resilience, which have been sources of pride that allow me to adapt and thrive in diverse cultures, both in my birth coun- try and the U.S. While change is often dicult, I’ve learned that I am a global citizen who is unafraid to start anew anywhere. My life experiences have equipped me with invaluable survival skills. I am grateful for all I have achieved and am excited for what lies ahead. Who do you look up to and why? My late grandmother, who was 105 years old, was a main role model for life. Now, I look up to inspirational, friendly, and supportive friends, as well as people who encourage me to do more. I have a couple of wonderful, generous souls who appreciate my values.
What was the best professional advice given to you? Get into a practice of networking and do not overdo it!
We thank Vildana Tinjic for sharing with us!
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Volume 86 • Number 9
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