Podcast Episode Overview
Leonore Okwara is a public health program manager and consultant. She is specifically trained in managing community-based research programs within the nonprofit, academic, and government sectors. Join me on this podcast episode to learn about her public health career journey.
Leonore Okwara, MPH, Public Health Consultant
Leonore Okwara, MPH earned her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School and currently resides in Maryland. She is a military wife, mother of three, and a public health program manager with over 13 years of experience in the field. Since 2006, she has managed several public health programs nationally. She is specifically trained in managing community-based research programs within the nonprofit, academic, and government sectors. While working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Leonore co-founded the Program Managers’ Resource Group (PMRG) that served as a professional resource for departmental program managers, research coordinators, and research assistants.
Over the years, Leonore witnessed the stress that researchers and their staff were under when it came to managing and implementing the research protocol activities. To reduce this stress, Leonore founded Leonore Okwara, LLC, a consulting business that provides program management guidance and development to researchers (doctoral students, postdocs, and early career investigators) and research staff.
Due to her experience with managing community-engaged public health research primarily in the African American community, she also started a podcast, “Public Health Culture,” that brings awareness to public health concerns and initiatives that uniquely impact this community.
Listen to the podcast episode
Leonore Okwara, LLC
The goal of Leonore Okwara, LLC is to help researchers and their staff turn a proposal (this could be a dissertation or grant) from an idea into a step-by-step program management plan. Leonore develops or teaches her customers how to create a comprehensive plan to minimize burnout, maximize administrative support, and bring clarity to executing a research project.
Leonore's Career Advice to Students
Public health is such a diverse field. If you are a student, get as much experience in different public health areas. Exposure to the diversity of the field is major.
Do not be afraid to connect with people who are your position of interest. Finding a mentor is valuable.
If possible, learn how to write grants. This expertise will take you far in your career.
Leonore's Career Advice to Graduates
Invest in webinars or a professional to review your resume.
Similarly, practice your interviewing skills with a trusted friend or colleague who will give honest feedback.
Identify gaps in the field and seek training within those areas.
Contact Leonore
Website: Leonore Okwara, LLC, www.leonoreokwara.com
LinkedIn: Leonore Okwara, www.linkedin.com/in/leonoreokwara
Instagram: Public Health Culture, @publichealthculture
Check out Leonore's presentation, along with nine other presenters, in the Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship EXPO.
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