Show notes
In the inaugural episode of the Courageous Public Health podcast, Dr. Kristi McClamroch shares her journey of embracing courage in both personal and professional realms. She discusses the importance of authenticity, the role of courage in public health, and the need to highlight the stories of courage among Women of Color in the field. Through her experiences and insights, she emphasizes that courage is not the absence of fear, but the determination to act despite it. The episode sets the stage for future conversations centered around the challenges and triumphs faced by women doing the work of public health. Meet Dr. Kristi McClamroch Dr. Kristi McClamroch (she/her) is the founder and CEO of Courageous Public Health, a consulting firm dedicated to amplifying the voices and visions of women, particularly BIPOC women, in public health. She supports public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Dr. McClamroch received her PhD from the Department of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; her MPH from the Department of Epidemiology and her BS from the Department of Mathematics at the University of Michigan. An epidemiologist by training and a catalyst by nature, Kristi brings over 25 years of experience across infectious disease prevention, health equity, evaluation, and entrepreneurship. Driven by her core values — courage, freedom, connection, and kindness — Dr. McClamroch is passionate about creating spaces where authenticity is celebrated, systemic barriers are challenged, and transformational leadership thrives. She believes that courage is not just a personal act but a collective movement. Through consulting, speaking, writing, and now podcasting, Dr. McClamroch is committed to dismantling oppressive systems and co-creating a public health field where everyone — especially those historically excluded — can take up space unapologetically. When she's not strategizing bold moves in public health, you can find her dancing in the kitchen, learning to sing, devouring books, and dreaming up her next act of courage. Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast Conversation Highlights Dr. McClamroch introduces Courageous Public Health — sharing the vision behind the consulting firm and this new podcast. Exploring the real meaning of courage — the difference between bravery (action without fear) and courage (action despite fear). A deeply personal story about fear and desire — how Dr. McClamroch's mentor challenged her to write a list of 100 desires and how it transformed her relationship with her own voice and authenticity. Finding her North Star — the creation of her guiding values: Courage, Freedom, Connection, and Kindness — and the tattoo that commemorates them. Public health through a personal lens — how Dr.. McClamroch's love of math evolved into a passion for public health, and how numbers, patterns, and data became a way to tell human stories. Why courage is essential to public health — speaking truth to power, standing firm in adversity, leading with integrity, adapting in uncertainty, and protecting personal well-being. Centering women of color in public health — honoring the legacy of courage, leadership, and advocacy that women of color have always brought to the field. A call to action — an invitation to listeners to embrace courage, take up space, and disrupt harmful systems while building something transformative together. "Courage is the catalyst that moves me out of collapse and into freedom, out of judgment and into connection, out of resentment and into kindness." - Dr. Kristi McClamroch Stay In Touch: Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - [email protected] Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 **Remember to Like the Episode, Subscribe, and Leave a Review!** Public Health Consulting To Support You At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage among public health professionals. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!