Should You Get a Public Health Degree Right Now? (The Honest Answer) | The Dr. Des Show

Should You Get a Public Health Degree Right Now? (The Honest Answer) | The Dr. Des Show

Join The Public Health Club: publichealthclub.com [https://www.publichealthclub.com/] With federal layoffs, dismantled programs, and a rapidly shifting funding landscape, a lot of public health professionals are asking the same question: is a public health degree still worth it? In this solo episode, Dr. Des gives a direct, no-fluff answer — and it's more nuanced than a simple yes or no. She breaks down what's actually happening with public health funding right now (hint: it's being redirected, not eliminated), how to decide whether a master's or doctorate is the right move for your specific goals, the real difference between a DrPH and a PhD, why experience beats credentials in most career paths, and how to translate your public health skills into adjacent industries that are hiring right now. If you're thinking about entering the field, going back for a doctorate, or just trying to figure out your next move — this one is for you. In This Episode, You'll Learn 1. Why Dr. Des still says yes to a public health degree — even in this climate — and the conditions that make it the right call 2. How to follow the money in public health funding so you can position yourself before everyone else catches up 3. The one question you must answer before choosing any degree program: master's, DrPH, or PhD 4. The real difference between a DrPH and a PhD — and why either degree can take you where you want to go 5. Why a doctoral degree without field experience won't get you the leadership jobs you're aiming for 6. How to translate your public health skills into healthcare, biopharma, and population health roles that pay more 7. Dr. Des's funding advice for PhD programs: the rule she repeats until she's "blue in the face" Resources Mentioned 1. The Public Health Club — publichealthclub.com [https://www.publichealthclub.com/] (7-day free trial; 100+ on-demand workshops, mentorship sessions, career coach office hours, weekly RFP opportunities) 2. Public Health Pivot Course — inside The Public Health Club; teaches you how to translate PH skills into healthcare, biopharma, and adjacent industries 3. Building Your Resume with AI Workshop — inside The Public Health Club; includes a custom GPT for resume building 4. DrPH vs. PhD Workshops — two full workshops on demand inside the PHC featuring DrPH and PhD holders from multiple universities 5. Subcontracting to Six Figures [https://www.publichealthclub.com/course] — Dr. Des's consulting course covering how to follow the money, find contracts, and land your first client; join the waitlist at the link below About The Dr. Des Show The Dr. Des Show is the go-to podcast for public health career development, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Dr. Desiree "Dr. Des" Strickland — DrPH, public health CEO, and founder of The Public Health Club. Connect with Dr. Des: 1. Join The Public Health Club: publichealthclub.com [https://www.publichealthclub.com/] 2. Instagram: @DesireeCourtneyJ [https://www.instagram.com/desireecourtneyj/] | @the_publichealthclub [https://www.instagram.com/the_publichealthclub/] 3. LinkedIn: Dr. Desiree Strickland [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdesireestrickland/] | The Public Health Club [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-public-health-club/] https://www.drdesshow.com/ https://www.publichealthclub.com/

How 3 Strangers Met Inside the Public Health Club and Won a $75K Contract

Ready to Land Your First or Next Consulting Contract? Enroll in Subcontracting to 6 Figures!  [https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/] This episode is proof of concept. Shambria Davis and Kristi Brown had never met before the Public Health Club. Shambria spotted an RFP posted in the consulting opportunities board, reached out strategically to Kristi and a third club member, Joniece, and in two weeks the three of them built and submitted a proposal to the Alabama Department of Public Health — winning a $75,000 contract. Dr. Des sits down with both of them to break down exactly how the partnership came together, how they divided the work, how they navigated money conversations up front, and what Kristi had to say about landing a second contract simultaneously — one she found in the PHC opportunities board and brought in her own subcontractor for. In This Episode, You'll Learn * How three PHC members with complementary skills found each other in the consulting opportunities board and won a $75K state contract * The strategic way Shambria vetted and selected her partners — and what almost went wrong before the team clicked * How the trio divided proposal responsibilities under a two-week deadline (and who pulled the 24-hour all-nighter to get it across the finish line) * Why talking about money early is the vetting move nobody tells you about * How Kristi landed a second contract — a quality evaluation specialist role in Wisconsin — and turned around and hired one of her coaching clients as her subcontractor * Why Kristi landed contracts without ever taking S26F, and what she says she'd do differently knowing what she knows now * What Shambria says to anyone who's tight on money and still on the fence about investing in themselves Resources Mentioned * The Public Health Club Consulting Opportunities Board — where the $75K RFP was found:  https://www.publichealthclub.com * Subcontracting to Six Figures — https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/ * CEO Circle — https://www.publichealthclub.com/publichealth-ceo-circle https://www.drdesshow.com/ https://www.publichealthclub.com/

How Paris Turned $40K in Contracts Into Two Businesses While Still Clocked In

▶ S26F Cohort 5 is open — but not for long. Paris landed two $20K contracts within months of completing the course — while still working full-time. The roadmap she used? Subcontracting to Six Figures. Cart closes soon — this cohort runs June 29–August 2. 👉 Enroll now at https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/ Public health consulting doesn't require a cold pitch pipeline — and Paris is proof. In this episode, Dr. Des sits down with Paris Mebane, founder and CEO of Global Grassroots Solutions (a rural health consulting firm specializing in community health assessment, strategic planning, and organizational capacity building) and founder of The PM Approach, a membership community helping public health professionals pass the PMP exam. Paris breaks down how she landed two simultaneous $20K contracts through existing relationships within months of completing Subcontracting to Six Figures — while working full-time — and how niching down from 40 services to 3 changed everything. In This Episode, You'll Learn * How Paris landed two $20K contracts simultaneously through relationship-based consulting — no RFP required * Why going from 40 services to 3 was the single most important move she made early in her consulting business * How Paris used time blocking and the CEO Circle accountability structure to balance full-time work with consulting * The "fail fast" mindset shift that broke her analysis paralysis and got her moving * How a PHC study group idea turned into a 126-member exam prep community and a full second business * Why your first consulting contract is probably already inside your existing network — you're just not talking about yourself * The difference between S26F (build the foundation) and CEO Circle (scale and sustain it) Frequently Asked Questions Can public health professionals land consulting contracts without ever submitting an RFP? Yes — and it's more common than people expect. Paris Mebane landed her first two contracts ($20K each, simultaneously) entirely through existing professional relationships. Dr. Des herself stopped submitting RFPs years ago and still fills her client roster through word-of-mouth and networking. Your first contract is very likely already inside your existing network. How do you balance a full-time job with a consulting practice in public health? Time blocking and accountability structures are the two levers Paris credits most. She uses time blocking to protect her consulting hours and CEO Circle accountability sessions to stay consistent on execution. The accountability call dynamic is simple: you don't want to show up with nothing done. What is Subcontracting to Six Figures and what does it actually teach? Subcontracting to Six Figures is Dr. Des's flagship consulting course for public health professionals. The first module walks students through identifying and niching down their services — Paris went from 40 potential services to 3. The course then covers business structure, website and brand assets, RFP writing, marketing, and business development strategy, all built sequentially so students don't skip ahead before the foundation is set. What is the difference between Subcontracting to Six Figures and CEO Circle? S26F builds the foundation — business structure, niche, services, and first contracts. CEO Circle is for consultants who are already in motion and need to sustain and scale. Paris is now in both. CEO Circle includes a book club, accountability sessions, and a community of peers navigating the same stage of business growth. How do you find your niche as a public health consultant? Start with two questions: what do I like doing, and what do people naturally come to me for? Paris realized she loved the assessment work — facilitating community conversations, finding the story in data, building the bridge between numbers and community voice. That insight narrowed 40 potential services down to 3: community health assessment, strategic planning, and organizational capacity building. What is The PM Approach and who is it for? The PM Approach is Paris Mebane's membership community for public health professionals preparing for the PMP exam. It includes bi-weekly live sessions covering study planning and exam strategy, an endurance drill program to build stamina for the 4-hour exam, a 5-day PMP application course, and ongoing accountability support. Membership is $75/month or $197/quarter. Resources Mentioned * The PM Approach — Paris's PMP exam prep membership community  * $75/month or $197/quarter * 50% off first month through June 30 with code HAPPYBDAY * Connect with Paris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paris-mebane/ * Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell (book referenced in CEO Circle book club) * Subcontracting to Six Figures — Dr. Des's flagship consulting course: https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/ * CEO Circle — PHC's premium mastermind tier: https://www.publichealthclub.com/publichealth-ceo-circle * The Public Health Club — publichealthclub.com * PHC Consulting Opportunities Board — where Paris found her most recent contract opportunity (inside the club) About Paris M. Paris is a rural health consultant and the founder and CEO of Global Grassroots Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in community health assessment, strategic planning, and organizational capacity building for community-based organizations navigating transitions. She is also the founder of The PM Approach, a membership community helping public health professionals successfully prepare for and pass the PMP exam. Paris is one of Dr. Des's earliest Subcontracting to Six Figures alumni and a current member of the CEO Circle. https://www.drdesshow.com/ https://www.publichealthclub.com/

$30K in Consulting Contracts From LinkedIn Alone — This Is What Public Health Consulting Looks Like

▶ S26F Cohort 5 is open — but not for long. Enroll Here- https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/ >Join the Public Health Club [http://www.publichealthclub.com] and Access Consulting Opportunities, workshops and support on your journey!  Dorian landed over $30k in contracts while still working full-time and still completing his MPH. The roadmap he used? Subcontracting to Six Figures.  Public health consulting doesn't always start with winning an RFP — and Dorian Johnson, aka the PHuncle is proof. In this episode, Dr. Des sits down with Dorian Johnson, MPH, public health educator, health communicator, and founder of New Jack Strategies LLC, to talk about how he landed a $5K contract, then a $25K contract, all while working full-time and completing his graduate degree. Dorian breaks down how he used LinkedIn, real conversations, and a portfolio-first approach to turn social media engagement into consulting income — without ever waiting until he felt "ready." In This Episode, You'll Learn How Dorian landed his first consulting contract through LinkedIn without ever submitting an RFP Why showing up as a specialist — not a generalist — is the fastest way to get your foot in the door The exact mindset shift that helped Dorian see his skills as marketable before he had his MPH How Q1 consulting income reached 75% of his full-time salary — part-time Why Dr. Des stopped applying to RFPs years ago and still gets clients through word-of-mouth and networking The "SoundCloud era" analogy Dorian uses to explain why your content is already your portfolio What Dr. Des's decision to leave her full-time job actually looked like — and the question a club member asked that sparked it Resources Mentioned Connect with Dorian:  https://thephuncle.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorianjo https://www.instagram.com/thephuncle/ Subcontracting to Six Figures taught by Dr.Des, designed to help you land your first or next contract: https://s26f.publichealthclub.com/ About Dorian Johnson Dorian Johnson, MPH, is a public health educator, health communicator, and the founder of New Jack Strategies LLC — a consulting firm rooted in culturally grounded storytelling and educational content. Known online as The PHuncle, Dorian creates practical public health content across TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, helping organizations communicate complex health issues in ways that are clear, engaging, and actually useful. He is a graduate of Dr. Des's Subcontracting to Six Figures program and is actively building toward full-time entrepreneurship while consulting part-time alongside his day job. Follow Dorian: TikTok / Instagram / LinkedIn — @ThePHuncle Frequently Asked Questions Can you land consulting contracts as a public health professional without winning an RFP? Yes — and it happens more than people think. Dorian Johnson landed both his first ($5K) and second ($25K) contracts through LinkedIn networking and social media visibility, never through a competitive RFP process. Dr. Des herself stopped submitting RFPs years ago and still gets clients consistently through conference conversations and word-of-mouth. Do you need your MPH or DrPH to start consulting? No. Dorian started landing contracts before he even completed his MPH. Clients responded to his demonstrated skills — his content, his portfolio, his communication style — not his credential status. The degree helps, but waiting on it is its own form of self-disqualification. How does social media actually turn into consulting contracts? By treating every post like a track drop — proof of what you can do. When decision-makers (VPs, directors, program leads) engage with your content, that's a warm conversation waiting to happen. Dorian made it a practice to engage back and eventually mention his services. Several contracts started exactly that way. What is Subcontracting to Six Figures and who is it for? Subcontracting to Six Figures is Dr. Des's flagship course for public health professionals who want to start consulting. It walks students through the legal foundations, niche development, RFP writing, and business marketing in a sequential, paced structure — so you build from the ground up instead of jumping to step 10 and stalling. How do you know when you're ready to leave your full-time job for consulting? Dr. Des's answer: you probably already are and don't know it. She didn't realize she'd replaced her six-figure salary through consulting and PHC until a community member asked her the right question. Once she did the math, she gave notice a month later. The threshold isn't a feeling of readiness — it's the numbers. What is the ROI on taking a consulting course when you already have experience? Dorian paid for S26F at the lowest-ever price and made it back 10x with his first $5K contract. His second contract was $25K. By Q1 of his first year applying what he learned, he'd contracted 75% of his full-time salary — part time. The ROI math is straightforward; the hesitation is usually about timing, not cost. https://www.drdesshow.com/ https://www.publichealthclub.com/

How to Use LinkedIn to Land Public Health Consulting Contracts

▶ Free Workshop: Public Health Consulting 101 The last piece of the puzzle is knowing how to get in front of the people who can pay you. Dr. Des is teaching a free live workshop — Public Health Consulting 101 — on June 16th AND June 17th. Two days. Same content. Come live. 👉 Save your seat at https://www.publichealthclub.com/public-health-consulting-training Resources Mentioned Free LinkedIn Guide — Step-by-step profile optimization, thought leadership strategy, and copy-paste DM templates for pitching clients. Free inside The Public Health Club at https://www.publichealthclub.com/ Six Figure Public Health Consultant Playbook — Workbook companion for the PHC Consulting 101 class. Free inside PHC at https://www.publichealthclub.com/ Public Health Consulting 101 — Free live workshop, June 16 + June 17. Register at https://www.publichealthclub.com/public-health-consulting-training Subcontracting to Six Figures (S26F) — Special member offer ends June 15th. General public doors open June 16th. https://www.publichealthclub.com/course Applying to RFPs isn't the only way to land consulting contracts — and for Dr. Des, it's not even the primary one anymore. In Day 5 of Public Health Consulting Week, she breaks down how to use LinkedIn to position yourself in front of potential clients, what thought leadership content actually looks like in a public health consulting context, and the exact approach to go from following someone to getting a call on their calendar. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why LinkedIn is non-negotiable if you want contracts to come to you The most common LinkedIn mistakes that keep consultants invisible Why you don't need a business page — your personal profile can do the work What thought leadership content looks like for a public health consultant Why one month of posting is not enough — and what the real timeline looks like How to find, follow, engage with, and pitch the people who can hire you Timestamps [00:00] Welcome to Day 5 — wrapping up the week and what comes next [01:30] How Dr. Des stopped applying to RFPs and what replaced it [03:00] The $25K project management contract that came from an old boss [04:30] Why LinkedIn is the first place to start if you want inbound contracts [06:00] The most common LinkedIn profile mistakes consultants make [07:30] Personal page vs. business page — what Dr. Des actually uses [08:30] What thought leadership content looks like for PH consultants [10:00] How long consistency actually takes — and what realistic expectations look like [11:30] How to find potential clients and slide into the right DMs [13:00] Free LinkedIn Guide + Six Figure Consultant Playbook inside PHC [14:30] S26F club member special — offer ends June 15th Frequently Asked Questions Do you need a business LinkedIn page to land consulting contracts? No. Dr. Des built her consulting practice  from her personal LinkedIn page without ever creating a business profile for Strickland Health Consulting. If you're the one doing the work and showing up as the consultant, your personal page is enough. Start there. What kind of content should public health consultants post on LinkedIn? Post thought leadership tied to your niche. If you specialize in evaluation, share findings from a project, discuss methodology, or weigh in on a relevant study. The goal is to make it visible that you know what you're doing — so that when potential clients see your profile, they already trust your expertise before you reach out. How long does it take to start landing contracts through LinkedIn? Longer than most people expect. Dr. Des recommends giving it at least six months of consistent posting before measuring results. The people who give up after a month never see the payoff. Consistency is the variable most consultants underestimate — not the platform itself. About The Dr. Des Show The Dr. Des Show is the go-to podcast for public health career development, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Dr. Desiree "Dr. Des" Strickland — DrPH, public health CEO, and founder of The Public Health Club. https://www.drdesshow.com/ https://www.publichealthclub.com/