Priyanka Konanur, MPH’s Post

Meet first-generation Ram Grad, Valeria Casillas Payan 🎓🐏 📍 Greeley, Colorado 🎓 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Colorado State University | College of Natural Sciences How does it feel to be the first person in your family to graduate? "Being the first person in my family to graduate means breaking the generational barriers and kind of disproving those statistics that have told me that there's only a small percentage of people like me graduating." What motivates you? "Making my parents proud and making their sacrifices worth it." What does your diploma mean to you? "It's a step closer to my true career goals and my personal goals. I think sometimes being first generation means having an unspoken pressure on you. Not because of your parents or because of anyone else, but just that self-pressure that you have to make everything worth it and keep on going, even though you might not have the resources or the support. So, it's a very proud moment for me and means a lot to me." How has the CSU first-generation scholarship helped you get to graduation? "Not only has this scholarship allowed me to cover my financial situation, but it has also provided me with a community of support, great mentors and faculty, and getting to learn about others and relate to others, especially other students here who are also first generation." Message for other first-generation students? "Everything's going to be okay. You don’t have to know everything all at once. You shouldn't let being first generation stop you from doing whatever you want to do. It's something that should be empowering." Who have been your biggest supporters through college? "In addition to my parents, my brother Sebastian is also a big supporter. Being a role model to him has always been an extra push to having that motivation." What's next? "I’m pre-med, so I have always wanted to go into the medical field and help others. I hope to become a physician assistant in pediatrics. I will also be starting my master's here at CSU in biomedical sciences next year." Learn more about the First Generation Award program: https://col.st/Fs5Ku

In wrapping up retirement reflections from public K-12, I pause to give thanks to my colleagues at Uplift Education who gave me the opportunity to serve in such an awe-inspiring role as the Director of Restorative Practices. I give thanks to those who served by my side in what I deem as "medicine bag" work. As education healers, our greatest cause is to give our "medicine"- the medicine of hope, repair, unwavering support, connectivity, and a way when it seems there aren't any. The most sacred parting gift I received was a celebration circle in my honor from a team of Student Support Specialists. The love and appreciation absorbed into my heart will forever beat on. If people were to ask me the one big thing I would recommend in a restorative practices tool box, it would be the power of the circle. In faculty meetings, in professional development, in central office team meetings, in developing relationships in the classroom, in repairing harm. My "why" for the career trajectory I chose in Act 1 of my life can be summed up in the below quote: I found the world to be woefully lacking in safe places, so I became one.

♨ Ever think about jumping from academia to the business world? ♨ This week, I was back in Dallas to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Global Diabetes Program I launched at Parkland Health & Hospital System. It was so good catching up with old colleagues and friends! ❓ So, why would I leave a successful program, a full professorship at UT Southwestern, and a killer network to dive into industry? I mean, isn't that "the dark side"? Here's the thing: life has a funny way of flipping the script. I'd hit all my goals as a clinician and scientist and after 27 years in academia, I was feeling the itch for something new. Then in early 2020, everything I thought I knew got turned upside down. 🙃 When you're at your lowest, that's when you realize that change is not only possible—it's necessary. Those moments of vulnerability can push us to make bold moves. I saw an opportunity to do something totally different, and I took it. By the end of 2020, I jumped headfirst into an industry role that was nothing like what I'd done before. Was it terrifying? Absolutely. Challenging? You bet. But stimulating? Every single day! And I haven't looked back. 🙌 Life is what you make of it, and I'm all about living a life that's worth remembering. 🌟 What about you? What are you going to do to make sure you remember yours? 🌟 #luigimeneghinimd #careertransition #career

It’s no secret that being a pre-med is hard. I feel like somewhere along the way most of us forget why we started on this path in the first place. For me, I forgot some time around Orgo 2 while I was studying for the MCAT, juggling 3 different volunteering positions, getting clinical hours, doing research, and taking some courses that were insanely hard for me. Then after doing all of these things, we get our MCAT score, we have all of our boxes checked, and we sit down to write our application. This is when the AAMC asks us, a question that would have been easy to answer before we started, but feels impossible now: “Why do you want to be a doctor? Tell me in 5,300 characters or less”. This scenario is what drove us to create MedLeague. While the test scores and million little (and big) boxes to check are undoubtedly important, it’s even more important to figure out if medicine is right for you. And by being immersed in a community of med students, doctors, and fellow pre-meds, MedLeague will make sure you never forget the answer to the all-important question: Why do you still want to be a doctor? #medicine #premed #futuredoctor #science #physicianburnour #burnout

TIME. Time is a hot commodity. A valued treasure that most doctoral students seem to lack. Whether it's working on your doctoral program, working your 9-5, taking care of your family and your self-care (not in that order!)... Time seems not to be enough. BUT IT IS! You have all the time you need to do all the things you need to do.  It's never about not having time, but what you choose to do with the time that you have.  I help doctoral students not only MAKE the time for their doctoral work and still have time for everything else, but I also show them how to INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY IN LESS TIME.   But as I said above, don't just take my word for it.  Read what my client said about her success when working with me.  Do you have a troubled relationship with time?  Are you always running out of it, wishing you had more it? Missing deadlines? Saying NO to family and friends? It doesn't have to be this way.  I can help you.  And the even better news is that due to the number of questions I received about my program and future doctors saying they didn't see it until the last minute... I'VE DECIDED TO EXTEND MY BIRTHDAY SPECIAL OFFER UNTIL SUNDAY! All you need to do to take advantage of this amazing discount is to book a call BY THIS SUNDAY. (That just means I need to see your name on my calendar. Not that we need to have spoken by then.) Schedule your call HERE: https://lnkd.in/eZh4xmSV I look forward to helping you breathe easier by FREEING up more of your time.  Talk soon,  Dr. Smith

𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕😊 In January, I took a break from LinkedIn and today, it’s almost a month since I last showed up on this platform. I have on some days checked in, attended a LinkedIn live and just comment on some posts but generally ,I’ve been absent. It’s been a month of intense planning, work, school and other extracurricular activities and I can’t wait to tell you about it. 🫧🔹 As January was a resumption month for almost everyone including me, I knew I had to plan a lot of things to avoid slacking in any area. Especially spiritually. After attending the annual YMR(Young Minister’s Retreat) meeting tagged: the RAIN 🌧️ late last year, I knew there was a lot I needed to avail myself for God to work on in my life and so far, God has been soooo good to me. As it is a continual journey, I look forward to more & more growth. 🫧🔹 I resumed pharmacy school as a 4th year student and realization that I would become a pharmacist sooner than later began to dawn on me.🥹👩⚕️ 🫧🔹 I and a team led by a pharmacist successfully organized an event called ‘The sabificate conference’ - an event organized to help students identify crucial skills often overlooked in our traditional educational system where the ultimate goal was to help students thrive in the "real world" outside of academia. The event was held here at my school and we had students from different faculties come to learn. 🫧🔹 I started studying again and even though that is still in the works, I know I’ve developed a new habit of studying and I’ll definitely see great results. 🫧🔹 I also started a deeper learning of design, and put in so much work to improve my skills so I can serve you better. 🫧🔹 I’d say January was an overwhelming month for me, but God was and has been by my side since the beginning. Good news is: I’m back!!!🎉🎉🎊🎊🥰 And I’m ready to serve better, share more, hoard less, and this time around, more consistently. So if I’m not doing all these things in the coming weeks, I want to be accountable to you and I’d appreciate that you hit me up by sending me a message to know what’s up and what is keeping me away. P.S: Follow Evelyn Falaye and click on the notification button. You don’t want to miss out on my content in the coming days😉 Thank you🥰 Have a wonderful week🎊 Now to you, How have you been?

I Took The Leap ...🤾🏽♀️ . . . . ✅ Many years ago I was trying to figure out what was the next move for me as a recent graduate with a science degree. ✅ After I did some research online ... I came across The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. I decided at that moment, that is exactly where I'm supposed to be. 🎯 ✅ But I had a major dilemma. I was in Stillwater Oklahoma and The National Institutes of Health was in Bethesda Maryland. ***Everyone asked me, who do you know at NIH? My answer was, no one. ***They asked, Is there a job waiting for you when you arrive? My answer, No ***They asked, are you afraid My answer, yes but I’m going to do it anyway ***They asked, How are you going to get from Oklahoma to Maryland? My Answer, I will drive ✅ As soon as I walked across the stage of Oklahoma State University, I Took The Leap... ✅ With only $600.00, a Penske Moving truck, a blue Chevy Cavalier on a trailer, and my 8-year-old son in tow... I set out to chase my dream of working at the National Institute of Health. ✅ I knew I had a seed of greatness within me and it was time to reposition myself in an environment, where I could thrive! ✅ It was a risk, but I believed in myself and my vision, I surrounded myself with people who would take me higher. I Dared myself to Dream Bigger !! I would later realize this Leap would supersede my expectations! Not only did I work at the NIH, but I would later go on to lead teams and sit in committees as a member as well and gain extraordinary mentors .As well as, open the NIH doors to underserved youth, to give exposure, that would allow them the opportunity to dream beyond their circumstances, like I did ! With the support of Carmelle T. Norice , Roland Owens and The Children Inn at NIH This Leap has taught me that, everything you want is on the other side of fear. Take The Leap …. Where do your true passions lie and are you willing to Leap to get there? #professionaldevelopment #science #healthscience #careeradvice #successmindset

I am delighted to see that you are interested in women's health research. For far too long, women have been subjected to medical research and treatments that were primarily based on studies conducted predominantly on men. The urgent need to rectify this imbalance has gained traction in recent years. While there has been progress, significant gaps in research persist, particularly in understanding the unique health challenges faced by women. This is where the importance of expanding research on women's health, as highlighted by President Biden's initiative, becomes evident. The allocation of $200 million towards sexual and reproductive health research is a commendable step forward. It acknowledges the pressing need to address issues such as maternal mortality, reproductive disorders, and access to comprehensive healthcare for women. However, it is essential to recognize that this investment is just the beginning of a much larger undertaking. Women's health encompasses a broad spectrum of concerns that extend beyond reproductive issues. Heart disease, autoimmune disorders, mental health, and chronic pain are just a few examples of areas where women's experiences and responses to treatment differ significantly from men. Yet, research in these areas often lags, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of women's health. To truly advance women's health, research efforts must be comprehensive and inclusive. This means not only increasing funding but also prioritizing studies that examine the intersectionality of gender with race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other factors. It means actively involving women of diverse backgrounds in clinical trials and ensuring that research findings are translated into equitable healthcare policies and practices. Moreover, addressing the disparities in women's health requires a cultural shift within the medical community. Healthcare providers must be educated and trained to recognize and respond to the unique needs of women. This includes understanding the gender biases that can influence diagnosis and treatment decisions and actively working to overcome them. I admire your perseverance and resilience. I can't wait for you to finish your training and begin your career!

Only 2% of people fulfill their dreams in their lifetime. Years ago, I worked with a man who wanted to become a police officer. After spending months preparing, he wasn't accepted to the police academy. He was deeply disappointed. It was his goal since childhood to become a police officer. He wanted to be on the front lines helping people. After spending a few months thinking about his future, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. While it was his goal to become a police officer, his dream was to be a doctor. He had many hurdles to overcome. - Med school prereqs - Studying for the MCAT - Getting accepted to med school. Not to mention breaking through his discomfort with being 10 years older than the average student. He left his full-time job to enroll in college to complete the prereqs. He then tackled the MCAT and was accepted to medical school. It wasn't an easy road, but goal setting and internal resolve helped him achieve his dream. Today, he is an ER Doctor. Not long after becoming a doctor, he found himself on the front lines. It was in the ER, treating COVID patients. What are the key steps you can take to be in the "2% Club"? 1. Create goals in key areas of your life where you have dreams to achieve (health, family, business, finances, and hobbies).  2. Determine what actions must be taken immediately to achieve those goals. 3. Go forward with all the resolve you can find within. ---------------------------------------- 🔔 Follow me to catch valuable conversations on leadership & career growth.