Investing in the Power of Youth:  Portraits of Public Health 

Employees, , ,

By Taylor Fuller

Last August, Public Health – Seattle & King County launched its fourth annual Public Health Camp, welcoming its largest cohort of high school and college students, between the ages of 16-21 years old, who are passionate about working in public health. Public Health Camp creates opportunities for students from underserved schools to explore careers in STEAM while helping build a pipeline for the next generation of public health professionals.  

For Portraits of Public Health, we talked to Debbie, Shayla, and Greg, the brain trust behind Public Health Camp, about how this event came to fruition and how our department is invested in youth and workforce development. 

Hello, team! How did Public Health Camp come about?

Greg: Public Health Camp was an idea from Shayla, that she brought to a strategic planning group that develops career pathways for internships, mentorships, job shadows, work-study, teacher externships, and educational partnerships here at Public Health. At the time, we were seeking new and creative ways to build a racially-just workforce and learning culture that reflect the communities we serve, in alignment with Public Health’s Workforce and Infrastructure priorities. 

Public Health Camp became a way for us to bring all those elements together into an immersive experience. Shayla did an amazing job bringing together colleagues from across the organization to address the many components needed to make the camp a reality. 

When we first piloted Public Health Camp back in 2023, we served 27 youth over three days. Public Health Camp 2025 was recognized by the CDC. And as of this year, this program expanded to where we welcomed almost 50 youth for five days. At its heart, Public Health Camp is about building meaningful connections between young people and caring adults who help them see what’s possible through education and mentorship.

An illustrated portrait of three people smiling: a tall man with brown skin, blue glasses, a t-shirt that reads " Public Health Camp", and a black hat; a shorter woman with white hair and light pink skin wearing a black jacket and t-shirt; and a taller woman with brown curly hair, peach skin, and a black t-shirt and golden cardigan. A quote by Greg of the Public Health Camp Leadership Team speaks of how early exposure to possibilities can become a pathway for young people.
Greg, Education Engagement Strategy Program Manager; Debbie, HR Senior Analyst for Internships & Career Pathways; and Shayla, Nursing Quality and Academic-Practice Partnership Manager. Illustration by Meredith Li-Vollmer.

What were some of the most memorable experiences at this year’s Public Health Camp?

Debbie: This year, I partnered with our HR intern, Dino, and another HR Analyst, to lead a session focused on interview skills. We shared practical interview tips and tricks, before engaging campers in mock interviews using fun props to help them build confidence in a supportive environment. 

One interaction especially stayed with me. A student approached me after our presentation and shared how much it meant to win a 30-minute resume review. She told me she planned to schedule the session as soon as camp ended. Not only did she follow through, but she also sent me a LinkedIn request and a thoughtful thank-you email. Her initiative, professionalism, and enthusiasm were inspiring. Moments like these remind me that young people are ready to step into opportunity. When we create the capacity and support, they need, they consistently rise to the challenge and exceed expectations. 

Another highlight this year was welcoming back three former campers who had previously participated as students and later served as interns. This year, they returned as volunteers. Even though they were not compensated, these former campers chose to give their time, energy, and talents to help create a meaningful experience for this year’s cohort. Their willingness to come back and invest in others speaks to the lasting impact of Public Health Camp and the power of creating professional pathways for youth to learn, grow, and lead. 

What do you wish more people knew about Public Health’s internships and career pathways in general?

Shayla: I wish people knew that public health is one of the most diverse career fields out there. If you ask a young person what careers exist in healthcare, they’ll probably name doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, or therapists. But public health includes epidemiologists, environmental health specialists, policy professionals, data scientists, health educators, communications professionals, community engagement specialists, emergency preparedness professionals, researchers, nurses, physicians, social workers, financial professionals, IT professionals, and so much more.

There are also so many ways to enter the field. Internships, student placements, fellowships, volunteer experiences, academic partnerships, and career exploration programs can all be important first steps. I’ve spent years coordinating nursing student placements and building academic partnerships, and I’ve seen how an early experience can influence someone’s career trajectory.

The other thing I wish people knew is that you don’t have to have everything figured out. Sometimes, you just need a mentor to help you see what’s possible. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do through Public Health Camp.

A large group of young people and Public Health staff in a group shot, smiling, at Public Health Camp.
Public Health Camp participants and staff, August 2026.

Why should our managers invest in youth?

Greg: Managers should invest in youth because workforce development is not something that begins when a job position becomes vacant. It begins years earlier, when a young person first encounters our work and decides whether public service feels relevant, welcoming, and possible.

Investing in youth is an investment in current staff and organizational culture. When employees mentor, explain their work, and guide a young person, they develop as leaders. Teams rediscover purpose. Managers encounter fresh perspectives and emerging skills. Our organization becomes more visible, more connected to community, and better prepared for the future. 

Debbie: I agree with Greg. Youth development helps us lay the groundwork for the next generation of professionals, as current employees retire or leave our workforce. In my role working with internships and career pathways, I regularly hear inspiring stories from employees who first connected with Public Health through internships, volunteer opportunities, or other learning experiences before joining our workforce. Those early opportunities often spark career paths that lead them to public service. 

Originally published on September 21, 2026.

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