Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Dolan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in New York and raised in North Carolina, I was very fortunate to have a wonderful and loving family. They were always supportive and we all encourage each other to do our best. As a young lady, I attended East Carolina University to obtain a degree in Nursing when I realized Nursing was not for me! It led me to pursue a degree in School and Community Health. I have been in Public Health for over 30 years in both local and state government as well as a managed care organization! I found it very rewarding and impactful to establish relationships with both citizens, community leaders and partners. I have worked across the state of NC and had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many between helping to support tobacco free legislation, launching a health plan, overseeing contracts, providing grant funding and educating thousands.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been well traveled! Between personal and professional changes, I have experienced challenges and growth. I have learned that hard work takes patience, flexibility and partnership. When working with the community or in collaboration with a partner organization, things can change quickly or unexpectedly. Change is inevitable and it takes time! When working to make a difference it takes effort and a variety of input to reach the best outcome. Ensuring you have the right people at the table for discussions informs decisions to create solutions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a bridge builder and work to establish relationships with others. Communication is very important to me, and I connect individuals that otherwise would not meet! In my current role I meet people where they are, learn what their needs are and then reach out to a particular partner or leader to ensure those needs are met. It’s fulfilling to educate and help others know there are resources available and build a connection. I am most proud of being a person who has the ability to make others feel at ease. I try to relate and empathize (maybe even joke) and let them know I want to help and that they are not alone. I am honest, dedicated and hard working but also know how to have fun and be relatable.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Public Health is here to stay. Without it the world would not function as effectively as it does. People always need healthcare and resources to ensure that its delivered effectively. Public health is represented is so many ways that are just taken for granted like oversight of water and food, immunizations to prevent outbreaks, education to increase awareness, policy development to ensure that rules and regulations are followed appropriately. Managed care is important and will continue to evolve as time goes by and people’s needs change.
