The University of Kentucky College of Public Health (CPH) took students from CPH 255 (Public Health Careers Course) on an immersive field trip around Lexington as part of Discover, Experience, Apply, and Learn (DEAL) Day to explore career options in public health. The event, held in mid-October, provided hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to see public health in action and gain insights into the essential roles that keep communities safe and healthy.
Designed to show the breadth of career paths in public health, DEAL Day introduced students to various key sites in Lexington, including the Lexington Public Safety Emergency Operations Center, the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Students also visited partnering organizations such as the YMCA, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, and the Kentucky Pharmacy Association.
Through guided tours and interactive activities at each site, students explored key public health topics, including emergency preparedness, environmental health, public safety, epidemiology, harm reduction, substance use disorders, community health, physical activity and nutrition, and social determinants of health.
"We truly enjoy witnessing those 'light bulb' moments as students engage with practitioners," said Janie Cambron, Associate Dean for Practice and Workforce Development and CPH 255 Course Faculty. "These interactions are mutually enriching—students gain exposure to career opportunities they might never have considered, while practitioners have the rewarding experience of investing in these students' futures, sharing insights into their careers, and helping to build their professional networks for long-term success."
For Brooke Joseph, a psychology major exploring public health, the experience was eye-opening and inspiring.
"I came to really appreciate the public health field," Brooke shared. "The jobs may not always be pretty, but they are so necessary."
She said the day sparked her interest in public health and helped her understand the importance of roles in areas like emergency preparedness and environmental health, where professionals work tirelessly to protect public well-being.
During the students’ visit to the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, Abigail Knapp, a CPH alum and sample technician at the University of Kentucky, shared insights from her role in safeguarding public health through water safety and disease prevention.
"Visiting the plant really highlights how much our health depends on jobs that most people rarely think about,” Abigail said of the tour. “It’s not glamorous or something you’ll see on the front page, but ensuring clean drinking water and preventing disease outbreaks, like cholera, is absolutely essential. Public health often means connecting different professions to create a positive outcome, and it's roles like these that make the biggest impact on keeping people healthy.”
Abigail hopes that current students gain a deeper understanding of the broader impact of these roles and consider careers that focus on the "upstream" work that protects entire populations.
At the Lexington Public Safety Emergency Operations Center, students took part in a hands-on simulation, working through a natural disaster scenario to manage a coordinated response from all angles. The exercise gave them insight into the complexities of emergency preparedness, from assessing risks to implementing community-wide safety measures.
“Emergency preparedness really resonated with me,” Brooke said. “Seeing them analyzing storms and making plans to keep the public safe excited me.”
Brooke added it was amazing to see jobs that people might not even think about, but are necessary to keep communities running.
Nicole Barber-Culp, Research Program Manager, emphasized the event’s importance in bridging the gap between academics and practice. “DEAL Day is a perfect way to showcase the vast work happening within public health practice at both the local and state levels,” Nicole said. “We’re so grateful for the practitioners and partners who take the time to share their work with our students and help students make the connection between academics and practice. It’s a rewarding event for all involved.”
"We love welcoming students and giving them a glimpse into the day-to-day work of local public health professionals and the many services we provide to our community," says Jessica Cobb, Community Health Officer for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. "It's an eye-opening experience for many who may not fully realize the breadth of what their local public health department does. It's also a valuable opportunity for us to share our mission and help students build connections that can shape their future in public health."
DEAL Day gave students an expansive look at the wide scope of the public health system and the essential role of diverse, interconnected careers within the field.
"Seeing the range of jobs helped me understand just how necessary public health is and sparked my interest in this field," Brooke said.
To learn more about DEAL Day and opportunities to explore public health careers, contact workforce@uky.edu.
DEAL Day is just one example of how the CPH 255 Public Health Careers course engages students with hands-on experiences and connections to the field. By introducing students to the diverse opportunities in public health early in their academic journey, the College aims to help them align their personal values and interests with fulfilling career paths.
