CPH 05 - Building Healthier Communities, One Act of Courage at a Time: A Conversation with Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit
Release Date: 05/20/2025
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CPH 17 — Courage in Grief, Power in Presence, Strength in Family: A Conversation with Dr. Nandi Marshall
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CPH 14 — Community, Courage, and Collective Power: A Conversation with the Honorable Attica Scott
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CPH 10 - The Sound of Shattered Glass: A Conversation with Dr. Gabriela Alcalde
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info_outlineIn this uplifting conversation, Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit shares her journey in public health advocacy, emphasizing the importance of courage, representation, and community engagement. She reflects on her experiences running for local office, the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and her vision for a healthier and kinder future. The episode highlights the need for diverse voices in governance and the power of kindness in everyday interactions.
Meet Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit
Chris Chanyasulkit, PhD, MPH is a public health practitioner, advocate, keynote speaker, and master connector who speaks both nationally and internationally about public health; literacy; civic engagement; and racial, gender, and health equity. She is a Past President of the American Public Health Association (APHA), a mom of three, a dog mom of two pups, and an avid reader.
Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast
Conversation Highlights
- Dr. McClamroch welcomes Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit — past President of APHA, public health consultant, advocate, and unapologetic champion for libraries, literacy, and public health justice.
- Dr. Chanyasulkit shares her courageous entry into leadership — the terrifying but powerful experience of running for town meeting as a young professional, pushing through fear, and winning her first election.
- Lessons in courage and community — Dr. Chanyasulkit reflects on how showing up, asking for help, and building a support network were essential parts of stepping into leadership and public advocacy.
- Why public health demands courage — a powerful discussion on how public health work means speaking hard truths, challenging unjust systems, and creating policy change even when facing backlash.
- The importance of running for office — Dr. Chanyasulkit issues a heartfelt call to listeners to run for local positions, disrupt incumbency, and bring diverse, community-centered leadership into governance.
- Navigating identity and leadership — Dr. Chanyasulkit shares her experiences as an Asian American woman in public health and politics, and the ongoing challenge of claiming space, challenging norms, and amplifying marginalized voices.
- COVID-19 reflections — why "going back to normal" after COVID isn't enough — and why public health must lead the fight for a new, more equitable normal.
- Hope and collective action — Dr. Chanyasulkit lifts up the importance of not losing hope, of recognizing the power of small actions and collective movements to create transformational change.
- The urgency of kindness and grace — a call to build a healthier, kinder, more connected nation — beginning with small everyday acts of compassion and human connection.
- Vision for the future — Dr. Chanyasulkit envisions a future fueled by collective advocacy, sustainable health for communities, and systems rebuilt through courage, hope, and humanity.
"It's not about being fearless. It's about standing up, even when your hands are shaking and your heart is pounding." - Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit
Stay In Touch:
Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-chanyasulkit/
Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chanyasulkit/
Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/chris.chanyasulkit
Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - [email protected]
Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/
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Public Health Consulting To Support You
At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage within women, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color who are doing the work of public health. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!