CPH 15 — Master Connector, Lived Experience, and Spectacular Nails: A Conversation with Dr. Nicole D. Vick
Release Date: 07/29/2025
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CPH 15 — Master Connector, Lived Experience, and Spectacular Nails: A Conversation with Dr. Nicole D. Vick
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CPH 10 - The Sound of Shattered Glass: A Conversation with Dr. Gabriela Alcalde
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info_outlineIn this dynamic and heartfelt conversation, my guest shares how courage, mentorship, and lived experience have shaped her personal and professional journey. From navigating college as a teen mom to challenging systems that fail to value Black women in public health, she reflects on what it means to act despite fear and to lead with authenticity and purpose.
She invites us into her world as a connector, mentor, and advocate—someone dedicated to empowering the next generation of public health leaders while pursuing her own bold vision for the future (which just might include a nail salon!). With humor and honesty, she reminds us that claiming our power and telling our stories can be acts of resistance and resilience.
Meet Dr. Nicole Vick
Dr. Nicole D. Vick is a public health professional, educator, civic leader, podcaster, and author who has spent over twenty years providing tools and strategies to stakeholders, community-based organizations, students, and residents to improve health and prevent disease in some of Southern California’s most underserved communities.
Her commitment to community has led to a few prestigious appointments. She serves on the boards of four public health/social service organizations and for two years chaired the Health Commission for the City of Los Angeles.
Dr. Vick has 15 years of teaching experience and enjoys bringing students the “Black Girl Magic” version of public health to students while providing them with a social justice lens to view the world. She has taught at Occidental College, California State University - Los Angeles, Ashford University, and University of Phoenix.
Dr. Vick has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Management, a Master’s degree in Public Health, and a Doctorate degree in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, a place she lived less than 5 minutes away from growing up but felt beyond reach for a young girl from South Central LA.
Dr. Vick has authored two books and has written chapters for two anthologies. In her first book,
“Pushing Through: Finding the Light in Every Lesson” she shares both the heartbreaking pain and the extraordinary triumphs that led her to advocacy and social justice work.
Dr. Vick also has a weekly video podcast where she discusses critical issues in the Black community from a public health and social justice perspective.
Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast
Conversation Highlights
- Teen Mom to Doctor — Dr. Nicole D. Vick shares how she stayed in school, earned multiple degrees, and raised her daughter while navigating barriers and bias.
- Courage in the Workplace — She describes the emotional toll of being passed over for promotions, and how she transformed that pain into the focus of her dissertation on psychological safety for Black public health workers.
- Mentorship as Leadership — Dr. Vick reflects on the power of mentorship, paying forward the wisdom of those who led with generosity and vision.
- The Power of Lived Experience — She advocates for centering people who bring both lived and academic expertise to public health, emphasizing that their insights are essential for creating meaningful change.
- A Joyful Vision — Dr. Vick shares her plans for consulting, teaching, writing—and maybe opening a nail salon where community, creativity, and public health still shine.
"We have the secret sauce—our lived experience, our academic expertise, and our work in the field. Use us." — Dr. Nicole D. Vick
Stay In Touch:
Dr. Nicole D. Nick on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-d-vick/
Dr. Nicole D. Vick on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicoledvick/
Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - [email protected]
Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/
www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
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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!