Alumni Profile: Trisha Kajimura, MPH '11

Name: Tricia Kajimura

Year graduated with PH degree? 2011 (social and behavioral health sciences)

Professional Title & Brief Job Description (or what are you doing now)?
Social Policy Director, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i - The main parts of my job are advocacy for our mission and vulnerable populations through government and public relations, representing the agency in various coalitions, etc., and guiding and representing the agency in policy decisions. This includes research, and writing and delivering legislative testimony.

What does a typical "day at work" look like for you?
A typical day is meeting with community partners, representing the agency in various coalitions and caucuses (keiki caucus, kupuna caucas, housing coalitions, etc.). Also participating as a senior manager. I spend a fair amount of time researching issues to help us with decisions and also strategizing how to best communicate with different parties.

How did your public health degree prepare you for your work? Or how do you think it will in the future?
The health policy and management specialization wasn't available until I was almost finished with my degree so I did not complete a lot of policy coursework. However, I did learn a lot about systems in government that has been helpful. I also got very used to doing research so that the research for my job is much "lighter" than the research I did during the program. Although I don't do much directly with health interventions or behavior change, I am still very interested in the general subject. My academic experience with it helps me to understand programs that I come across and also gives me a better understanding of some of the legislation that is proposed (e.g., obesity interventions and tobacco-related legislation).

Any advice for future public health students, undergraduate or graduate?
Suck it up and get that degree done as effeciently as possible so that you can get out here and make a difference in this world. Don't procrastinate or fixate on doing it perfectly. The community needs you to WORK so please get on with it and help us. Stay in Hawai‘i. Appreciate your professors and network as much as you can. It's not always easy to get that great job but one job can lead to another and you can grow and learn after your degree as well. Learn to get along with others and build relationships.