Building Pathways to Health Equity: Dr. Melody Goodman’s Journey in Diversifying Public Health

Dr. Melody Goodman's unconventional path to biostatistics and health equity reveals both the progress and ongoing challenges in diversifying public health. In a conversation on The Skin You’re In podcast, hosted by Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Goodman discusses the 20-year update to a 1999 study on the racial composition of public health professionals. Despite efforts to diversify the field, Goodman’s findings show that while there has been improvement, the pace of change remains slow, especially in senior leadership positions. This lack of diversity in decision-making roles raises questions about whose voices shape public health policies and the need for a more inclusive leadership structure.

Building divers and inclusive pipelines into public health is critical for creating meaningful health solutions

Goodman further explores how the "leaky pipeline" metaphor often oversimplifies the barriers to entry into public health for minorities. She believes that unequal access to education and limited opportunities, especially in underrepresented communities, hinder students from pursuing careers in public health. Goodman emphasizes the importance of intentional pathways into the field and highlights how community engagement and training programs like the CARES Fellow Program are essential. This program, which has been implemented in St. Louis, Mississippi, and New York, equips community members with research literacy to create equitable partnerships between researchers and the communities they serve.

"To me, the motivation is clear: scholars of color need to rise to higher levels. There’s just not enough of us in those spaces, and if we want our field to be more diverse, we need a more diverse leadership structure." — Dr. Melody Goodman

Through her experience, Goodman shows how building diverse and inclusive pipelines into public health isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s critical for creating meaningful, community-centered health solutions. Her dedication to mentoring minority students and elevating their participation in biostatistics and public health sets an inspiring example for institutions striving for health equity.

Tune in to The Skin You're In podcast to dive deeper into Dr. Melody Goodman’s journey, her research on health equity, and the strategies she champions for a more inclusive public health workforce. Listen now to the latest episode!