Recently, the Young Health Professionals Society (YHPS) spoke with Nancy Liao (NL) to discuss her professional experiences and work at the Virginia Hospital Center (website).

YHPS: What does your job entail? How did you get passionate about it?

NL: As a health promotions contractor/intern, I perform various screenings at corporate health fairs in DC, Maryland and Virginia. These include metabolism, body fat analysis, dermascan, bone density, cholesterol (finger-stick), blood pressure and pulmonary function screenings. After each screening, I discuss the results and offer recommendations on how to make improvements if needed. I have always enjoyed interacting with people and educating others; this job suits me perfectly!

YHPS: Where do you see your field progressing in the next five years?

NL: Nowadays, many people suffer from the effects of chronic diseases. This increases the demands on health care systems and is becoming very expensive for employers as well as patients. Premiums are increasing, as are the number of claims from health insurance companies. Common chronic diseases include diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which share many preventable risk factors such as physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and poor eating habits. In the DC area, the most common phenomenon I witness is always being “on the go” and trying to balance work, home, social life, relationships, etc. Stress affects all individuals, but how are we managing our stress levels?
In the next five years, I expect to see more schools, employers and the public workforce emphasizing health promotion and wellness, especially since President Obama established the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council (website) in June 2010. There will be more preventive screenings and support to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In addition, there will be more health educators promoting behavior change and self-management.

YHPS: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

NL: The most challenging aspect of my job is increasing patients’ awareness and emphasizing the importance of modifying a behavior, such as exercising. It is difficult because sometimes I have less than a minute to discuss the results of a screening and offer recommendations. In other cases, I may be given more time and can dive deeper to find out more about a person’s interests and time management, in order to incorporate exercise into his/her daily routine.

YHPS: Do you have any other work experience in the health field?

NL: Yes, I do. In 2006, I worked at the Physical Therapy and Sports Assessment Center in Mitchellville, MD as a physical therapy aide for a year. I was also the secretary/treasurer for the student health and wellness association club at Marymount University and was responsible for organizing, marketing and contacting vendors for the annual health fair. Finally, in 2009, I assisted my Department Chair of Health and Human Performance in administering lactate testing on DC United soccer players.

YHPS: What is your educational background?

NL: I attended Marymount University in Arlington, VA, where I received a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. I am currently attending Marymount University for my master’s degree in Health Promotion Management and will graduate in May 2011.

YHPS: What are your long term professional interests?

NL: I hope to see a decrease in chronic disease rates and a decline in childhood obesity. As a health promoter/educator, it is sad to see many children chronically obese as young as three years old, and to know they will suffer from many chronic diseases in the future.

YHPS: What three tips would you give young professionals just starting out in the health field?

NL: 1) Take good care of yourself – as health professionals, how can you take good care of others if you’re not well and healthy yourself? 2) Do all things with a smile. 3) Think positively and stay motivated.

YHPS: What are your other interests and hobbies?

NL: I enjoy cooking, trying new dishes and restaurants, traveling, and Zumba classes.