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The Career You Planned vs. The Career You're Actually Building
Monday, 1 June, 2026
Most of us didn't end up exactly where we thought we would when we first stepped into public health. And if you've ever felt quietly guilty about that — like you've somehow veered off the path you were supposed to be on — this episode is for you.Sujani gets personal in this one. She shares how she went from planning to be a dentist to stumbling into public health through an elective course and a John Donne poem that stopped her in her tracks. She talks about landing her dream job — and then building PH SPOT on the side because she couldn't ignore a problem she kept seeing. And she reflects on what it's meant to become a mother twice over, go on leave, and ask hard questions about what the next chapter of her career actually looks like.The through line? None of it was the plan. And all of it was exactly right.This episode is part of PH SPOT's 2026 theme — The Future-Ready Public Health Professional — and kicks off our Q1 focus on adaptability, transferable skills, and navigating a career that doesn't always go in a straight line.In this episode:Why Sujani's original plan had nothing to do with public healthThe moment a John Donne poem changed everythingHow PH SPOT was born from a mentoring problemWhy non-linear careers aren't a detour — they ARE the pathThree things every public health professional needs to remember when they feel off-trackA 5-minute reflection exercise to help you see how far you've actually come🔗 Join PH SPOT+ : phspot.org/club🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter: phspot.org/signup
