Melissa Hawkins, TMN’s new Research Analyst

Melissa, our new research analyst, offers over 10 years of experience in designing, conducting, and evaluating public health research. She is also an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health.

Melissa took part in our “One Minute with TMN” interview to share more about herself and her work. Check out her answers to our questions:

What’s the connection between research and communications?
Research can discover, describe and predict important information. But, without effectively communicating the findings to the people or community who can most benefit from the information, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

When did you know you wanted to work in public health?
I went to Emory University in Atlanta, GA and was fortunate to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the four years while I was a student.  Freshman year, I worked in the epidemiology division on a research study exploring listeria contamination. Before that experience, I didn’t even know what public health was. After working at the CDC, I knew I wanted to study public health.

How do you define innovation?
Innovation requires conviction and leadership to think about ideas or methods in a new way and to persuade others it’s better than the old way.

What communicator inspires you the most?
My dad.  He passed away when I was 19 years old, but I have hundreds of letters he wrote to me throughout my childhood. When I reread the letters I’m inspired by his humor, wisdom and great advice he gave to me as a kid. It’s so helpful to me now that I have my own children.

What are you most excited to bring to TMN?
I am excited to jump in and support TMN’s current projects. I look forward to bringing a perspective that focuses on reducing health disparities and on the promotion of health and healthy behaviors in communities.