Marielle Mayshack Appreciates the Intersections of Law and Public Health

Marielle Mayshack was pursuing a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in disease prevention and health promotion at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. While pursuing her degree, she interned at the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County. 

During her internship, Marielle developed training modules focusing on topics such as effective communication, leadership, and negotiation skills for both the public health and law professions in Escambia County. She also worked to enhance the delivery of legal services within the agency by improving client communication and sharing best practices and technological advancements. While there, Marielle worked on recommendations to improve accountability in measuring performance metrics, develop a committee to guide county health departments in implementing new laws and ordinances, and improve the county health department mentorship program for new health officers and attorneys.

As an intern, Marielle realized the vastness and uniqueness of each county health department and why the intersection of legal and public health is so important. Her experience led to many important discussions with her preceptor such as “leadership and how important it is for health officers and legal to have a harmonious relationship” and “how public health law is designed with the public interest in consideration. “ 

“I have worked in public health for 11 years and this placement allowed me to learn more and appreciate the intersection of public health and law. As a public health professional, especially post-COVID, it is important to understand the boundaries that we have in terms of the law, but also how it is designed to protect residents and, ultimately, yourself. 

This placement encouraged me to ask questions of myself and where my time and energy could have the most impact and I felt that being placed with a county health department. The people were phenomenal, and they are passionate about their jobs and the people they serve. I have missed a bit of that passion with the work I currently do, and this placement has me rethinking my next 5-10 years in public health.”