Imagine choosing public health as your career path… only to be told it’s not a “real” profession. 😳

In this powerful episode of the RTs Share Tea Podcast, host Linda "Thee Asthma Lady" sits down with Dr. Anthony Santella, a nationally recognized public health expert and academic, to unpack a major policy shift that could reshape the future of public health education and the workforce.

This episode was a must for me to cover — because I would not be where I am today as Thee Asthma Lady without my Master of Public Health layered on top of my Respiratory Therapist skills, and without Dr. Santella pulling me deeper into the public health space early in my career. This conversation is both professional and personal.

Dr. Santella breaks down — in plain language — the Federal Department of Education’s reclassification of public health as a non-professional degree, why this decision matters, and how it could impact:

✔️ Public health students

✔️ Higher education programs

✔️ Workforce pipelines

✔️ Community and population health outcomes

We also dive into what inspired Dr. Santella to enter public health, his journey into academia, and what he believes lies ahead for the field if this policy stands. This episode blends expertise, lived experience, and real talk about why public health deserves recognition, protection, and investment — now more than ever.

☕ The tea is hot, the conversation is necessary, and the implications are real.

👇 Join the conversation in the comments and let us know:

How do YOU think this policy could impact the future of public health?

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