We recently connected with Dr. Ashley Carmenia and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.
I landed my first job in the public health field upon the conclusion of my internship to complete my Masters degree. I was interning at an infectious disease clinic where I was later offered a position within their clinical research department. Although the position didn’t provide significant interaction with the community, I still jumped at the opportunity as it removed me from the corporate sector and placed me in healthcare. I worked in clinical research for two years before I obtained a position to manage a federal grant that was awarded to a newly formed non-profit organization. This position was my dream position that provided me with all of objectives and opportunities to develop my professional skillset. While my path to my ideal first job in public health and health equity wasn’t a direct one, I am very happy with my career trajectory. I have learned a lot along the way and met great people in various sectors. Most importantly, I have learned the value of being patient, putting in the work, and reaping the harvest of the seeds that I’ve sown.
Dr. Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Dr. Ashley Carmenia and I’m a public health professional that resides in Charlotte, NC. I received my Bachelors of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Community Health Education and Promotion from California State University San Bernardino, Masters of Public Health from the University of New England, and Doctor of Health Science from Campbell University.
Currently, I wear multiple professional hats in the community. I am the Community Health Equity Director at a national non-profit organization, adjunct faculty at our local community college, and the owner of my consulting company — Carmenia Consulting, LLC (www.carmeniaconsultingllc.com). I am an avid maternal and child health advocate and have immersed myself in work that aims to advance health equity and education. My passion for health equity began during my undergraduate internship at a Title I school — where I quickly realized the effects of inequitable access to essential resources and how it greatly impacts social and health outcomes. Since then, I have worked to ensure that every project and program that I’ve been a part of has an equitable framework and measures for sustainable change. Throughout my experience in the non-profit sector, I have learned that sustainability, proper strategic planning, and appropriate methods of community outreach and data collection are areas that pose some of the greatest challenges among community-based organizations. Working to address these challenges prompted me to start my own consulting company, where I mostly work with community-based organizations to plan and develop innovative solutions to propel their mission.
My path has been anything but straight and narrow to get to the point of my career that I am currently at today. I began my professional career as an account manager in supply chain logistics at two international corporations before I moved into the healthcare field. While my start wasn’t in public health, I learned invaluable business skills that have proven to be applicable as I’ve navigated different parts of business in both the non-profit and corporate healthcare sectors. Since then, I have worked in clinical research, program development, implementation and evaluation, community-based research, data collection and analysis, and developing and leading multiple coalitions of both internal and external stakeholders. I have managed all constructs of health equity programming and projects for organizations — specifically programs and initiatives funded by the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) cooperative agreement that is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local county and state grants. I pride myself on being multifaceted, and having a diverse skillset and experience in so many different areas! Because of this, my approach to each challenge is unique to the people, their situations, and their communities that I’m working in partnership with. No solution to any public health challenges are monolithic. Therefore, I always work to center the individual/community voice at the core of my work. Utilizing this method has earned myself and my team national recognition by entities such as the CDC and a feature in an article by USA Today.
If anyone asks me about my brand and my work, the first thing that I always highlight is that my work exudes my passion and commitment to advancing the health of the community. My word is everything. I am extremely passionate about the work that I do, and am cognizant that every number that I see represents an individual and their story in each data set. As an individual, I have worked to build trust and continuity in communities throughout the Charlotte area. Regardless of the organization that I work for, I am going to show up and be present as an advocate for communities that are often overlooked and underheard.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Developing a niche and area of subject matter expertise, being visible in the market and networking. All three of these things have been working very well for me as I’m working to scale my consulting business.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Possessing intrinsic skills, values, and a work ethic that supersedes formalized education and training. In my field, anyone can be taught basic theory and textbook development of public health programming; however, solely focusing on a paycheck and simply “checking the box” is not sustainable nor will it yield true impact. There are some values in which people must internally possess that can’t be taught. Communities can sense fakeness! Therefore, it is important that you come into this field with true sincerity, patience, and the willingness to go above and beyond at times.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carmeniaconsultingllc.com
- Instagram: mahoganyhealthconnection
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ashleycarmenia
Image Credits
Corey Weaver