We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon Roussy-Sanchez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

When I first started my Master’s in Public Health, I chose to specialize in Epidemiology and Health Education because I found them both interesting. Halfway through my degree, I got my first job as a health educator at a small clinic in a rural town in Nebraska. One of the moments that was the most defining for me was spending 2 hours with a patient to teach them how to use a diabetes blood glucose monitor, how to read their blood sugar levels, how to draw up insulin, and how to inject themselves safely. This person had been diabetic for years, but no one had ever taken the time to sit down with them long enough for them to learn. Seeing how much my time meant to this person showed me what a powerful impact health education could have people.

Shannon, 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 Shannon Roussy-Sanchez. I work full-time as an immunization epidemiologist and have a side business for consulting in health education. I’m also working to complete my Doctorate of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion. My health education business is called Shannonigans! I offer a variety of services to help people reach their full health potential. This means working one-on-one with clients to meet them where they are at for holistic behavior change. Many clients come to me with a weight loss goal but often don’t know where to start. Our client sessions explore their current health knowledge and practices, we identify barriers, and we set realistic goals to make meaningful changes. I also offer workshops and group classes for topics such as self-care, how to meal prep, diabetes control, and more. I have dedicated years of school, work, and personal experience to my business to create a place for everyone to feel welcome and supported along their health journey.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Learning about health goes beyond school and work in my life. I’ve been on my own health and weight loss journey over the last couple of years, so I understand firsthand that many factors can affect someone’s life. For me, this pivot came during my Master’s program when I realized I was not even close to following the recommendations that I would be giving clients as a health educator. I wanted to change my life so that I, too, could be healthier, have more energy and stamina, and set myself up for a better future.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I absolutely would! I always knew I wanted to pursue a career that helped people, but at a younger age, I didn’t know what that meant. There are so many ways people need support and help along their journey, and being a health educator allows me to be that guide for them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _shannonigans22
• Linkedin: shannon-roussy