How APHA Helped Me Find My Voice in Public Health Research

My first year in the PhD program, where I study the intersection of immigrant family health and social policy, felt like the ocean. When we imagine the ocean, it’s calm on some days, stormy on others. It was a strange mix of peace and underlying anxiety. I’m pretty sure most of the students at the doctoral level would feel the same. At times, it also felt like a vast and directionless sea, as if I were drifting in the middle of the sea. I was not sure which way to go, even though I still could see the light.

I spent most of that year buried in coursework, and I could not get out of self-doubt. I hadn’t spoken about my research beyond class discussions. I think I intentionally avoided it since I had a fear that people would not understand what I meant. It was a third-year PhD friend (who is currently a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work) who said something that changed everything: “Hey, Jenn. You should just submit your work to APHA.” I nodded politely but just moved on. That evening, he sent me the APHA website. I opened the link, but still, I hesitated. Public health felt like another universe. Later that day, while sitting in the doctoral lounge, I mentioned my hesitation to that friend. He looked at me and simply said, "Why not just try? You never know what might come of it." That was enough to make me decide.

My First Conference
To my surprise, my abstract was accepted for a round table presentation. It was my first time presenting as a sole author. I was excited but terrified. My topic was how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact flourishing among immigrant youth. On the presentation day, something unexpected happened. People listened, and they nodded. They also asked thoughtful questions. Not only researchers but also nurses and social workers began sharing their own experiences in their workplace. They asked how flourishing could be measured meaningfully in real-world settings. Their curiosity made me pause. Then I realized my work was resonating with people far beyond academia.

Returning with a Clearer Focus
The next year, I submitted my abstract again, but this time with a sharper focus on oral health disparities. The presenters were different. The audiences were different. The questions were different. But what stayed the same from last year was the energy. They were still curious, critical, and collaborative.

While presenting, I chatted with other presenters about their dental school journeys and learned about cities I had never been to. I even met a few social workers doing research in dental areas. Those connections helped me see that I’m not the only one in this strange position between oral health and social work.

A Push to Sell My Story, Not Just My Findings
APHA also taught me how to present my research with heart, to not just deliver data but to tell the story behind the numbers. I learned to adjust my language for different audiences, to pause for impact, to invite listeners into the why of my work. The art of “selling” your research was something I was never taught through any of my syllabi, but something I now carry into every presentation.

From Networking to Reflection: Lessons Beyond the Podium
One of the most valuable parts of APHA wasn’t just the presentation—it was the networking. I met doctoral students from UNC, Harvard, and other programs who were also navigating uncertainty. We shared stories, exchanged contact info, and even now, months later, still check in over Zoom. It helped me re-frame my doctoral journey and reminded me that growth doesn't always come from within but often starts in conversation with others.

Some of the most meaningful conversations happened right at my poster. Dr. Mollis (currently assistant professor at the University of Washington) came up to me and said she had stopped by because my topic sounded close to the work she was doing. That kind of interaction had happened while I was presenting at the SSWR, which was the largest conference in social work research, but never in public health spaces. We had time to talk about our current research, and she invited me to join the Social Work in Dentistry (SWID) network. Her presence made the space feel less foreign, like maybe I did belong there after all.

Not long after she left, Dr. Mehta, who is chair-elect of the APHA Oral Health Section, came by. He had carefully read my poster and told me the topic was not only timely, but necessary. He also mentioned how the field of oral health needed more interdisciplinary approaches, and that my work added a valuable perspective that’s often missing. He even offered to connect me with faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, which helped me to be connect with one of the research labs in their dental school.

I remember looking around at the posters beside me. Some showcasing complex biological models and high-tech solutions and wondering if my work would be seen as “enough.” But the conversations I had that day told me otherwise. They reminded me that social work brings something essential to oral health, like a lens that centres lived experience, equity, and systems. And in that moment, I felt not only seen, but recognized.

Conclusion: Moving Forward

I still hesitate sometimes. And I think it’s just an imposter syndrome, which most doctoral students have. Still, new challenges feel unfamiliar and intimidating. I still worry that someone might judge me, that I might not belong. And yet, something has shifted. When I wasn’t sure before submitting my abstract, it was just a simple question Cortney asked: “Why not just try?” That question has followed me ever since. When I talk about social work in dentistry and hear the quiet doubts in the room, I pause (even though I’m still not enjoying those moments), but then I ask myself again before continuing that conversation. Why not just try? When I’m met with puzzled looks about research that links flourishing, social work, and dental care — areas that rarely share the same table — that question returns to me again. Why not just try? So, I will. I’ll keep connecting dots — between disciplines, between research and practice, between what’s expected and what’s possible. Even when others don’t see why those dots matter or why social workers should care, I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep explaining. I’ll keep inviting others to see what I see. And maybe, in time, they will. And the next time I hesitate?

Well… Maybe I will. But why not just try?

Authored: Jenn Hyunjin Lee

Jenn Hyunjin Lee is a PhD Student, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, where she integrates social work into both clinical practice and dental education. With experience in international humanitarian aid and community behavioural health, her passion is to bring an inclusive lens of flourishing into health care settings.