Monthly Public Health Consultant Spotlight: Christie VanHorne, M.Ed, MPH
Each month, I will introduce you to a public health consultant or entrepreneur and they will share their path to self-employment and outline key pieces of advice for aspiring business owners.
Today we welcome Christie VanHorne from Poughkeepsie, NY!
1. Please share your educational background and business title/name.
Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Education (M.Ed), and Certificate in Instructional Design
I am the CEO and Founder of CVH Consulting, LLC.
2. Tell us how you entered the field of public health and what your education and work experience was prior to consulting.
After I finished my Master’s in Education in 2003, I joined the Peace Corps. I served in rural South Africa for two years, where I trained community leaders, community health workers, and youth on HIV prevention. When I came home, I worked for Planned Parenthood for two years before starting my MPH. Since then, I have worked for two national health organizations and managed a New York State maternal and infant health grant. My primary tasks in these positions focused on program development, facilitating train-the-trainers, and coordinating interventions to improve community collaboration and health outcomes.
3. When did you start consulting and what were your motivations for pursuing self-employment?
In 2013, a health nonprofit approached me to update their educational programs and workshops, train speakers on facilitation best-practices, and to develop guides for speakers. This partnership lasted for over three years. I fell into consulting, but quickly learned it was a perfect fit for me.
There are a few things I love about being self-employed. I enjoy the different projects you get to work on and all the people you meet. You’re also the boss, which offers flexibility in the services you offer. It’s your business. There is no one to say you should or shouldn’t do something, or how to do it! That’s empowering.
4. Who is your ideal client? What services do you offer?
My ideal clients are nonprofit and government organizations, as well as hospitals.
I offer three primary services:
Health Workshops - Through evidence-based training methods, I have developed skills-based workshops and trainings to improve health outcomes for patients and community leaders. Topics include the social determinants of health, bias in healthcare, and health literacy.
Facilitation – I help organizations or coalitions drive necessary change through an engaging and collaborative approach to problem-solving. I love to build collaborations and facilitate meetings by gathering vital feedback from the community and key partners. We review next-steps, provide action plans, and identify key players in achieving goals.
Custom Learning Solutions - Whether you are building a program from scratch or adapting existing curriculum to stay relevant, I work with organizations to create the best intervention possible. I also help to develop train-the-trainers, program materials, and facilitation guides.
5. Do you have a particular product or service that you’d like to highlight? Tell us all about it!
I have created a series of workshops for both patients and community members to address bias in healthcare through improved health literacy skills. I provide professionals with the skills to recognize bias and give the folks they work with the tools to be self-advocates. The workshops for community members teach people how to find a provider, best-practices when planning for appointments, and the most effective ways to describe symptoms and talk to their doctors. Participants (both community and professionals) practice the skills learned through discussion and practice exercises, which include role-plays and scenarios. Developing and facilitating these workshops is a dream come true for me. There is nothing I’d rather be doing.
6. Many of our readers are considering a career as a self-employed public health consultant or entrepreneur. What is your best piece of advice for those considering or just starting out?
Be kind to yourself. Starting a business is a lot of work, more than most people realize, and it can take time to grow. Patience is key. For me, reading, listening to podcasts, and connecting to other consultants has helped.
7. How can readers connect with you? Please share links to relevant websites and social media accounts:
Readers can connect with me on my Website, Blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.