Blogs

As a Health Educator with the Sacramento County Public Health, Health and Racial Equity Unit, MCHES® Vanessa Cummings’ role is to ensure that our community receives accurate and accessible health information. With a focus on leveraging her expertise to address systemic disparities, Vanessa offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of public health education and communication. "The Health and Racial Equity Unit was established in April 2022 after the Board of Supervisors declared Racism as A Public Health Crisis in November 2020,” Vanessa explains, “and since then, we've been dedicated to addressing health disparities associated with vaccine equity ...

Andee Wik, a public health fellow at the New York State Department of Health, offers a nuanced perspective on her multifaceted role, which centers on leveraging social media and communication channels to disseminate critical health information. As a part of the state-funded fellowship program aimed at nurturing the next generation of public health professionals, Wik finds herself embedded within a local health department, where she spearheads various initiatives to engage and educate the community. "Understanding the population you're trying to reach is crucial, and it's important to start small and not expect huge changes overnight," she emphasizes. By grounding ...

Deadline for nominations: January 31, 2024 The 2023 Outstanding Service and Leadership Award is now open for nomination submissions. The award was first instituted in 2016 in order to highlight career achievements in the implementation of programs and policies that promote the role of Certified Health Education Specialists within communities, populations, and/or organizational structure. Individuals nominated for this award will currently hold an active CHES® or MCHES® credential, and will have completed one or more of the following: initiated programs that produce a community-wide or state/national impact promoted the CHES® or MCHES® credential ...

By Wanda Carter-Calhoun, MCHES® and L. Lynn Willis CHES® Before starting to promote your CHES®/MCHES®, you should ask yourself one important question. As the credential holder, looking to increase awareness of your credential, you may need to educate your current or potential employers regarding the value of your certification. You must position your credential as a benefit in the industry for those professionals who have earned it. Some employers and their hiring teams give preference to credentialed professionals, and may also encourage their staff to pursue credentialing by providing incentives (such as sponsorship of exam or recertification fees). ...

After meeting recertification requirements and completing a certification cycle, Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) can advance their credential by taking the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®) examination. NCHEC connected with Daytheon Sturges, Ph.D., MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, and asked a few questions regarding his path from CHES® to MCHES®. If you are a five-year CHES® hesitant about advancing to MCHES®, please read on for more on Dr. Sturges' journey. MCHES® Exam information, deadlines, and requirements can be found here . How long were you CHES® before deciding to upgrade your credential? I was CHES® from 2018 to ...

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., (NCHEC) has announced the names of three recipients for the spring 2023 Helen P. Cleary Scholarship. This award is designed to assist full-time undergraduate or graduate students with the fees associated with the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) examination. The recipients of this award have demonstrated both financial need and a passion for their chosen field of Health Education and Promotion during their academic careers. NCHEC sponsors this annual scholarship opportunity, with the awards selection process administered by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Awards Committee. ...