Charting a New Course: Anita Dam describes how one college course steered her towards a career in HIV prevention

One college course changed the trajectory of Anita Dam’s life. The GHTASC Technical Analyst—specializing in the introduction and access of HIV Prevention Technologies for the Bureau for Global Health’s Office of HIV/AIDS—enrolled in the History of Medicine major during her undergraduate degree and was hooked. “It piqued my interest in the history of public health and how we have gotten to the health challenges we face in the present day; this was followed by pursuing my Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) concentrating in Social and Behavioral Interventions,” Anita explains.

Her graduate studies focused on hands-on research, including mixed methods data collection and analysis, and included an opportunity to conduct research with the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Kalisizo, Uganda. Anita describes the impact that opportunity had on her: “It cemented my interest in furthering research, programs, and policy in integrating sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV prevention. Before coming over to OHA’s Research Division, I was a Program Analyst in PRH’s Research, Technology, and Utilization division which not only expanded my understanding of family planning research and programs, but also the role and responsibility USAID has in the global arena.”

Anita—an avid kickball and pickleball player—is particularly proud of her work launching the CATALYST study under the MOSAIC project this past year: “This implementation science study is bridging research with programs to make HIV prevention service delivery stronger, ultimately expanding HIV prevention product choice for users, especially women and girls at PEPFAR delivery sites in Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.”

Having served in a variety of roles supporting USAID, including as an intern and Program Analyst, Anita relishes the opportunity to learn at every step. “Each role has had a new set of responsibilities and challenges, and my contributions have not only evolved based on my portfolio but also the ever-evolving field of public health.”

Those early years as an intern made an especially strong impact that has come full circle in her current position, where she regularly mentors and supervises interns entering the workforce. “It is really important to continue building up the next generation of the global health workforce so new perspectives, ideas, ethics, etc., can continue to make us the best public health professionals we can be. I think our work and programs are stronger when everyone has a seat at the table, including global organizations, country-led partners, youth leaders, advocates, students, researchers, etc.”