Jason Paltzer

Jason Paltzer is health services director for the Lutheran Medical Mission in Zambia, Central Africa. His job responsibilities include health program development and implementation, teaching, budgeting and accounting, evaluation and maintenance. "I have the ultimate responsibility for all of the day-to-day decisions and operations for the Lutheran Medical Mission," he says. His organization trains community members and health workers offering courses and workshops on home-based care, psychosocial counseling, rural health management, youth leadership and life skills. Paltzer is in charge of curriculum development and organizational planning. Zambian volunteers teach the courses and provide grassroots support.

Paltzer's schedule is not routine. "I spend some days preparing for workshops and programs, some days running errands in town and other days entertaining visitors and addressing the problems of community members who come to me for help." 

Being flexible is part of Partzer's job, so is dealing with frustration. "At times, I am not able to accomplish anything I have planned because we have to spend the day looking for fuel for the vehicles due to a diesel shortage or because community members want to meet with me. I can't turn them away because of the distance they traveled to get here," he says.

Despite the challenges, Paltzer says he enjoys his work. "I am able to take my ideas and goals and turn them into practical and realistic programs. I enjoy teaching and being able to share knowledge that gives people different options for living healthy lives, spiritually and physically."

What attracted you to public health?
I was attracted to Public Health because of its focus on populations and communities versus one-on-one care. I was initially interested in infectious disease and medicine after receiving my B.S. in microbiology and immunology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. My desire to focus on groups and assist in the area of prevention and behavior change materialized when I realized that the people who need health care the most usually do not have access to it. Initially, I thought an M.P.H. would complement an M.D.  After my first year in the field of public health, I wanted to practice public health full-time.

Is there anything you wish you had studied or done in school but didn't? 
If I had to do it again, I would have taken more courses in economics, management, and organizational development. Economics play a huge role in health problems and development issues. Management and organizational development are vital to the sustainability of any program or organization. Without proper leadership in these areas, programs never reach their full potential. In retrospect, more training in these areas would have been helpful.

What are the biggest lessons you learned during your time in school?
I'm thankful I got involved with policy development and learned about the affects of government on healthcare and development. The SPH Student Senate at the University of Minnesota was also an invaluable experience that enabled me to acquire leadership and public relations skills. Writing my master's thesis and carrying-out every step of the process versus just analyzing data already gathered was an experience I would not change. Being able to experience the research process from start to finish was a great opportunity.

If you had one piece of advice to share with someone thinking about a career in public health, what would it be?
Challenge yourself. Know the ultimate purpose for getting into public health. Many people say they want to help people but there is always a reason behind that response. Many never bother exploring it. Once this ultimate reason is found, do not lose focus of it.

Who are some of your mentors?
Kerwin Steffen, Dr. Leslie Lytle, Ms. Diana Nzoma, Ms. Winne Baron, my mother, and Christ.

What do you find most challenging in your work?
Being in Zambia, I am applying what I've learned. This is the most challenging part of my job. Combining the theories learned in the classroom with the realities and brutality of life in the rural areas of Central Africa is tough. It is challenging to teach a mother about proper nutrition for her children when you know she only has $1.00 a day to spend on her family because the father uses the rest for beer. It is challenging to educate communities about clean water when most people have to walk 2-5 miles just to get any source of water at all--whether it is from a puddle or a hand-dug well that goes 90 feet into the ground. It is always challenging to help people in a way that enables them to help themselves so that the assistance is sustainable and lasting instead of producing dependency and apathy.

Is there a particular health issue or community you enjoy working with?
I really enjoy working with different cultures, such as the people of Zambia. The HIV issue in Sub-Saharan Africa is both frustrating and challenging because of the impact that it has on all aspects of life, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

What's the biggest lesson you learned during your time in school, or your first year in the job?
Every person has a piece of my puzzle. Everyone has some knowledge that I don't have and I can learn form everyone. Also, the biggest challenges and frustrations offer the biggest opportunities for growth and rewards. And another lesson I've learned; love covers over a multitude of wrongs and is needed in order to be an effective leader where people follow you with loyalty and trust.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I feel like I make a difference every time I hold a workshop and watch people walk away with a greater sense of confidence and ability to change themselves and others around them. I also see a change when I organize for a deep-water well (borehole) to be dug for a community to have access to clean water. Watching a whole village dance and sing while a borehole is being dug is truly exciting and unforgettable.

If you could leave an indelible imprint on the field of public health, what would it be?
If I could leave an impact on public health, it would be to mentor someone in Zambia to take my place as the director of the Lutheran Medical Mission so the program could be sustained long-term.