Tia Watts

Background

About Tia Watts

Integrating my rigorous academic background from Meharry Medical College with my work experience, my core competencies lie in patient care management, advocacy, health equity work, reproductive health justice, and cultural sensitivity. All of my skills honed through previous job positions and fellowship experience as a 2024-2025 HRSA Maternal Health Research Collaborative Scholar align with my goal to contribute to a healthier society.My current role as a Public Health Executive Fellow at the Tennessee Department of Health embodies a commitment to safeguarding public health and policy, with a focus on comprehensive, multidisciplinary support and effective communication. My journey in public health began at Louisiana State University, where I cultivated a passion for patient care and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, concentrating on Human Movement Science. At Louisiana State University, I supported my desire to improve community welfare while working as a Speech Therapy Technician for children with autism and communication challenges throughout the early days of the pandemic.Some of the skills I bring to the table include critical thinking, patient care management, mixed-method research, and effective communication, all of which are crucial in my current role and previous academic endeavors. I aim to marry these competencies with my deep understanding of public health to make a tangible difference in health equity work. As I progress, I strive to continuously harness my knowledge and experience to advocate for and contribute to quality improvement initiatives and equity on a broader scale while addressing and bridging health disparities.