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About Me
Jen Ottolino, MBA, MHSM, MIPP
Five Things That Define Me as a Health Communicator
1. I have heaps of experience but am always learning new things.
While I have worn a few different hats during my career, communication has always been my strong suit. I completed extensive coursework in the health sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including the first two years of medical school. I have graduate degrees in marketing, health sector management, and international public policy, and I have a graduate certificate in monitoring and evaluation, a copy editing certificate, and advanced training in health writing. My professional roles have ranged from consulting on wellness industry trends for a Fortune 500 company and managing a CDC-funded research program to conducting a year-long health training program in two rural Tanzanian villages. Driven by my endless curiosity, I've been around the block (or the world, rather) a few times. I don't plan to ever stop learning!
2. Culturally sensitive and inclusive communication is my value proposition.
I have traveled to more than 30 countries, lived and worked on three continents, taught English in development and humanitarian settings, and gained proficiency in several foreign languages. These experiences have sharpened my cross-cultural communication skills and taught me that language should be respectful, empowering, and inclusive. If you share this understanding and you want your digital communications to reflect that, we will work well together.
3. I am both scientific and creative.
I work comfortably in both the scientific/technical and creative realms. While I have many years of health and social science education and a history of working with research institutions, I am also an innovator and divergent thinker who is sensitive to aesthetics and design. This means I can spend the morning editing a scientific manuscript, the afternoon writing a creative blog, and the evening participating in a photography workshop. My brand blends precision and innovation, clarity and vibrancy, science and art, so if you're looking for a communications professional who is versatile and adaptable, you've come to the right place.
4. I love to combine words and images.
Because I am both verbal and visual, I excel in tasks that combine writing and images, making me a natural fit for digital communications. I have skills in image and video editing, page and blog layouts, and basic graphic and website design.
5. I am professional and easygoing.
Working remotely from my island home office doing what I love means that I am a fulfilled and productive professional. But my extensive project management experience in fast-paced settings means that your project gets completed on time and according to your detailed specifications.
Education
Masters in International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
MBA and Masters of Health Sector Management, WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University
Two years of graduate coursework in health sciences and complementary medicine, Bastyr University and Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
BA, Pre-med & Psychology, Northwestern University
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Certifications & Skills
Google Analytics for Beginners, 2021
Copy Editing Certificate, University of California San Diego, 2019
Graduate Certificate, Monitoring and Evaluation, American University​​, 2016
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, Bridge TEFL, 2014
Skills:
project management
technical, scientific, and academic writing
formatting (APA, MLA, CMS)
infographics and charts
quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
desk-based research
digital storytelling
content creation and blogging
page layouts
SEO
photography
photo and video editing
social media posts
Hobbies & Interests
I am passionate about social justice and sustainable, simple living. I have a fundamental belief in the equality of all human beings and a deep respect for living things. I strive to live in a way that reflects those values.
When I am not in my office, I am often outdoors! I enjoy hiking, trekking, canyoneering, kayaking, and swimming in the natural ocean pools near my home. I also love photographing and blogging about my experiences on the island.
I am an adventurer by nature, and I enjoy travels both close to home and in faraway lands. My favorite kind of travel is "deep" as opposed to "broad." In other words, I would rather slow down and really get to know a place: its natural wonders, people, culture, and language. Check out the map below to see where I've been over the years.
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