Get to Know Michelle Clark

Growing up in Midland, Texas, also known as “oil country,” Bloomberg Fellow Michelle Clark came to understand the connections between environmental health and public health. Now, as an environmental health program coordinator for Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Clark focuses on making scientific information accessible and useful to the Tribal communities who need it most. 

“Environmental health data can be confusing. My job is to make it real for people, so they can take action to protect their health,” Clark says.  

Working alongside Tribal leaders, a Tribal Epidemiology Center, and academic partners Clark and her colleagues put this approach into practice by establishing a Tribal wastewater surveillance program. Wastewater surveillance can provide an early indication of emerging health threats by detecting health-related signals in community wastewater.  

Following the collection of the data, Clark and her team worked closely with Tribal leaders to host community events to educate residents about wastewater, runoff, and the potential public health implications of consuming unsafe drinking water. It can be hard to get the conversation started, so Clark uses engaging objects, including poop emoji shaped squish toys, to jumpstart discussions. In the process, Clark elicits residents’ concerns and answers questions. 

As new applications for wastewater surveillance continue to develop, Clark is interested in how the tool can expand to meet the needs of Tribal communities. 

That work has also reinforced what Clark believes policymakers need to understand when developing programs and policies that affect Tribal communities: Tribes are sovereign nations and should be treated as partners in decision-making. 

“Engage Tribal communities early and genuinely listen to their priorities, experiences, and concerns,” she says. “Sit and break bread together, because the most effective strategies are built on trust and ongoing collaboration.” 

Clark’s commitment to that approach is one reason she pursued the Bloomberg Fellowship. Through the Fellowship, Clark hopes to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional connections to strengthen her work and better serve Tribal communities.