Let's Talk Public Health Founder and CEO Monique Thornton Receives Prestigious GW IMPACT Award

Image via George Washington University

In the field of public health, effective communication can make all the difference between life and death, as well as impact the quality of life for individuals and communities. Monique Thornton, founder and CEO of Let's Talk Public Health, has been recognized for her emerging contributions in this arena. On June 17, 2023, she received the esteemed IMPACT Award, the highest honor presented to distinguished Black alumni by the George Washington University (GW) Office of Alumni Relations in partnership with the GW Black Alumni Association (GWBAA) Committee.

Becoming founder and CEO of a company was not always the plan. Witnessing the poor health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, Monique felt compelled to take action. She made the bold decision to resign from her position at a large consulting firm in 2021. Using her own savings, she transformed her Let’s Talk Public Health blog into a public health communication and marketing consultancy. Her primary goal was not financial gain or conquering a segment of the business market, but rather to bring about tangible and meaningful change within the realm of public health communication and marketing.

Let's Talk Public Health serves as a platform through which Monique can compile, create, and share products, resources, and services that empower public health students, professionals, and organizations to effectively engage with people around public health topics and issues. Monique's dedication goes beyond the establishment of her consultancy. She actively volunteers her time to share her experiences as a public health student, professional, and entrepreneur with prospective and current undergraduate and graduate students. By participating in alumni panels and guest lectures and launching an experiential learning program and an online academy, Monique aims to inspire the next generation of public health professionals.

Through Let's Talk Public Health's website, she strives to remove barriers and create an easy-to-navigate source of public health communication and marketing resources. Monique's dedication to innovative and creative health messaging is evident through Let’s Talk Public Health’s productions, which include "The Disaster Diaries of Rhyane Jane," an entertainment education audio drama focused on emergency preparedness and disaster response, and "Let's Talk Public Health This Way," a growing YouTube series that showcases creative examples of health communication.

With her unwavering vision and leadership, Monique has transformed Let's Talk Public Health from a blog into a growing business. Let’s Talk Public Health’s tools and resources have reached over 28 countries, helping public health professionals, agencies, and businesses worldwide with their health communication and marketing needs. 

The Let’s Talk Public Health story is just beginning. Stay tuned as this company grows as a beacon of inspiration, innovation, and empowerment in the field of public health communication and marketing.

Read more about the 2023 IMPACT Awards here.