Sally Yue Lin (she/her) is a Senior Policy Analyst in the BC Public Service and a career coach serving equity-deserving professionals.
After graduating in 2015 from the UBC Master of Public Health (MPH) program, she worked in research administration and public policy in Coast Salish and Lekwungen territories (now known as Vancouver and Victoria). Her career goals are to make a meaningful impact on public policies in British Columbia and to uplift Indigenous, Black, and other racialized professional through providing financially accessible and identity affirming career coaching services.
Outside of work, Sally enjoys swimming, biking, and sewing.
What drew you to the Master of Public Health program at UBC?
I was interested in the UBC MPH program because I was interested in gaining epidemiology skills and to meet public health professionals working in BC, as I wanted to work in this province. I was working at UBC prior to attending the graduate program and I wanted to strengthen the relationships I had already built.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
I really enjoyed swimming at the pool in the mornings before going to class. It was really calming to swim laps and to mentally prepare myself for the school day. I worked part-time during my degree, so the early mornings were the only time I had to exercise, since the rest of my days were busy with class and work.
What has been your journey since graduating from UBC?
After I graduated from UBC, I worked for a year in health research for a large research institution in downtown Vancouver before relocating to Victoria for a position at the University of Victoria. I had three different positions within UVIC related to research administration, where I gained skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, event planning, and managing staff. Last year, I pivoted out of the higher education sector and joined the BC Public Service.
Following the death of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent protests, the BC government initiated the process for reforming the Police Act in BC; I wanted to contribute to this important initiative and accepted a position as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
What do you find most interesting about a career in public health?
What I love about a career in public health is how diverse the field can be. Since public health is inherently interdisciplinary, we can work towards similar goals in so many different areas. This diversity allows our careers to be expansive and ensure that we are never bored, stagnant, or stuck.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from the people around me. One of the main reasons I enjoy mentoring and coaching is because it expands my horizons and exposes me to new perspectives. I also find inspiration through LinkedIn and seeing the career paths of other professionals in my network and beyond.
More generally, I find inspiration in nature and through art. I seek out the feelings of wonder and awe that can be found through observing the simple beauty of the everyday, as well as through grandiose marvels found in the extraordinary.
How has your identity affected your perspective on the field of public health and your future pursuits?
My intersecting identities as a racialized, queer, immigrant, woman has allowed me to empathize with communities that have also been “othered”, whether because of health diagnosis, social condition, or aspects of their lived experience. This is the reason I have gravitated towards working with people with lived experience of HIV, incarceration, homelessness, and marginalization.
In terms of my future pursuits, I plan to continue working closely with colleagues, stakeholders, and partners on important issues that impact British Coumbians. My identities and training in public health provides me with unique skills and experiences to work towards meaningful policy change in this province.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish?
I would like to eventually scale up my equity-driven career coaching services so that I can uplift and support even more people. Currently I only accept 3 clients at a time and only on weekends as I work a full-time job during the weekdays, but hopefully I can expand my services in the future.
What does a healthy society mean to you?
To me, a healthy society is equitable, sustainable, and resilient.
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