June 30, 2016
Written by Sara Blackburn, United Way Intern
As Health Portfolio Manager at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Bailey Murph juggles a variety of responsibilities in her efforts to address public health issues within our four-county region. Her work involves managing 66 programs in the health portfolio, including issue areas dedicated to pregnancy support, disabilities, and behavioral health.
With such a large amount of work and responsibility I had to ask ‘what led her to pursue a career in Public Health.’ "The public health field became an obvious choice after the death of my first nephew. The two months he was with us had a profound impact on my family, so when we lost him it was incredibly difficult. While I don't understand what it's like to be a parent or a parent who losses a child, I know what it's like to feel hopeless, and to have questions no one can answer. I hope my work in public health can help others find those answers and be able to prevent these tragedies from happening."
Bailey’s passion for improving our community is evident from the moment you meet her. She describes her role as incredibly rewarding because she gets to engage with community members and see the impact of United Way up close. “When I’m able to see the important work being done on the ground, and support the needs of our programs, their service providers and clients, that’s the best” she said.
As Health Portfolio Manager, Bailey focuses largely on identifying gaps in service needs and how United Way can address those needs to better support all who benefit from health-related assistance programs. On any given day, you may find Bailey at a Program Meeting discussing the status of the services being provided to the community, reviewing grant proposals for the Healthy Birth Outcomes, or talking to community members who receive assistance from one of the many programs within the health portfolio.
Bailey never ceases to increase her knowledge about public health, how it impacts the community in which she lives and works, and how United Way can expand its reach to better support those in need of health services. She describes United Way as being “special”, because it listens to the needs of our community, its programs, partners and donors, and then helps fill gaps and build capacity to make meaningful and lasting impact.
Bailey holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and just recently completed a fellowship with the Wisconsin Population Health Service Institute. Since taking on her position as Health Portfolio Manager, she has also completed a program called “City Leaders,” where she learned about issues of urban maternal health and child health. When she is not working, Bailey enjoys spending time thrifting, collecting cross stitch and embroidered kitchen art, and spending time with family. Bailey is a proud aunt of six nephews and one niece.