story by MANDY HOWARD | photos courtesy of PBS North Carolina
Dr. Emily Herring, DVM, always knew she wanted to become a veterinarian. What she didn’t know was that veterinary medicine could lead to a career protecting the health of entire communities.
“When I was a kid, I did not know what an epidemiologist was,” says Herring, now a public health veterinarian with the North Carolina Division of Public Health. “Throughout college and veterinary school, I learned more about the important role that veterinarians play in improving health at the population level.”
Now, through an engaging program on PBS KIDS, Herring is helping introduce children to careers she didn’t even know existed when she was their age.
She is one of the featured professionals on “Health Heroes,” a new educational series from Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s PBS KIDS brand. The game show-style program challenges three young contestants to identify a mystery profession using clues and puzzles while introducing viewers to the many public health professionals working behind the scenes to keep communities healthy.
For Herring, appearing on the show was an easy decision.
“One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to talk to North Carolinians about the work that my colleagues and I do,” she says. “I get to speak to a lot of adults, but I don’t often get to talk to kids. Participating in “Health Heroes” seemed like a fun opportunity to connect with a younger audience and hopefully get them interested in public health.”
It’s part game show, part career adventure. Three young contestants follow clues and solve puzzles to identify a mystery profession, introducing viewers to the people working behind the scenes in public health.
Helping children discover careers they may never have considered is exactly why PBS North Carolina created the series.
“Education is at the heart of everything PBS North Carolina does,” says Lauren McDowell Pyle, director of children’s media and education engagement. “Health Heroes reflects PBS North Carolina’s education mission at its best: empowering children with knowledge, building trust through authentic representation, and sparking curiosity.”
Pyle, a former educator, knows children are naturally curious but they need opportunities to see careers beyond the ones they’re already familiar with. She also believes parents play an important role in that discovery.
“Public health careers are not often seen, but rather the benefits we share as a community thanks to public health ‘heroes’ are all around us,” she says. “I hope parents will talk with their learners about the heroes that may not be seen in their everyday lives.”
Those conversations matter because public health professionals are quietly protecting families every day, often without anyone realizing it.
“Public health is often happening quietly in the background, but it touches every part of our lives,” says Dr. Kelly Kimple, MD, MPH, director of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the state’s chief medical officer for public health.
Whether ensuring drinking water is safe, inspecting restaurants and childcare centers, tracking disease outbreaks, preparing for public health emergencies or promoting healthier communities, these professionals help keep North Carolinians safe every day. Kimple hopes “Health Heroes” helps families recognize those careers while inspiring children to consider becoming part of the next generation of public health professionals.
As game show host, Garin Hyde guides the contestants as they interview a public health specialist, asking kid-friendly questions to uncover what each career entails. Each episode spotlights a different role within one of five core areas of public health.
“Health Heroes” premiered in June on the Rootle PBS KIDS channel and livestream. Episodes are also available on YouTube and through the free PBS app. Following a successful first season, the series has been renewed for a second season.
“I’d be thrilled if I encouraged at least one young person to explore a career path they hadn’t considered previously.”
This, in essence, captures the heart behind “Health Heroes”: Before children can imagine themselves in a career, they first have to know it exists.
