Alexandra (Allie) Piatkowski
Alexandra Piatkowski, MPH, PMP® (She/Her) is a public health leader, epidemiologist, and certified Project Management Professional® committed to transforming complex data into meaningful, actionable strategies that advance health equity. As the Founder & CEO of Piat Public Health, she partners with public health, healthcare, and social impact organizations to conduct needs assessments, evaluations, strategic planning, and community engagement initiatives. Her work centers on amplifying community voice and ensuring that evidence-based insights translate into real, measurable impact. Before launching Piat Public Health, Alexandra held senior roles across leading health and research institutions, including Moxley Public Health, the Health Commons Solutions Lab at Sinai Health, Amplify Care, and the University Health Network (UHN). At UHN, she led the development of the world’s first comprehensive Seniors Emergency Medicine Centre—securing a landmark $52M donation, guiding strategic planning, and strengthening multi-sector partnerships to enhance care for older adults. Her consulting portfolio spans the United States, Canada, and Jamaica, where she has supported hospitals, health departments, and coalitions through comprehensive needs assessments and strategic plans that prioritize equity, clarity, and community-driven solutions. A dedicated mentor and community leader, Alexandra serves as Co-Vice President of the Toronto Council on Aging’s Board of Directors and mentors emerging public health professionals through the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s Alumni Mentorship Program and The Prosperity Project’s Rosie Mentorship Program. She holds an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto and a BSc in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo. Known for her collaborative, grounded, and equity-focused approach, Alexandra is passionate about creating healthier, more inclusive communities—and welcomes opportunities to connect, partner, and co-create impactful change.
• Project Management Professional (PMP)®
• University of Toronto
• University of Waterloo
• Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award
• School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant
• The Public Health Club CEO of the Year
• Entreprenista
• WE Public Health
• The Public Health Club
• The Public Health Career Club
• Independent Nonprofit Consultants
• The Nonprofit Hive
• Worldwide Women's Association
• Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce
• Guest Lecturer at American University
• Mentor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
• Mentor, Rosie Mentorship Program
• Mentor, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Co-Vice President, Toronto Council on Aging
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having the courage to change, pivot, and evolve — personally and professionally — whenever the path called for it. I’ve worked hard, stayed persistent, and refused to give up, even when the next step felt uncertain. I also wouldn’t be here without the support of my family and friends, who have encouraged me through every transition. And a big part of my journey was not being afraid to try entrepreneurship and just go for it, even without a business background. Trusting myself, taking risks, and staying aligned with my values have made all the difference.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that it’s okay to try lots of different things. You don’t have to have one perfect, linear path — having many interests is a strength. Every role, project, and experiment teaches you something valuable, including what you don’t want. Giving myself permission to explore has helped me discover the work I truly love and build a career that fits me, not the other way around.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t be afraid to think beyond the traditional pathways in public health. Our field is so much bigger than the roles we’re typically shown early in our careers — there is room for creativity, leadership, and even entrepreneurship. Explore the non-linear paths, the unconventional opportunities, and the work that genuinely excites you. Some of the most meaningful impact in public health happens when you give yourself permission to build something new, step into spaces that don’t yet exist, and trust that your perspective is an asset.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in public health right now is that people often forget how essential our work is when there isn’t an emergency. But public health is what prevents emergencies — and ensures we’re ready to respond when they do happen. Even so, we’re navigating shrinking budgets, a push to ‘return to normal’ after COVID-19, and rising misinformation and distrust that make our work harder and our systems more fragile.
And public health is so much more than infectious disease response. It’s housing, mental health, food security, environmental safety, aging, transportation, social connection — all the factors that shape how people live and thrive. When attention and funding disappear between crises, communities lose the infrastructure that keeps them healthy every day.
But within these challenges are enormous opportunities. We have the chance to rebuild trust through transparency and community-centered approaches, advocate for sustainable investment, and modernize systems that were tested during the pandemic. This moment also calls for collaboration over competition — because when one organization or community thrives, we all thrive. There is more than enough work to go around, and the biggest impact happens when we work together, not in silos.
Public health also thrives on continuous learning, curiosity, and the willingness to try new things. Our field was built on innovation and adaptability — on following the data, exploring new ideas, and embracing the adventure of work that rarely follows a linear path. If we lean into creativity, courage, and collaboration, we can shape a healthier, stronger, more resilient future for everyone.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me — in work and in life — are kindness, empathy, and authenticity. I believe in doing the right thing, listening to truly understand, and choosing collaboration over competition because when one of us thrives, we all thrive. I’m committed to continuous learning and staying curious, embracing new ideas, new experiences, and the adventure of trying different paths. These values shape how I lead, how I work with others, and how I show up every day.