On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Jamie Atchison, MSMIT, Senior Director of Innovation and Strategy at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). Jamie shares her unique journey from public health programming into technology leadership, highlighting how she bridges business needs and digital innovation within her organization.

We explore ASPPH’s groundbreaking AI chatbot, built in just eight weeks, and the intentional, human-centered approach behind it. Jamie dives into how associations can responsibly adopt AI, the importance of curated and trusted content, and how vertical AI models can combat misinformation in complex fields like public health.

The conversation also covers leadership philosophy, including servant leadership, psychological safety, and building high-performing “one-pizza teams” that can move quickly without losing alignment. Jamie offers a forward-looking perspective on how AI and agentic AI will reshape associations, emphasizing augmentation over replacement and the need for strong critical thinking in an AI-driven world.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:01 Rapid Fire Questions

02:00 Jamie’s Career Journey and Path into Technology

05:00 Transition from Program Work to Digital Innovation Leadership

07:00 Building High-Performing “One-Pizza Teams”

09:00 Inside the AI Chatbot Project (8-Week Build)

12:00 Team Structure, AWS Partnership, and Knowledge Transfer

13:00 From Problem to Solution: Why a Chatbot?

14:30 Responsible and Ethical AI in Public Health

17:00 Guardrails, Curated Content, and Vertical AI Models

18:00 Data Considerations and Content Strategy

20:00 Member Feedback and Adoption of AI Tools

21:30 Human-Centered Design vs. Over-Reliance on AI

23:00 Broader AI Strategy and Task Force Initiatives

26:00 Building a Digital Innovation Team in Associations

29:00 Bridging Business Strategy and Technology Execution

32:00 Future Trends: AI, Agentic AI, and Workforce Impact

36:00 Servant Leadership and Building Trust in Teams

39:00 Culture, Collaboration, and Crisis Response in Tech Teams

40:00 AWTC Recognition and Team Success

42:00 Aligning Personal Values with Organizational Mission

44:00 Where to Learn More About ASPPH’s AI Initiatives