**please don’t just agree to post but add more to their post that can be discussed ***
Classmate 1: Jean: I see a lot of education about prevention in the future of public health. There was a time when PSAs seem to be everywhere. I’m not sure when the last time I saw a commercial sponsored by the American Heart Association. Many of the health problems that are facing America are preventable. Talking with my patients, many do not know their own role in their own health. There is a shortage of healthcare workers that has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, it is even more important than ever to educate the public about prevention. I do think the problem with addition and overdoses will continue to grow. There are laws on the books about prescribing opioids, but not when a patient is in a hospital. I have seen many examples of abuse at this level. Maybe getting involved with hospital policy where I work can be a way I can contribute to prevention. Many people are unaware that anyone can get Narcan at any pharmacy; all you have to do is ask.
Because of my tuition reimbursement program, I have to stay with my current employer for the next two years. During that time, I will look for openings in infection control or case management. After that, I would like to get into more programs about education on primary and secondary levels of prevention. When I can, I do educate my current patients as soon as I can. I recently had a woman that came in because of high blood pressure. She moved several months ago from out of state and did not have a primary to write her scripts. Her and her husband had just not gotten around to it. We do not have a program where we find a person’s primary for them at the hospital, again, healthcare is short-handed. It is up to each person and their insurance company. Because she has not taken any medication for a few weeks, she went into a hypertensive crisis. Now this has caused her to be hospitalized for a few days. Upon hearing their story and noticing the husband playing games on his phone while keeping her company, I suggested that he call his insurance company or go to their web-site now because he wasn’t doing much else but waiting for her numbers to stabilize to find a primary. I also offered to get a clipboard and a pen. A few hours later, he thanked me for the suggestion and said he had an appointment on Friday, and they could make one for his wife once she has been discharged. When I have someone that has been diagnosed with a new problem is having a hard time managing their disease, I give them what will be their discharge instructions right away for them to read and will continue to ask them questions to see what their knowledge level is. I will offer for them to speak to a dietitian if it is needed for them to help with their self-care. Just last week I was very blunt with a young gentleman that has been hospitalized with alcohol withdrawals. This was not the first time. I didn’t tell him about AA. He has heard that. I told him about alcohol encephalopathy, intubation, feeding tubes and having to cleaned up by others when you soil yourself. I don’t think he liked me much.
I would love to find a position that has to do with education people about taking their own health into their own hands.
Classmate 2: Sarai: Hello all,
The future of public health is shifting egregiously toward being more reflective of populations that should have been overlooked for years. This shift has been created by a greater focus on holistic practices and the public acknowledgment of injustices that are perpetuated by practices and practitioners. With that, as people are growing more positive in expressing who they are publicly I believe the next big trend we will see in public health will be the lasting effects of stress and anxiety on LGBTQIA+ populations. People wake up every day uncomfortable to walk to their mailbox because they are afraid of their perception by those that intend them harm, and this must have some lasting effects.
I shared in the last assignment that I currently work with and would like to continue to work with college students, so my path to public health is a very non-traditional approach. I believe shifting campus focuses to view the holistic student experience as a priority would lead to the amending of policies and practices in which we deal with students. I also shared that I chose this path with my MPH degree because:
“College students have such a great opportunity to mold their lives in 3-4 years. With that, they need standing forces to ensure the policies, procedures, and practices are aligned in a framework that sees them as humans and considers their holistic well-being. My motto is a happy, healthy, productive student is one who feels seen, heard, and understood (SHU). SHU students are the ones who increase retention rates because they feel safe at their institutions, who are the major donors as alumni because they want others to have their experience, and ultimately, the ones whose faces are seen around campus years after graduation to impart wisdom to future graduates. If we do the work we can see a tangible change.
I currently serve as the Assistant Director of Residence Life & Housing with future aspirations to a Vice President of Student Affairs/Student Engagement position. For both, the MPH would aid in the conduct and policy creation processes. I have been very lucky to be close to the Dean of Students (DS) at my current institution and the Vice President for Student Engagement (VPSE) at my previous one. With that, I have seen firsthand how employing an MPH mindset when rewriting or reworking the strategic plan can intentionally create a healthy environment (DS) or how taking time to build personal connections and listen to students can change their entire trajectory (VPSE), and when I am in those roles I will keep these in mind as well” (Mapp, 2023).
Best, Sarai
References:
Mapp, S. (2023). Module 7: Final MPH Deliverables. Personal Collection of Coleman, A., Chamberlain University, Chicago, IL.
