Many of you asked me to continue my blog as I headed off toward Graduate School in Public Health so that you could continue living in my head. As long as you stay quiet while you inhabit my head for awhile we will be fine...I have a lot of studying to do.
Most of you or many of you know that I was accepted into the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for my masters degree in Public Health. I started classes today and had my School of Public Health orientation yesterday. I have never felt so much like I am in EXACTLY the right place. Our orientation began with the usual welcomes and "our doors are open" from our advisors and the Dean. We then split off into our specific programs and I met 5 of the other 7 people who are in my program...yes 7. Public Health Leadership is a bit different in terms of programs there because you have more options in choosing classes and direction. It also means we are a smaller program with more access to our advisors (We have two advisors who split the 8 of us.) Where as the Nutrition, Biostatistics, Maternal and Child Health, and Epidemiology students (as a few examples) have programs that are geared more toward those specific areas and specific course outlines, Public Health Leadership is more of a blanket program where you are able to choose courses that interest you. I have also coupled my degree with a certificate program in Global Health where I have options of courses such as "Water and Sanitation Planning and Policy in Developing Countries", "Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases", "HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries", "US Latino Health Promotion", "Globalization and Health", "International and Comparative Health Systems", etc, etc, etc. In other words - YES KAT IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
This semester I am taking several of my core courses (there are 5 in all for my program along with certain categorical electives I have to fulfill) as well as pursuing parts of my Global Health Certificate. I am taking...
Biostatistics - Principles of Statistical Interference
Principles of Epidemiology
Introduction to Health Policy and Administration
Global Health Discussion Series
Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health
I will have to say that the "Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health is already by far my favorite class. Our assigned readings for next week focus on the "Global Burden of Disease as a snapshot of the world today." We will be discussing the "development" out of diseases that still occur in developing countries such as Tuberculosis and malaria into the diseases that are now prevalent in the "developed world" - Heart disease, strokes, cancer, etc. There are three professors team teaching this course who have all traveled to many places throughout the world and have either done their master's thesis or their dissertation about the public health systems in China, Thailand, and Kenya. What is so unique about this course is that we have lecturers come in who are often the top dogs in the business to present certain issues afflicting our world today. Topics such as "The Impact of Globalization on Health and Healthcare Systems", "HIV/AIDS: A Global Update", "The Global Landscape of Malnutrition, Under-nutrition, and Hunger", "Global Tobacco", "Access to Clean Water and Sanitation", Migration, Health, and Latino Experiences", and "Tuberculosis and Malaria: A Global Update" just to name a few.
As many of you know, I traveled to Kenya last year through a group called Village Volunteers (villagevolunteers.org) and worked at the Mama Maria Clinic in a rural village on Lake Victoria. Dealing with certain issues such as the spread of typhoid, schisosomiasis, amoebas (yes Kat loves those!!), and other water born ailments was forcing that village to look at alternative water supplies other than Lake Victoria. Courses such as Water and Sanitation Planning give a nice springboard for possible programs in areas such as these. Also, working in the Dominican Republic with Community Service Alliance (communityservicealliance.org) in a traveling clinic for a week, we were able to really see major effects of malnutrition and parasites on both children and adults among other ailments. I also had the opportunity to see the difference between the rural poor and the urban poor and the problems that face the wide spectrum in between.
From day one in my classes, we have been challenged and pushed to really begin thinking of ideas (solutions is never a good word in this context) to better our world here and abroad. We often find ourselves identifying problems throughout our country and world and the conversation ends there. What we are empowered to do (And this we is the collective we...meaning you too) is begin saying, "ok, what now?" "What can we begin doing to put sustainable projects into practice now and in the near future?"
I told my parents to expect a call after my orientation yesterday. What I really was expecting to say was, "Oh goodness, what have I gotten myself into? Is there a way to get back tuition and just go find a job?" (These are often usual Kat freakouts and my parents, I must say, have become quite used to listening to them over the years.) What I found was whenever I got done with my orientation, I was absolutely elated. You know how the puppy often pees when it's very excited...I didn't go that far...but I was close. I am absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and I have never been so excited to take courses in my life...even when they come with that dreaded word "school". I know that I have been led down the right path and I cannot wait to see what opportunities arise and hopefully my brain and chest will not explode from excitement. Look out world.
If you are interested in a good news source for Public Health as well a good (comical) video about "debunking third world myths"...try...
Harvard World Health News
http://worldhealthnews.harvard.edu/
Hans Rosling: Debunking Third World Myths with the Best Stats You have ever seen
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/92
(if you aren't a science person, you may miss some of it..but it's very intersting anyway...really-watch it)
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