I am in a student organization called Global Health Initiative, which increases awareness about health issues locally, nationally, and globally through meetings, film screenings, advocacy trainings, and other educational opportunities. We have different subcommittees, including Marketing, (Facebook and Instagram and website media) Local Volunteering (which volunteers at local organizations a few times a month like the Boys and Girls Club and with Local Matters), International Volunteering (two-week summer trips to countries like India, Guatemala, and Malawi to teach workshops and do other interactive service), Educational Outreach (raising awareness to youth in high schools) and Campus Events (professional development related, reaching out to rest of the campus community). The Co-Presidents work on executing General Body Meetings and finding speakers. All parts of Executive Board work together to make things go smoothly.

I joined GHI during my freshman year of college, and I am glad that I did! I continue to expand my knowledge on world issues and learn how to advocate for others who do not have a voice or are unable to access resources. This club enhances or complements my major of public health. It is open to all majors: we have biology, microbiology, neuroscience, political science, anthropology, and other fields of study represented among our members! Topics covered in past sessions included food insecurity, global trade, infant mortality, and more.

Here is a timeline of the autumn semester, during which I served as Event Planning Co-Chair. There was a multitude of challenges but I am never alone in overcoming them because I have the help of my fellow executive board. During the summer, I was slowly transitioning into my role of an executive board member and constantly communicated with my other Co-Chair, who has had previous experience in the position, Jenn. Summer quickly ended and the school year began!

OSU Involvement Fair – August 20th, 2017

We had many people stop by our booth! We distributed all of the 200 mini-flyers that I designed (1/4 the size of a regular sheet of paper) by 5 to 5:30 pm, and we still had an hour and a half left before the fair ended! Hundreds of students indicated interest in our organization by signing up for emails.

Prior to the Involvement Fair, the e-board members met up multiple times to discuss how to prepare for the fair. My event planning co-chair counterpart Jennifer met with me to help me matriculate to my position. I made a layout online for what I wanted the involvement fair poster to look like. Then I emailed representatives for Senator Brown, Senator Portman, and for Congresswoman Beatty to have them come for an advocacy training day in September. The day before the fair, Radhi and Sophia (the co-presidents for GHI from 2016-2017 and this year) and I gathered to create the poster together. Instead of having paragraphs of text on the poster, Sophia’s idea was to have handouts for students to read! I created the handout, with some editing from Radhi. Our poster has photos and headings on it, and the black background is meant to draw people in. I loved our set up for the fair. I had an hour-long shift and I spoke with a handful of students. I also really like having our logo on tanks!

Executive Retreat Agenda – August 26th, 2017 
From 10 am to 3 pm, the executive board members gathered to discuss plans and become closer with one another, since some e-board members were new and we had not met everyone yet. There are 12 of us, and we introduced ourselves and then went into a discussion about how to improve GHI for the year. Interestingly, all of us are women, but we would like more male representation in GHI as a whole, as well as on e-board. We broke into our committees: Event Planning, General Body Meetings, International Volunteering & Fundraising, Marketing/Social Media Planning, and Educational Outreach & Volunteering (previously High School Outreach). It was a very productive hour! We had a break for lunch, which was at Panera!

After, we had a teambuilding workshop from Student Leadership Advocates, from the Office of Student Life. The specific workshop we participated in was called “True Colors”, by a Graduate Assistant named Elyssa! We learned about our dominant color, which reflects our personality style. When I did the True Colors Indicator, it accurately described me! (I am organized, meticulous, and methodical. I like to follow rules and have structures/routines.) This was a fun workshop where we interacted with each other and found out what the personalities of the members were! We next had a large group discussion about GHI troubleshooting. Finally, we had a short reflection on the retreat. I benefited tremendously from this because I got to know my team and we brainstormed and bounced off one another brilliant ideas. It was quite the storm in there, and the rest of the year is surely going to be as electric.

General Body Meeting #1 – September 7th, 2017

Our meeting was in Enarson, in a room half the size of what we needed for our group. We had about 50 students cramped in the classroom, and we felt bad that some had to stand. Therefore, Radhi did a speedy presentation so that we could finish the meeting in 30 minutes. Radhi introduced herself as Co-President, then International Volunteering spoke, then Educational Outreach, then Event Planning, and then finally Local Volunteering. (We also have a Marketing committee.) We had people sign up to indicate interests in international trips, so we could have specific information sessions and begin fundraising for those trips.

Torpedo Room Comedy Night Fundraiser – September 18th, 2017 
It was a flop; only three executive board members attended and no general body members. What we learned was that since no students were committed to an international trip yet, nobody would contribute to a fundraiser. We will keep this in mind for next time! Also, the time of 9 to 10:30 pm could be an issue for people, since it was a bit late.

Representing at Health Science Scholars Service Fair

 Sophia, a Co-President of GHI, represented our organization at this fair. This was a great opportunity to get more people interested in what we do! Many Health Science Scholars are pre-med, pre-dental, or want to go to some kind of professional or graduate school, so GHI is a viable option for them to get involved since we offer a variety of different opportunities within our organization.

Advocacy Training – September 19th, 2017 
This was a fantastic session that many of us benefitted from. Tanisha Humphrey flew in from D.C., where our partner organization Population Connection headquarters is located, to train GHI on how to advocate for women’s reproductive rights. We first learned the background, which is the first step in advocating for an issue. You have to thoroughly understand what you are talking about and what you are fighting for! About 20 general body members came to the training, and we had pizza, subs, and chips. I learned about Trump’s Global Gag Rule and what this actually means for the rest of the world. A starting fact was that 1 in 3 women will get an abortion in her lifetime. Advocacy is a part of public health, and we need to be knowledgeable on the policy side!

 

General Body Meeting #2 – September 21st, 2017
We brought in Sarah Perry, former GHI co-president and current second-year Masters in Public Health student. She presented an overview of OSU’s Master’s of Public Health Programs and careers in Public Health. She was a Bio major until junior year when she switched to Public Affairs. She remained pre-med all the way but then realized it was not her path; she then applied for an MPH-Epidemiology Specialization. Everyone enjoyed her speaking and answering questions. It was such a natural and poised presentation. Plenty of students asked questions about how to make the best of college, such as when to look for research work and what would make them stand out for future program admissions.

 

 Civil Engagement Banquet – October 3rd, 2017
OSU has an annual banquet honoring those who are dedicated to social change and civic engagement. The Office of Student Life’s Social Change recognizes those in our community making great changes and impacts in civic engagement and service. Awards are named after notable philanthropists and are given to individuals embodying that service to others.

 

General Body Meeting #3 – October 5th, 2017
 Alex Sauersmith, planner for CelebrateOne, giving an overview of the infant mortality rate in Columbus, CelebrateOne‘s work, and internship opportunities to get involved with. Read here for more information on CelebrateOne. A major cause of infant mortality is not following Safe Sleep procedures: ABC (A – Alone, without stuffed animals and blankets, B – Baby sleeping on back, C – Sleep in crib). Other causes include being born prematurely or born too small, being exposed to tobacco and other drugs during mother’s pregnancy, and health inequities. There is a racial disparity among infant health; black babies are 2.5 times more likely to die than white babies. There is a task force dedicated to addressing this issue in Columbus. Infant mortality varies greatly based on zip code, so we have to address the conditions of specific neighborhoods to ensure that all babies can survive!

 

Smart Cookie Study Session – October 9th, 2017
GHI brought Insomnia Cookies for our members (and the general public) to munch on while preparing for midterms. Our session lasted from seven to 11 p.m., and people could come and go. We had over 20 people stop by! 

General Body Meeting #4 – October 19th, 2017
Sarah Inskeep, Regional Field Planner for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, provided an overview of Planned Parenthood and their work. They are fighting for universal access to safe, affordable reproductive health care. Women’s right to have birth control and quality care is threatened constantly by legislation. This is an issue that has long been debated and continues to receive national attention.

Major Event: Pre-Professional 101 – October 22nd, 2017

Pre-Professional 101 was our major event for the autumn semester (and just the second year that we have had this)! Since this was the first time that I was involved in organizing such a large-scale event, I was anxious throughout the several month process, but it was not too overwhelming. I had support from Jenn and from my peers. Pre-Professional 101 was a casual networking event with upperclassmen and graduate students from different tracks sharing their knowledge and experiences with younger students. We had close to 20 representatives available to describe how they evolved and found their paths from freshman year to their junior and senior years. One pre-law student also shared how she formatted her resume.

I was proud of myself for the efforts I put into making this event happen, and for speaking at the front of the room in front of so many of my peers. I printed out a script to guide me on what to say: “Thank you all for coming. My name is Melinda and I am Event Planning Co-Chair for Global Health Initiative, a student org at Ohio State.” Then I explained what GHI was to those who were unfamiliar with the organization, and reminded people to mingle and treat themselves to the food and refreshments in the back of the room. This event will return every year to provide students with advice and perspectives of people who were in their shoes before!

No Options – Voices from the Frontline – October 26th, 2017

This spectacular meeting was made possible by the collaboration of Global Health Initiative and Population Connection. We hosted the speakers in Hale Hall, and provided pizza, salad, and breadsticks. (In the future, I hope to bring more healthy options for dinner.)  Family Health Options Kenya Director of Clinical Services Amos Simpano, Kibera Clinic Director Melvine Ouyo, and human rights activist and award-winning author Lisa Shannon came to discuss how the Global Gag Rule is harming millions of women. They shared their stories from the frontlines of reproductive healthcare in Kenya, Congo and Somalia.

 

https://www.thelantern.com/2017/10/it-is-a-death-warrant-kenyan-health-experts-cross-an-ocean-to-talk-trump-administrations-gag-rule/
This event was featured in an article by The Lantern

General Body Meeting #5 – November 2nd, 2017

We had a fantastic presentation from Jill Davis of Ohio Health’s Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO). She spoke on sexual violence, its incidence, prevalence, and types. I gained greater clarity on this issue; this is so important on college campuses, where there’s greater opportunities for sexual violence to occur. Jill presents about this topic to fraternities and sororities, student organizations, and other areas.

Jill was a marvelous presenter! She showed a video about a man (whose face was not revealed) who is pre-law and revealed in an interview how he “staked out “freshman girls on campus with his friends and “targeted” the pretty ones, “grooming” them over the week until they trusted him to go to a party on the weekend. The drinks served at the party had alcohol put in; the man claimed that the “smart girls” knew there was alcohol in there. Rape culture is so pervasive that many men who do commit this offense do not consider it as rape! The entire presentation was extremely effective; she was prepared with handouts and promotional items to distribute to our group.

See this website for more information on SARNCO.
https://www.ohiohealth.com/services/neuroscience/our-programs/behavioral-and-mental-health/sarnco/

Reproductive Health: Policy & Practice – Global Health Initiative and Scholars Strategy Network Collaborative Event – November 9th, 2017
We collaborated with Scholars Strategy Network, or SSN; Sarah Perry, OSU alumna and former GHI President is a part of SSN. She was responsible for this event that brings together policy and public health. In the state of Ohio, reproductive health policy is often at odds with best practices in clinics and hospitals. Students of medicine and law discussed how current law affects our access to a full range of reproductive health services and how clinicians navigate state-mandated restrictions while caring for patients. How does policy shape practice – and how can practitioners and researchers effect policy change? A networking happy hour was held after the event, where heavy hors d’oeuvres were served. Attire was business casual. We had over 30 people attend, and I learned more new pieces of information! 

Tierra Prometida: “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty”  – November 9th, 2017 

Ohio Union – Cartoon Room 2, 8:30 to 10:30 pm
Project Nicaragua, a nonprofit student organization at OSU, works to alleviate poverty in a small impoverished community in Nicaragua, which is the second poorest area in the Western Hemisphere, with the first being Haiti. This showcase event was about how to break the cycle of poverty both locally and internationally. Project Nicaragua presented their documentary, which they filmed in the rural town of Rancho Grande, Nicaragua, where they have been developing rapport and relationships for several years. A few other student organizations gave presentations: Encompass, Global Health Initiative, and Operative Smile. A guest speaker, Dr. Abdoul Sam, who is also a faculty member at OSU, spoke about his efforts in applied economics when it comes to agriculture and resources.

 Sophia, one of GHI’s Co-presidents, and I presented for about 10 minutes on current public health initiatives in Columbus. We discussed what issues Columbus Public Health is addressing around Central Ohio, including alcohol and drug abuse (the opioid crisis, for instance), infant mortality, and food insecurity. I enjoyed working with her to create a PowerPoint to convey this information. During the process I learned more about what was actually going on in Columbus, so this made me more aware of the existing programs and resources that are available and often, extremely affordable! It was an honor to be able to speak along with Sophia at this event. The documentary was eye-opening and allowed me to see what Nicaragua looked like (I had no idea at all.) I am fortunate to have been able to hear my peers speak about their contributions to society! I have trouble with public speaking, and tend to forget what I want to say or stumble over my words when doing so, but practice will perfect my speaking. 

General Body Meeting #6- November 16th, 2017

Our last General Body Meeting for this semester, we brought in Sarah Wharmby, Volunteer & Operations Manager for Local Matters, a non-profit that works to create healthy communities through food education, access and advocacy. They partner with healthcare providers to offer healthful food education and complement existing programs treating chronic diseases. They teach cooking classes and gardening to anyone in the community! Programs vary and serve ages from pre-school children to adults. The organization’s goals include addressing food insecurity and food waste.

GHI Executive Board – Friendsgiving – 11/20/2017
Most of the executive board members gathered for a special dinner to celebrate the semester and bond over good food. We all contributed dishes or utensils or beverages; we had stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans cooked with olive oil and thyme, pasta, and salad! I got apple juice since that is more of a seasonal drink. We then had a good time talking. I am so grateful to be in a group with strong, independent women who are all thriving and inspiring me. One of us has already been accepted to medical school!

Study Tables – December 3rd, 2017
We had another study tables session before finals week. We had a smaller crowd at this event but it was still a productive time.

Next Semester:

In March, we will hold our annual event Research Mix & Mingle (which was in fall of last year), at the Biomedical Research Tower over on OSU’s medical campus. This is usually a three-hour long event, involving a dozen distinguished faculty members who want to share their research with students. The event begins with some light food. A member of GHI’s executive board, typically a co-president, will give a brief presentation to begin the program. People listen to brief explanations about the faculty’s research. The faculty members are stationed around the room, and the students move around to who they want to converse with. The research represented comes from various disciplines including public health, biology, entomology, epidemiology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and sociology.

I attended this mix and mingle myself during my freshman year and it has provided me insight into networking and how to find research opportunities. Students are required to RSVP and wear business casual. Prior to the Research Mix & Mingle, GHI also holds a preparation event. We bring in career services representatives who offer their tips for resume writing and review so that students can effectively display their talents on paper.

In addition to our Research Mix & Mingle in March, we will have General Body Meetings on WEDNESDAYS from 7 to 8 pm for Spring 2018 semester! We also plan to host an Alumni Night (AlumNight) to connect with the people who were in charge of GHI in previous years. This will most likely be a conference call/Skype session. Some of the former Co-presidents are now medical students or Ph.D. students. One is currently attending medical school at Brown University.
GHI’s volunteering is going well; we traveled to the Boys and Girls Club to teach them about the flu and flu vaccine and hand-washing techniques. We also prepared gardens with Local Matters to prepare for the winter season. With the Sierra Club, we worked with honeysuckle and planting trees. Additionally, we made and distributed meals and hygiene supplies to people experiencing homelessness with Crosswalk Outreach to the Homeless.

Please return back to my e-portfolio next semester to stay updated on what GHI does next!

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Email: osuglobalhealth@gmail.com