public health

SHARP – June edition

This summer, I am blessed to have earned a spot in the 2019 cohort of the Summer HIV/AIDS Research Program (SHARP) with the San Francisco Department of Public Health! Six students were selected to come on board with SFDPH. Ninety six people applied and there were multiple interview rounds. Having applied for the 2018 cycle and not making it through to even the first round, I was pleasantly surprised and grateful for making it this far and succeeding in my search for an internship that would address my needs and interests holistically.

I applied for SHARP because of its various components.
First and foremost, it helps young and passionate individuals who come from underrepresented communities and “humble beginnings” to pursue public health careers and address health disparities. Scholars receive mentorship from multiple people, including distinguished researchers. Scholars get to work with these mentors on their projects as well as conduct their own individual projects based on their interests and skills. Weekly seminars, networking events, social outings, and field trips were also included to make for a busy but productive and prosperous summer.

In addition, this program takes place in San Francisco, a city that was ground zero for the HIV epidemic in the 1980s/90s in America. There is much history here as well as public health innovations and programs that I would not find anywhere else. Furthermore, I wanted to challenge myself by going to a different city to live and work. This opportunity would serve me well in my career advancement and exploration as well as personal development. With all that SHARP has to offer, I also had much to bring to the table: my passions, skills, character traits, and excitement.

WEEK ONE

6/1 – I flew into Oakland on June 1st, the day after I returned to the United States from my study abroad. (I saw my family for about 12 hours). The flights went well and I met kind strangers on the plane rides. From Oakland airport, I easily made my way to the BART, Bay Area Rapid Transit. The instructions given to me by my supervisor, the director of SHARP, were straight-forward. When I arrived at the downtown Berkeley station about an hour later, I then lugged my two pieces of luggage, about 40 to 50 pounds worth, while wearing a backpack and purse, to my apartment. It was certainly an endeavor but I found my way to the place I would stay for 11 weeks.

My apartment came furnished with a mattress, bed frame, desk, chair, and dresser. I had to provide my own sheets, pillows, and curtains. I could not find curtains anywhere in the area so I used a bed sheet and temporarily hung jackets and cardigans. (Amazon has great tapestries, which is where I got mine!)

6/2 – On Sunday, I tried to find a library that was open on University of California – Berkeley’s campus so I could do work, but all were closed. I discovered their student union, which was open and had a dozen students working on their laptops. I typed up a reflection essay for a grant I received for my study abroad. Then I purchased sweatshirts at a campus apparel store; the city of Berkeley was cooler than I anticipated. I did not pack as warmly as I should have.

This map of the BART system is posted online, in booklets, and displayed on the trains.

The first week of SHARP is an Orientation/Introduction week. As I was learning to use BART and adjusting to San Francisco’s and Berkeley’s different environments and weather and people, I learned about the SFDPH and what I would be doing over the summer.

6/3 – First Day of SHARP!
I was brimming with excitement and nervousness for what I consider to be my first ever internship. While I have had a myriad of experiences with research, volunteering, and work, this is my first formal internship program. I wore a striped sweater and blue slacks for my first day. Since I expected to acquire some papers for the first day, I carried my backpack.

Two other interns met up with me in the morning so we could commute to work together. We arrived early and got to meander around the blocks surrounding our office building. Then we made it to our location and greeted our program supervisor! We went around introducing ourselves. Most of the day, we went over pages of hiring paperwork and we completed online trainings related to ethical research practices, privacy and safety, and compliancy. Part of internships and jobs require intensive paperwork in the beginning!! Complete these in a timely manner and fill them out accurately. Truly take the time to look it over and understand what the papers involve.

We had to fill out tax forms as part of our employment. As young adults, the process can be confusing. Do not hesitate to ask others for help!

6/4 – We had a meeting with two SHARP alumni. This was very informative and they told us candidly about their experiences. Some important tips for surviving and thriving in SHARP are to do self care, and schedule that in if needed. Reach out for support from your cohort. We are in this together and we can help each other out.

6/5 – On this day, we received an intro to public health and to SFDPH. We also received a tour of the building. SFDPH has different divisions and centers, so it was a good exposure to see how the department’s individual units operate.

For lunch, scholars and most of the mentors had a meet and greet lunch, which was pizza from The Market.

6/6 – The scholars toured the San Francisco City Clinic, which has served the Bay Area since 1911 by providing affordable sexual health services to all in need. Our tour guide was a practicing physician who encouraged us to ask questions and also asked us questions to test our knowledge and critical thinking. I learned new things from this experience, including increasing my awareness of the types of testing for different STIs.

Some fun facts:
– Those who are diagnosed with HIV get placed into care within five days of diagnosis.
– Chocolate agar helps gonorrhea cells grow and the other bacteria dies so that technicians can determine if someone has gonorrhea or not.
– I heard about the 2-1-1 method for PrEP the first time.
“PrEP 2-1-1 is named for its schedule of dosing: 2 pills are taken 2-24 hours before sex, 1 pill 24 hours after the first dose, and 1 final pill 24 hours later. Clinicians only recommend PrEP 2-1-1 to people having anal sex, since the medication may not reach high enough levels in vaginal or front hole tissue.
Remember: It is important trans men, women and other people with vaginas or front holes to take PrEP every day as prescribed in order for it to offer full protection..” Source: https://www.sfaf.org/resource-library/prep/
– People get two tests to confirm that they have HIV. If the first test is positive, a second test is done to confirm.
– I also heard about dark-field microscopes for the first time! Specimens appear bright against a dark background

http://sfcityclinic.org/

Next, we walked to Ward 86 at San Francisco General Hospital, where we met up with Dr. Phillip Coffin, a Co-Principal Investigator of SHARP, to discuss HIV and STIs and his experiences as a physician related to the field. This ward was the one of the first to treat patients during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and is renowned worldwide for care and research. As Dr. Coffin spoke, I tapped away at my phone to take notes.

Here are several facts I would like to share:
– HPV (human papilloma virus) causes cancer such as cervical cancer, but rates of this cancer are already plummeting “fabulously,” says Coffin. He thinks pap smears will be unnecessary later on down the road.
– Hepatitis B and C can also cause cancer.
– I heard about Castleman’s Disease for the first time; this rare disorder can affect people of any age but usually people middle-age and up.
– Repeated constipation can lead to colon cancer.
– Cancerous tumors can be solid or liquid. Liquid tumors are blood tumors and can be everywhere, since blood runs throughout the body. Leukemia and lymphoma would fall into that category. There tends to be higher cases of lymphoma in people living with HIV. For liquid tumors, full body therapy is needed. I can imagine it takes such an enormous toll on the body.

Source: AIDS Info, NIH.gov

– HIV first tries to go towards the gut and attack the large amount of immune cells there.
– Acute HIV can mean CD4 cell counts drop significantly, and the diversity of immune cells get wiped out. The human body is then at higher risk for different viruses and it cannot remember what it has been exposed to.
– Two people have been cured of HIV through stem cell transplants that are very invasive and fail most of the time. Some people may have died trying to get transplants. There must be a genetic match. White blood cells get taken out and stem cells get put in.

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/06/104005/sfghs-ward-86-pioneering-hivaids-care-30-years
https://zuckerbergsanfranciscogeneral.org/

6/7 – Our morning session entailed an Intro to Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, by Harriet A. Washington. Before this meeting, scholars read the first few chapters of the book as well as a scholarly report on the state of Black Americans and their health in America, tying in impacts related to education, morbidities and mortalities, and housing. We spoke about what we found salient or shocking from the readings.

This book may come as a shock to many people, but it is necessary to bring this into conversations to create social change that is deserved by affected communities.

The contents of the book were not entirely new to me, as I had learned a bit about exploitation of Black Americans’ bodies throughout America’s history during my schooling so far. Nevertheless, I was deeply frustrated and troubled at how physicians and other stakeholders in the slave trade exploited Black Americans’ bodies for not only labor, but for medicine. These enslaved peoples had no rights or say in what was to happen to them; they were stripped of their dignity and oftentimes their clothes. It was horrifying to read the book and visualize in my head the unspeakable atrocities committed by folks who believed in white supremacy, eugenics, racism, and more.

Despite white people in America viewing Black Americans as inferior in intelligence and other attributes, and of a different species entirely, these racists were fascinated by Black bodies and wanted to do research on them to help forward medicine. They wrote about their findings in medical journals that were only accessible by white male doctors. Many of their arguments for the experimentation and exploitation were illogical; if Blacks were nothing like whites, how could the research results be applicable or translated?

I am slowly getting through the book. It evokes much emotion out of me and I hope that others read this book to understand more about America’s history and how the field of medicine has benefited greatly from unwilling bodies. It really makes people think about the narratives we are told in school and what was hidden.

In the afternoon, we toured Gladstone Institute on UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. The afternoon was divided into visits to different labs. We spoke with researchers and interns at the facility.

Science is such a broad field and a degree leads to nebulous pathways.

https://gladstone.org/

WEEKEND:
By the end of the week, I was relieved.
On Saturday, I tidied up the apartment and while helping to water plants and weed the gardens, I made a friend in my apartment complex. It turns out that she is an intern at Gladstone for the summer, so I will see her around! We later went out for a meal, explored the area where we were living, and got bubble tea. That evening, I did laundry.
On Sunday, I attended a BBQ at the house of one of the SHARP mentors! It was a great opportunity to relax in an informal setting and meet working professionals. I also read part of a manual on HIV.

This weekend, the Bay Area underwent a heat wave that warranted a public health alert in advance. SFDPH employees and interns received emails warning us to prepare for the wave.

The CDC provides an infographic for heat protection!

WEEK TWO

6/10 – Today’s session was Introduction to Research Concepts. It was presented at a calm pace and I felt relaxed. Research is divided into qualitative and quantitative methods; a combination of these two is called mixed methods. I liked that numerous examples were given.

We took a trip to UCSF for a quick tour of the medical center and its cafeteria, and the CAPS floor in Mission Hall.

https://prevention.ucsf.edu/

6/11 – At UCSF Mission Hall, I attended my first Town Hall meeting.

Then I met my mentor for the first time! I was ready with a list of questions to ask her regarding her personal life and her professional trajectory. We went over our Mentor and Mentee Agreement. We discussed goals, expectations, modes of communication, and what we plan to do over the summer – that is, what project(s) we work on and what outcomes to expect by August. I scanned this document and copied it to my mentor and to my program supervisor for their records. My mentor and I scheduled our meetings for the next two weeks.

6/12 – The Substance Use Pt 1 session was informative and eye-opening.

Swapping common phrases that stigmatize people who use substances can make a profound impact on public perceptions and subsequent actions from individual to institutional. Photo from https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/topics/addictions/

We got our SFDPH badges! We also took group photos and individual headshots. These photos will be used in a flyer to advertise for SHARP’s symposium in August.

The SHARP cohort is looking sharp! Fun Fact: City Hall was rebuilt after the great earthquake and fire in 1906. It took two years to finish this current building.

Scholars gave mini presentations on ourselves and things we liked or are passionate about for a maximum of 5 minutes. I talked about some of my favorite foods, musical artists, and TV shows. Another scholar discussed his involvement with sex education during college and how that experience has shaped his career aspirations. Another peer described the places she wanted to visit in the future. One of my peers shared her YouTube channel and how her videos center around lifestyle, including her dorm room in college, her outfits, and her spring break. Next, a scholar talked about his personal life and the different identities/roles he has as a brother, student, and more. Finally, a peer discussed his involvement with a summer program that prepares high school students to be community leaders and competitive applicants for college! These presentations were personal and fun.

6/13 – This day was spent doing readings and taking notes.

6/14 – On this day, scholars submitted timesheets to be approved so that we can get our paychecks on time! Our morning session was a presentation by a former SHARPie and current community programs manager of Bridge HIV, which is based in our building of SFDPH.

According to their website, Bridge HIV is “a global leader in HIV prevention research, working with Bay Area and international communities to discover effective HIV prevention strategies.”

Bridge HIV is a grant-funded research unit that seeks to find ways to prevent HIV infection and related diseases both locally and globally. From what I understand, Bridge has different clinical trials as well as different phases of research studies to eventually discover a vaccine or some type of preventive measure like PrEP.

In the evening, after work, I watched a nature documentary called The Serengeti Rules (2018) with another scholar and her mentor. I was thankful to have been invited to this screening, which was special as one of the scientists featured in this documentary was able to attend this event and answer questions from the moderator and audience. I learned new things about keystone species and more about different types of animals like sea otters, urchins, kelp, and wildebeest.

This beautiful film captures different ends of the world and allows us to view some of the most rare and vulnerable species. It sheds light on the interactions between species and the influence of human behavior on entire ecosystems.

WEEKEND: On Saturday, I completed three hours of work shift around the complex. I vacuumed carpeted hallways and weeded a small section of the garden in the back. After that, I went thrifting with a fellow Scholar. This lasted for hours and I have a newfound love for Buffalo Exchange, which offers affordable and trendy clothing! (Tip: Bring a reusable bag with you at all times! My clothes fit into my tote so I didn’t have to purchase a bag). My friend and I then tried Bongo Burger for dinner. It was a productive day since I added to my professional wardrobe. Sunday, on the other hand, does not stick in my memory.

WEEK THREE

6/17 – SHARP’s session on HIV 101 took place at GLIDE, about 20 minutes away from the office. Since 1963, GLIDE has served people in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco with compassion and care, along with social justice in mind. Their services are far-reaching and address the social determinants of health that every individual needs, such as food, housing assistance, healthcare, and family services. GLIDE aims to address and alleviate poverty and overall suffering.

What I got from this session was that people living with HIV take three pill regimens. In the 1990s, it used to be 15-20 pills. Some people still take quite a lot of pills. In 1993, medications for children living with HIV came about. People also donate their bodies to science to help scientists find a cure for HIV.

More information: https://www.thewellproject.org/hiv-information/care-and-treatment-children-living-hiv
https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/25/82/hiv-and-children-and-adolescents

GLIDE’s logo is an orange heart. This organization wants to have an unconditionally loving community.

https://www.glide.org/

6/18 – I spent most of the day reading more chapters of Medical Apartheid and enhancing my knowledge of the unjust medical history of America. In my notebook, I jotted down powerful points and facts. However, that day, I had trouble concentrating and felt so fatigued. My self care skills are not up to par. Self care is important at any stage of life, and it is increasingly difficult to perform and maintain as a person gets older and more independent.

6/19 – We had a Meet and Greet with other interns from the Department of Public Health. They are at different buildings in the city, but within walking distance. We did a familiar icebreaker called Concentric Circles. One set of people stood in a circle facing outward. Surrounding and facing these people were the other set of interns and staff. This outer circle of individuals would rotate around to the next person after each round. Some questions that were asked were: “When did you first notice your race?,”  “Talk about an instance when you were stereotyped,” “Describe the neighborhood you grew up in,” and “Describe who you were taught to trust and not to trust growing up.” These questions were

This diagram illustrates Concentric Circles. The “B” group remains in their spots while the “A” group members rotate. Sometimes people use numbers 1 and 2 instead of letters.

Following the activity, I briefly stopped at a Juneteenth rally at City Hall’s front steps.
Then I attended a Juneteenth feast and celebration at UC Berkeley’s Black Resource Center.

For more information on this holiday: http://juneteenth.com/
That afternoon, I bought more work-appropriate shoes but later on did not like them. Tip: Always keep the receipt!

6/20 – I spent a good portion of the day at UCSF. There, I had an informational interview with a researcher who worked with my mentor on a research project before. She provided some tidbits of advice from her experiences so far. One piece of wisdom she shared was that confidence is key.

Right after that, I went to an office hours/working session with Dr. Conroy. She is one of the SHARP mentors for this year. The mentors for the 2019 cohort want to be accessible to the other mentees, not just the scholar that they are spending the most time with. They are trying to be a team of mentors, and since some mentors are out of the office at different points during the summer, the mentors want to make sure that there is at least one mentor that the mentees can seek out and talk to about their research progress and other concerns. Dr. Conroy gave us a refresher on Dedoose.

After having lunch at the medical center cafeteria, I met with my mentor. We discussed the projects and my thoughts on the readings and then she assigned new tasks for me. When I write down notes from our meetings, I use a highlighter to underline the “action items.” I also got access to the Drop Box to access transcripts, the codebook, and analyses.

That evening, I did my best to prepare my 5Ws and 1H for the Works In Progress session the following day. By this time, scholars are expected to know what their research question is (or some ideas for it), who are the participants being studied, what type of research it is (qualitative, quantitative, etc.), when the study was conducted, where it took place, and why this research is relevant and valuable. Furthermore, how did the research happen? For example, were there questionnaires or focus groups?

Remember these words when researching a topic!

6/21 – During our Works-In-Progress session, led by Jonathan, each scholar took a turn at explaining their project. As a scholar talked out loud, Jonathan wrote an outline on the white board. He asked us questions to gain clarity and to help us think about our projects. He offered us suggestions for going forward with our research.

After the session, one of the scholars and I had lunch while watching the movie Naz and Maalik. This 2015 American drama film covers a summer afternoon of two closeted gay Muslim teenagers. These two fall under suspicion of an FBI agent. People affiliated with SFDPH attended this film and some remained for the discussion afterwards. One point made was that the teen boys were both black, which was visible to others. One wore a headpiece that indicated to others that he was Muslim. It was likely a combination of these two identities that made the FBI agent weary of these teens and wonder about their actions or intentions. This was a very interesting film and throughout it, I was on edge because I was nervous that something unfortunate would happen to these two young men who can attract negative attention just for their identities. In American society, certain identities such as Black Americans or Muslim Americans can be targeted and perceived to be threats to safety and wellbeing.

In the evening, I went looking for clothes by myself in a shopping center in San Francisco. I had to return home before it got dark.

WEEKEND:

6/22 – After doing homework, I did laundry, which I designated for Saturdays.

6/23 – My Sunday was super fun and fulfilling, as I was able to visit numerous places on my bucket list. My oldest cousin flew in to enjoy San Francisco and we started by looking around Chinatown. We ate dim sum for breakfast in one of the parks where elderly folks gather to play chess and joke around. We looked around in some stores and got bubble tea. We also went to Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square, and Palace of Fine Arts. All in all, I walked 9.7 miles! From this excursion, I saw different parts of San Francisco. I really liked Chinatown and will return to explore more of the culture and community.

WEEK FOUR
6/24 – The group had a Stats 101 session! Sometimes there’s statisticians for research teams but it’s always helpful to be familiar with statistics to do yourself.

After lunch, I had a one-on-one check-in with Jessica, my supervisor. Then I resumed my research.

6/25 – We had our first payday! I was very thrilled to hear that. I had a morning meeting with my mentor and another of her summer research interns at Asian Health Services, a community health center in Oakland’s Chinatown. AHS was established in 1974 and primarily serves Asians and Asian Americans, but they will not turn away people of other races who are seeking care. Services range from behavioral to family planning to urgent care. Since 1985, AHS has operated an HIV program. My mentor, colleague, and I spoke with the HIV program manager to gain an understanding of what AHS is, what their HIV program does, and the demographics of the communities they work with.

AHS has evolved from a one-room clinic to a comprehensive health center. https://asianhealthservices.org/history-of-ahs/

6/26 – After our Quantitative Research session, I worked more on my PowerPoint and research.

6/27 – I met with my mentor at UCSF to touch base on my progress and my questions. Then we held a team meeting, where we went over an interview transcript in detail. My mentor gave us more assignments and deadlines for them. Right after lunch, I had another one-on-one meeting with my mentor to continue asking her some questions. She shared her experiences and insights regarding the path of Ph.D. and being a researcher whose salary is dependent on grants. This talk gave me more to think about as I contemplate what my steps following graduation could possibly be.

At the end of the day, I went with three other SHARPies to a Pride Nightlife event at California Academy of Sciences!  For a few hours, we promoted Bridge HIV by recruiting a target population for HIV prevention research and increasing people’s awareness of their organization, their work, and most importantly, HIV and sexual health. We had a spin-the-wheel where we asked people trivia questions in order to get water bottles and T-shirts.

6/28 – Mini Presentation Day!
Each scholar was to present a PowerPoint on their research project for no more than five minutes. We went in the order that we are to go in for our actual presentation on Symposium Day, August 9th.

Our mini presentations went well! I am very impressed by my peers and they motivate me to be my best self. After each scholar was done speaking, we clapped and asked questions about the project. Next, we provided positive feedback and shared what we liked. Then we offered opportunities that we saw for improvement. We critiqued on PowerPoint layout, fonts, images, colors, presentation style, eye contact, body language, and other factors. This session was something I was internally groaning about, but it went better than I thought.

There are countless templates on Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. Scholars are required to use a template provided by the SFDPH. Nevertheless, our slides will still differ from each individual!

On my turn, I stayed under the time limit. I felt like I kept a good pace and did not glance at the slides too much. Some takeaways from this first round was that I could add more visuals to some slides, which I agree with. People liked that I began by defining the populations I was studying. Somehow I also maintained a pleasant smile on my face during my talk. This session was great practice and I know I will improve from here on out.

I remained at SFDPH to do work. In the evening, the six scholars and four people affiliated with SHARP relaxed at a Happy Hour event. This was a casual space and we discussed music, fashion, and careers. I think this was my first time going to a Happy Hour. The rest of my night was calm; I spent time typing up this blog post.

WEEKEND:
6/29 – I went thrifting at different stores along Telegraph Avenue. Buffalo Exchange holds strong as my favorite. Afterwards, I tried Uji Time Dessert’s ice cream with a scholar and had a nice conversation.

6/30 – San Francisco Pride was an exciting experience to be a part of! A peer did my makeup for the festivities and our group headed to our designated area. SFDPH was Contingent 11 this year, whereas in previous years they were placed farther behind in the parade formation. By the time we met up with the rest of the department, T-shirts had already been distributed and we took the leftover size XL shirts. We had materials to pass out to the crowds: condoms, lubricants and hand towels. Eventually we took off for the march/parade, which lasted a few hours. We had several stops along the way. To pass the time, people from our group and other groups danced.

The colors of my dress (blue, white, pink) correspond to the transgender flag, except my stripes do not align in the order of the flag’s colors.

Five out of six scholars marched in the parade!

Absent is one of the scholars. We are joined by Jonathan, one of the Co-Principal Investigators of SHARP!

JUNE REFLECTION

What an eventful June! I cannot believe that a month of the program has passed. I really appreciate the chances I have gotten to talk with people about their experiences and outlooks on life. At this point, I look to honing in on my research, narrowing down my research question, and continuing to take life one day at a time, and one step at a time.

Some peers asked me if I could see myself living out in the Bay Area in the future. When envisioning it, I do not know about that. While I have experience taking public transportation throughout high school and college, in Ohio as well as Chicago, NYC, and Japan), I wonder if I can take it daily for work. I am concerned about poor sanitation, lack of adequate air conditioning, noise, potential hearing loss, crowdedness, unpleasant smells, and long commutes.

Nevertheless, the sessions throughout the summer are constructive and productive and I enjoy exploring the Bay Area. I wonder what the next month will bring.

Comparing America and Japan

I had a fascinating and fantastic experience in my study abroad program to Japan this May 2019. As part of the program/course, I wrote a blog post on any topic of my choosing related to Japan. I chose to compare & contrast some aspects of life in America and Japan.

Here are my top 20 differences between the two countries based on my observations of transportation, people, and my experiences at the University of Tokyo and Azabu University:

TRANSPORTATION

All of Japan seems to be connected by transportation!
Japan’s transportation system to me is very complex, detailed, and efficient. There’s city buses, the bullet train (shinkansen), local trains/subways, and rapid express trains. It was intimidating to me at first because of all of the different lines and signs, but maps are helpful and so are the Japanese. Even when my friends and I were looking down at our phones for Google Maps, a few elderly individuals approached us to ask if we needed help. The transportation gets you places quickly too. Trains and buses come on time.

A map of the Tokyo Metro subway system. Source: Tokyo Metro

What plays a role in the efficiency is that people form lines for boarding transportation. In America, people form clumps or clusters, and not organized lines like in Japan.

Public WiFi is available almost exclusively at train stations in Japan.
It is extremely difficult to find WiFi to access at restaurants or stores, which is why tourists are suggested to purchase a pocket WiFi to have on hand when traveling. Meanwhile in the U.S., many places have WiFi. Not having widespread WiFi can be a barrier for travelers on a budget, because mobile routers are around $100 or more.

Connecting to WiFi is a process that often involves registering with an email address and clicking through pages of terms and agreements.

Japan’s transportation vehicles are so much cleaner and nicer than America’s. In Japan, subways and buses are brightly lit and have no litter at all. The stations in Japan are also incredibly well-kept. I usually see workers sweeping the floor in the stations to keep it clean and dust- and dirt-free. Meanwhile in America, I have seen stations visibly grimy; some have the wretched smell of urine. People did not clean up after themselves. I was so impressed by Japan’s transportation systems.

The shinkansen is roomy and very comfortable!

Buses in Japan have some differences; in some buses, you board in the front and pay the fare up front whereas in others, you board in the rear and pay as you leave from the front. From my experiences taking buses in America, I always board at the front of the bus and pay upon entering.

Japanese train/subway platforms often have gates to prevent people from getting onto tracks and rushing into the vehicle. These gates can prevent injuries and deaths. University of Tokyo students mentioned to me that some individuals die by suicide from getting hit by the subway/train. This is a troubling occurrence and relates to public health, as it is a population problem and social issue. Many Japanese in white-collar work are overworked and stressed to the point where they are pushed over the edge. From hearing these anecdotes, gates are one way to stop people from physically coming into contact with trains as they approach the platforms, but broader intervention must be done to treat people’s mental health, and the multiple factors behind their depression. On the other side of the world, American subway platforms do not appear to have these gates, from what I have seen. In my home country, train suicides are not a concern like in Japan. America does have incidences of people falling onto the tracks, whether it’s because of overcrowded platforms or people pushing each other.

These barriers hope to protect people from accidental as well as intentional injuries and deaths. These doors help with human health and help lessen train delays. Source: The Japan Times

In Japan’s subways, some cars are designated as “Women-only” during certain times of the day, as marked by the pink signs on the windows. Only women can enter these cars. Children are allowed in as well. This action is meant to address molestation on trains. When train cars inevitably get crowded and reach up to 250% capacity during rush hours, men and women are literally touching each other. This can be very uncomfortable. Therefore, “women-only cars” aim to create safer environments for women, and I have not experienced anything like it in the U.S., which is something we could consider.

In Japan, subway tickets get taken back by the machine, which can reduce waste! In Cleveland and Columbus, where I’ve taken public transportation, people can keep their train and bus tickets. These people could throw these tickets away and not necessarily recycle them. I feel that Japan recycles their tickets. In Japan, citizens can use plastic electronic cards to swipe through; during my program, we use the Pasmo card, which can be reloaded at any time. A smart card like the Pasmo can be found in some U.S. metropolitan cities, like Chicago or Los Angeles, but this is not widespread for all American cities. I would like this to be more prevalent so we can reduce the waste spent on making physical tickets.

I just tap my Pasmo card against the reader on the gate and it lets me pass through!
Source: Japan Rail Pass

A striking contrast is that Japan’s roads are paved so well and smoothly. I have not seen a single pothole in the country, whereas in the United States, potholes are aplenty, especially in Ohio. Potholes and general wear and tear of the roads make driving challenging; drivers have to maneuver around holes and their tires also take a toll. It is a public health hazard for drivers!

Sidewalks in some smaller cities are marked by lines.

Sidewalks can be uneven and people can trip if they are not looking or stepping carefully enough, in both Japan and America. On our walk from the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center to the Yoyogi-koen Station, several of my peers have tripped at night from bumps in the sidewalk. This bumpy sidewalk can be a public health hazard to pedestrians, but injuries would not be too serious aside from scraped knees. Likewise, many sidewalks in America are not smooth or even, due to poor construction or just erosion from time. Sidewalks can rise at certain points and resemble stairs. Sometimes, sidewalks are nonexistent. These sidewalks would not be stroller or wheelchair friendly. Overall, Japan’s sidewalks have been great.

Speaking of the walk from our hostel to the station: when it is nighttime, I turn my phone’s flashlight on to light the ground and see where I am walking. More street lights could be implemented in certain areas for safety. Trees do line the paths, which are good for the environment and aesthetics, but can obstruct any lamps if there were any. Similarly, the U.S. could also add street lights in neighborhoods. This last school year, I walked 15 minutes from the bus stop to my home off-campus, and I felt slightly fearful. Back then, I turned on my phone’s flashlight too to help me see where I was going because it was so dark.

Bike racks by Japanese stations and universities can hold hundreds of bikes, which amazed me. In America, bike racks do not hold nowhere near that capacity! At my school, The Ohio State University, we need more bike racks. With 60,000 students enrolled at my school’s main campus, there should be a greater capacity for bikes. Having more spaces for bikes and scooters would be beneficial and encourage students to be more active while reducing their carbon footprint and emissions.

This is a massive area for bikes outside of a station near University of Tokyo.

PEOPLE

Japan is a relatively homogenous country when it comes to races and ethnicities. As my peers and I were visiting cultural and historical landmarks, Japanese primary students were excited to see Westerners and foreigners. They took the opportunity to practice their English that they’ve been learning since elementary school. Some youth said to us, “Nice to meet you” and “Hello.” Meanwhile, America is very multicultural, with Americans hailing from hundreds of various races and ethnicities. It was a culture shock to come to Japan since it was the first time I went to a non-Western country and the first time I have ever been to Asia. It was also interesting though that Japanese advertisements/billboards have European/Caucasian American models.

Japanese people are very polite and respectful, and I do not see the same levels of etiquette in America. For example, when taking public transportation, Japanese are more mindful of space. They give priority seating to elderly, pregnant women, injured people, and people in vulnerable conditions. Two schoolboys were insisting on giving my peer a seat on the train, but she wanted them to take her spot. It was a cute encounter and an example of courtesy.

UNIVERSITY

Costs of going to college can differ drastically in Japan and in America. According to University of Tokyo (UTokyo) students, tuition is $5000 US dollars for the whole school year. At OSU, in-state tuition is about $10,000, so double that price! The UTokyo students went on to say that there is no tuition difference for out-of-state students or international students. Regardless of background or status, everyone pays the same tuition. (I wish that I had asked about scholarships for students who are low-income.)
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-tokyo-500

At Azabu University, a student told me from his research that more than half of university students live with their parents. Living in dorms are rare. Some students live in small apartments, which he said was 600 yen on average per month for rent. This is a contrast to OSU, where it’s mandatory for students to live in dorms for the first two years of undergraduate. (There are exceptions to this rule for students already living in Columbus, transfer students, etc.)

HEALTH

Japanese carry around handkerchiefs for restrooms, which often lack paper towels and hand dryers. This reduces waste and saves energy. It is also more sanitary than drying our hands on our clothes or flinging our hands. Our professor, Dr. Ibaraki, or as we call him, Ibaraki sensei, gave each of us a handkerchief with patterns of Mount Fuji. Likewise, people do not blow their noses in public because the noise can be distracting or a nuisance. It is a social norm to instead dab at the nose with a napkin or handkerchief.

Many Japanese wear surgical masks that cover their mouths for several reasons. While some may wear these face masks for fashion (the masks can come in different designs), there are practical purposes for their use. These masks can protect against the spread of germs. People who are sick and wear the masks can help prevent others from becoming contaminated. Additionally, people wear masks to reduce exposure to pollutants in the air.

Source: Pixabay

In terms of body size, Japanese people tend to be more petite. I occasionally see overweight people and a few obese men. Generally speaking, Japanese are much more healthier looking than Americans.

Japanese people appear to be more physically active compared to American counterparts. I saw people of all ages riding bikes and walking. Elderly people get up around sunrise to hike and jog in the local parks. There’s ample space for bikes in the city. The country is not built for many cars. Additionally, people do considerable amounts of walking by taking public transportation. According to my public health studies, the built environment (how cities are designed and laid out) play significant roles in how people live their lives and their health habits.

Japanese women use umbrellas for shade from the sun’s UV rays; this does not happen in the U.S.. The Japanese women want to avoid tanning and increasing their risk for skin cancer. Furthermore, beauty standards prefer lighter skin and complexions as opposed to darker skin. However, Japanese men can be tan; I have not seen a Japanese man use an umbrella on a sunny day.

CONCLUSION
From my few weeks in Japan, there is a multitude of aspects to compare and contrast. The transportation sector was very unique and insightful. It appears that transportation is very efficient and stream-lined. People are able to travel throughout Japan within hours. The built environment of cities also contributes to people being physically active. Mothers ride bikes with babies in attached carriers. People walk their dogs. Sidewalks and roads in general are smooth. There are trees and flowers everywhere, so people get to enjoy nature and breathe cleaner air. College is affordable for students from different backgrounds. Students live with their parents for the most part to save money and to be with their family. Japanese people also take better care of themselves, and their lifestyle and cultural factors contribute to their health. They take public transportation daily and protect themselves from germs and the sun. Overall, the way that society is designed in Japan helps people maintain good health and community relationships.

Public Health Abroad: Finland and Estonia – Part 2

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Day 7 marked the halfway point of our study abroad program. In the morning, we took a bus to the Estonian Open Air Museum, designed to resemble a real-life rural village in the 18th century! This was one of my favorite parts of the program. This museum included 14 different farms to show aspects of village life. I saw cottages, a teepee, a giant windmill, a church, and more. One path lead to the seashore where my peers collected seaglass and waded their feet in the water. I really enjoyed this opportunity to be immersed in nature.

Cottages were primarily made of wood and hay, both of which are extremely flammable!

The group had a guided walking tour of Old Town; Joosep was a wonderful human encyclopedia as he showed us to spots we had not been to before. He taught us what the colors of the flag of Estonia meant: blue for the sky, black for the dark forests and the dark times Estonians have been through, and white for purity and hope for a brighter future.
2018 marks a special year of celebration for Estonians because this is the 100th anniversary of their independence as their own republic, free from endless rule by different countries.

The symbol represents 100 years AND 20(18). Great design.

I boarded a tram by myself to a nearby cat cafe. I have never been to any cat cafe before, and I wanted to see if cat breeds differed in Estonia. When I went to Nurri Cat Cafe, only five other people were present, with about 10 cats in the room. I did not see any unfamiliar breeds. My time at the cat cafe was very therapeutic for me. Although I did not get to pet the cats much, I enjoyed eating my pesto pasta and watching the cats interact with one another. I even witnessed the cats at dinner time (6 pm) and they each pounced their tiny paws over to their own bowls to feast.

Two cats were perched on top of the table where I was sitting. It takes a while for cats to get accustome to you and be comfortable with you approaching them to pet them.

Day 8 meant traveling to another city. We hopped on board a train from Tallinn to Tartu! Tartu has 99,000 people as of this year. This sleek train got us there in less than two hours; I napped the majority of the time. After setting down our belongings, we had a quick walking tour and lunch.

The Town Hall is a landmark of Tartu. Bells ring from the hall each day. The fountain of kissing students is in the lefthand corner of the photo; the fountain was erected in 1998.

We spent an hour at the KGB Cells Museum, which showcases the basement of a building that was used to house prisoners! Men and women alike were put together in a cell. Cell walls were so thick that no noise could be heard between rooms. Rooms lacked lighting and ventilation, and often had as much as 30 to 40 people within such a confined space and with just four beds!

For the rest of the day, I browsed around souvenir shops in Tartu. We were conveniently located right across from a University of Tartu building, and right by the town square. Tartu sidewalks are very wide and can fit three to four people in a row. After popping into a small bookstore, we went to the Botanical Gardens, which was founded in 1803. It is such a beautiful place and I would have liked to see the greenhouses but we were running out of time. Nevertheless, the grounds were great and the garden included a pond. We saw people taking photos for graduation and weddings here. For dinner, the class ate at Meat Market, which does not solely serve meat.

A classmate took a beautiful portrait photo of me in the gardens.

Gardens are a valuable part of any city. People need green space for not just oxygen but for stress relief.

Day 9 was a free day for everyone. Two friends and a program coordinator/graduate student accompanied me to the Upside Down House that was about 30-45 minutes away on foot. We crossed the river and went into the outskirts of the city of Tartu. The house was built upside down AND on a slant, so it was disorienting and dizzying. The house included a sauna and that was neat!

This house stood out from its surroundings in remote Tartu. There was an abandoned aircraft hangar in proximity, and also a designated walking path among some trees. Buses do run along the street but not frequently.

 

This photo can confuse people at first glance! There are actually some Upside Down Houses around the world, such as Germany and America. (I had no idea they existed in my own country!)

Nearby was the Estonian National Museum, which is a tremendous facility where we spent a few hours looking at artifacts related to Estonian life. We paid 10 euros as a student discount and could access the entire building. We received cards encrypted with a technology that allowed us to swipe the card over a screen connected to an exhibit/piece. The screen would then automatically translate to English. This is so innovative and I hope that museums elsewhere in the world could incorporate this! I enjoyed viewing prehistoric and Metal Age tools. Estonia has been inhabited by people for the last 11,000 years! My favorite exhibit hall was the one featuring Uralic people, a people I had no knowledge about beforehand! They lived between Scandinavia and the Ural Mountains, so were primarily in the forests. They carved symbols into trees and their tales often involve bears and other woodland creatures. The exhibit showcased a people and facets of their lifestyle, but this was just one small sliver of Ugric studies. Also in the museum was an exhibit about 19th century clothing. Women’s clothing was preserved more because not only were they more beautiful and colorful than men’s clothing, but they also reflected diversity among different regions of Estonia. I learned about the usage of headpieces and necklaces. I am glad to have visited this museum! The facility was marvelous.

After our fun free day in Tartu, I worked on a homework assignment that addresses how walkable the city of Tartu is. Now that I have been to the more touristy areas of Tartu and the more remote parts, I was able to come up with a convincing argument for how well-designed the city is so that people can enjoy it whether they walk or use a wheelchair. Sidewalks have ample space and curbs/ramps have good inclines. When you get to the less-inhabited parts of town, some sidewalks are harder to tread on, but it still is pedestrian-friendly. After returning to the hotel, I got dinner and dessert with other friends and then about half of the class played games in one of our rooms.

(Please see my assignment on the walkability audit of Tartu here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EG8vBf1EuKn0Uz01klxOo9fXyKOzhBr_r0CJsku_0Hg/edit?usp=sharing)

I was also able to complete another homework assignment comparing cigarette sales in America, Finland, and Estonia. Throughout the program, we were expected to observe how cigarettes were sold (where and for how much money) and what the packaging looked like, including what information or graphics were put on the warning labels.
(Please see my work here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kR8W4sjJjBN53qEh1lHJvOIS9BMUfnb9Uz_z770khhs/edit?usp=sharing)

For Day 10, the class visited the Ahhaa Science Centre, which reminds me of COSI in Columbus! I love science centers and this one has four floors! The ground floor had a LEGO town of Tartu and exhibits related to water. It included tech spaces, a play area with giant building blocks, music/acoustic space, and tanks with real fish in them. In a dark room were lifelike animatronic aquatic creatures such as dinosaurs with fins and a whale shark. There are some steps leading up to a balcony that had ant farms and an incubator for chicks! This was the highlight of the science center for me. I love baby chickens. The chicks were either a day old or two days old, and some eggs were close to hatching!

FUN FACTS: Jellyfish have existed even before dinosaurs roamed the planet. A group of jellyfish is called a bloom.

FUN FACTS: Whale sharks are the largest fish. They are giant but gentle and eat plankton and small fish. Their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone. Female whale sharks are actually larger in size than male sharks.

On the second floor of the science museum were glass jars containing human and animal body parts and embryos so visitors could learn about anatomy but also body anomalies. For example, there was a goat skull with four horns. The third floor had interactive activities testing health, from grip strength to memory to balance to processing speed. (I performed poorly on all of these, and despite appearing healthy, I have to make dramatic changes to my lifestyle and actually exercise in order to be fit).

When our group returned to our hotel, we met with another tour guide who took us around the University of Tartu. The different buildings are within walking distance; sometimes it seemed like a hike. She also led us to cathedral ruins. One interesting part of our tour was going into an attic of the main building of the university; this attic served as a lock-up for students who misbehaved and did not conform to student conduct. Students could be sent to this room for cheating or for disrespecting a woman on the street. Punishment could mean just a few days in the lock-up to a month! There was no supervision for the lock-ups, but students were still expected to serve their sentences and actually be in that space.

The attic can become humid and balmy in the summers but leave people trembling in the winters.

After our tour, we had another group dinner in a restaurant that looks like a wine cellar.

On Day 11, we traveled to Parnu, an even smaller city with 40,000 people. It is a summer resort town so it is more heavily populated during that season than others. It is located by the water so people frequent the beach. The water is shallow for an extended distance before it gets deep. Our hotel was a resort & spa in one, and we were able to use the sauna, pools, gym, and spa. I did not take advantage of these amenities but I did go outside to the beach to dip my toes in the water and step in the soft sand.

Our other completely free day was Day 12. I went to the mall by myself, and the trek was not scary as one might perceive. Parnu is tiny and quiet, and I do stick out as a foreigner among the mostly blond(e) Estonians, but I was safe. The walk from the hotel to the mall was about 20 minutes, and it was pleasant. The mall was actually a complex made up of about three tall buildings. One building had a grocery store and a few beauty stores. Another building had most of the clothing stores and restaurants. After making a few purchases, I headed back to the hotel and stopped at a woman’s home business, where she operated a beauty & hair salon. She offered manicures, pedicures, and hair styling. After getting a manicure, I had lunch at an eco-gourmet cafe with some friends.

On Day 13 (May 31), we had a short visit to the University of Tartu-Parnu to learn about their Spa & Wellness management program. The program director and a graduate student explained that the program is offered at a master’s level and it encompasses not just spa design, but also financial accounting, visual communication, and even the history of wellness.

The two-year program offers not only a strong theoretical foundation for students, but also opportunities to put the skills and knowledge into practice!

After the informative presentation, the group packed up and took a charter bus to Tallinn. From there, we boarded the ferry to return to Helsinki. Once we were all checked into our hotel, the program officially ended. Students were free to go back to the United States after the experience, or continue to explore Europe. Some of my peers stayed in Europe and traveled to multiple countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, and England. My intention was to go straight home, but I had a stop in Iceland on my way to Cleveland. That 50-minute stop transformed into a 48-hour detainment in that country, but thankfully I finally made it home to America! What matters is that I am home safe and sound.

Our group had reserved seats that gave us up-close views of the Gulf of Finland!

I appreciate this opportunity of a lifetime because of the myriad of experiences and memories. I also am more well-informed about Finland and Estonia and am better prepared for future international travel. To my surprise, I was independently exploring and still survived.

I would like to thank the Office of International Affairs for executing this program, for providing me with a few scholarships, and for assisting me when I was temporarily stranded in Iceland for two days. I am glad that OIA has emergency hotline in place for students who find themselves in difficult situations. Thank you to @osuglobal for liking my photos and featuring one of our class photos on the Instagram page!

Thank you so much to Dr. Wallace and Amanda Jovanovich for coordinating the program’s activities and guiding us throughout Finland and Estonia. It was a wonderful class that had structure but still plenty of free time for us to explore. Thanks for showing us a part of the world that many people do not visit.

Thank you to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion for your scholarships and support for my study abroad. Thank you to my family and friends for your never-ending support as I navigated this adventure with equal amounts of trepidation and excitement.

Thank you to Finland and Estonia, for everything you have to offer to the world. Thank you to Iceland for also being a wonderful country. Everyone I met was friendly and willing to help.

If it were not for STEP and for the three other scholarships I received, in addition to some grants and gifts from loved ones, going abroad would not have been a possibility for me. I would not have fathomed the idea. I am forever grateful for this chance to take part in the Public Health Perspectives: Finland and Estonia program. I truly hope that other first-generation college students and first-time travelers such as me will have opportunities to study abroad as well. The Ohio State University’s education abroad office offers ample resources for interested students, so take the leap and venture into the unknown.

Go Bucks!
Xoxo
Melinda

P.S. To see hundreds of photos taken along the journey, my comprehensive PowerPoint will suffice! It may take a while for it to load, and this could mean refreshing your page to view the entirety of it. It runs close to 300 slides!
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZadYR7-uztv6jY9-VD06o8QwYZijtWDAhAiN8taGPN0/edit?usp=sharing

P.P.S. Here are some photos of my stop in Iceland:
While I was there by myself for two nights and a day, I was not able to do much to lack of funds. I walked around to the seashore by my hotel and was captivated by the water. I saw some species of birds frolicking around. The Elder duck is common in the area. Although I wanted to step down and get closer to the water, I was wearing flats and also did not want to slip on a wet rock and get injured. I even saw a bright mustard-orange lighthouse that was used before and is now sitting stoically overlooking the horizons.

This was the plane I boarded from Helsinki Vantaa Airport to Reykyavik Keflavik Airport.

 

From my hotel room window, I saw a gorgeous sunset and could see edges of the water that surrounds the island of Iceland. Also, the country gets so much sunlight that the sun does not set until close to midnight.

This location was breathtaking and I am eager to return to Iceland.

My Experience at Equitas Health – February 2018

February 5th, 2018 – Third Day of Volunteering

  • I logged onto Snapengage to be available to chat with any visitor to our hotline.
  • I opened up the site Adam4adam to answer messages from people and to do more outreach work.
  • From noon to five p.m., we had a condom packing party, so we packed plastic bags with condoms and our business cards while we ate pizza and watched movies.
  • I created Canva social media posts for future holidays. For example, I created a post for National Nutella Day. This graphic was posted to our Facebook.

    It is estimated that 9,000 jars of Nutella are sold per hour. It is also estimated that there are over 22,000 new STI infections per hour in the US each year.
    Spread love! Get tested regularly, talk to your partners, and use protection!
    For more information on HIV/STI transmission give the hotline a call at 800.332.2437, chat with online at OHIV.org or send us a text at 614.859.6448

February 12th, 2018

  • The first task is always opening Snapengage to chat with people.
  • I opened Adam4adam next to click through profiles and to answer messages.
  • I worked on finding national holidays for each month, so that we can create social media posts related to these holidays and find ways to connect sexual health to that day. I found holidays for February through December 2018 for us to use.
  • I created a post for National Freedom to Marry Day, which was established by Lambda Legal, a gay rights advocacy law firm to end sex discrimination in marriage. Marriage should be a personal decision between those in love.

    The holiday was founded in 1999!

  • I answered more messages on our various platforms and gained more experience answering various types of questions and comments. Some wanted to learn about better protection/prevention, whereas others simply message us to thank us for our service, which I appreciate very much!

February 27th, 2018

  • I worked from home and spent a few hours on Adam4adam answering messages and clicking through profiles. Additionally, I made two Canva posts. I had chats open but there were no visitors.

 

My Experience at Equitas Health – January 2018

This spring semester, I began my volunteer position at Equitas Health, a community-based healthcare system serving over 67,000 people in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. It is one of the nation’s largest organizations serving communities for people who have HIV/AIDs and those who identify with LGBTQ+. Equitas also provides mental/behavioral, primary care, and dental care in addition to other health initiatives. Equitas Health also produces Prizm magazine. They are very comprehensive as well as inclusive! When interviewing originally for a work-study position with Equitas last August, I learned that Equitas  receives the same grants from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as Care Alliance Health Center, the health center I interned with before back home in Cleveland. During summer of 2017, I worked with Care Alliance on their prevention initiative called Safe on the Scene and a program within that called D-up Lounge. Meanwhile, Equitas has Project Ink and Promise that focuses on men who have sex with men and are of color.

Care for All is their mission. 

I met my future supervisor, Shae. She is the head of the Ohio HIV/STI Hotline department and graduated from Ohio University with an International Relations major and nonprofit focus. She hopes to get her Master’s in Public Policy. I deferred the position to focus more on my studies during autumn semester. However, due to my scholarships overpowering work-study, I ended up having to terminate work-study. I still wanted to be involved with Equitas in some way, so I am volunteering with them because of the valuable experience I gain!

The hotline serves people in Ohio, but it’s not unusual to encounter people from outside the state. We have had people from Michigan and even India!

January 8th, 2018 – First Day of Volunteering

Taking the #2 COTA bus to work was a straight line down High Street to the Clintonville neighborhood of Greater Columbus! I wore a nice dress, leggings, and Hunter boots and my backpack was packed with a binder, notebook, sticky notes, and pencil pouch. My supervisor Shae told me to bring my laptop and headphones for my training. While waiting for her to arrive, I decided to take home copies of the magazines displayed along the walls and tables, including several issues of Prizm, Ohio’s LGBTQ community magazine focused on current events, health, arts & culture, fashion, politics, news, travel and entertainment. Shae arrived, and I set my things onto a desk in her office. She proceeded with an office tour and introductions to the other staff here, who work on various projects. I will work with Shae every day, as well as Mykalah (OSU College of Public Health – Class of 2017)!

After receiving a welcome folder containing information sheets, I finished a questionnaire that asked what I wanted in a supervisor, the one skill I wanted to learn the most, and other valuable questions pertaining to work. I also completed an About Me paper, which obtained my birthday, favorite candy, etc. Afterwards, I spent a while working on my training (the first module to tackle was about STIs). From noon to five, we were having a condom packing party! Shae called this the “party day”, as the first Monday of the month is spent packaging condoms into tiny plastic bags for the Free Condom Project! For the Condom Packing Party, we enjoyed Papa John’s pizza and Krispy Kreme donuts before immersing ourselves into assembling the bags! Shae put on the movie “And the Band Played On“; the summary is:

The book [and the docudrama based off of it] chronicles the discovery and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome with a special emphasis on government indifference and political infighting—specifically in the United States—to what was then perceived as a specifically gay disease. Shilts’ premise is that AIDS was allowed to happen: while the disease is caused by a biological agent, incompetence and apathy toward those initially affected allowed its spread to become much worse.

This was my first time watching this movie; it does a great job at depicting how AIDs became an epidemic and the history of the actors involved in this issue.

While we watched the movie, each of us were part of an assembly-line operation for efficiency! One person put a postcard advertising the hotline into the bag, then another placed some condoms of a particular brand, then another person did another brand’s condoms, and so on and so forth. I was at the end of the line and in charge of placing some condoms as well as sealing the bags and placing them into containers. Although counting the condom packs were not necessary, I did so for one of the containers, and it contained approximately 74 packs! Therefore, I know that we packed over 100 packages that afternoon!

Overall, it was an extremely great day that was productive and fun. After we watched “And the Band Played On“, we watched “Ancient Aliens“, at the suggestion of a staff member named Charles. That was also very interesting but I was more impacted by the docudrama because it offered me insight into what happened in the 20th century and specifically with the AIDs outbreak. It helped me become more knowledgeable about the timeline of events. At the end of the day, I even had questions written down in my notebook to ask Shae: What are your goals for January? For 2018 in general? (To get out into the community and do more outreach.) How will I be evaluated and how often? Do you want me to update you every day on what I accomplish?

After my first day, I spent a weekend finishing my training about STIs, health equity for LGBTQ+ people, and a refresher video on PrEP and PEP.

Photo from preventionjustice.org Text GETPREP to 69866. It is safe and effective (92-99%) when used consistently at the same time each day. It does not reduce the effectiveness of birth control.

 

January 22nd, 2018 – Second Day of Volunteering

I came to Equitas early to get situated; I put my lunch bag in the fridge and a new employee introduced himself to me. He helped prepare coffee since I do not know how to use a coffee machine! I love how Equitas’ environment is so welcoming and accepting. It feels like your coworkers/peers are your friends, even though there is still obviously a limit to how friendly you can be! I felt comfortable asking any questions I had as well as requesting people to look over my work to ensure that I did it correctly.

I spent time writing quick facts about the hotline in my notebook to refer to it while working. This day, I was introduced to the dating site Adam4Adam – the hotline has an account on this site to do outreach. We have a profile of a fictional character on here and we click on other users’ profiles; this shows up on their own webpages. They see us and are then able to click on our profile. Our bio basically informs any reader that we are a health counselor and able to answer any questions related to sexual health, including STIs and PrEP/PEP!
In addition to answering messages in my Inbox on the site, I also click on profiles of all the members online who are in Columbus, Ohio at the moment. I simply click through them, and there are usually hundreds in the area at any given time on the site. When I answer people’s messages, I am also required to log the conversation on a data sheet, even if it is for a message saying something like “Hello, I am with the Ohio HIV/STI Hotline. We are here if you want to talk about sexual health :)”

Another task is creating social media posts for the hotline’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! The goal is to post at least twice or thrice a week. I made a graphic using the design site Canva to acknowledge the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The hotline has a list of what to post:
#MythMonday tackles a common myth regarding sexual health and presents the facts.
#TechTuesday is a video about a new app regarding sexual health; this is done on the first and last Tuesday of each month.
#WisdomWednesday involves a wise quote or phrase
Sometimes Wednesdays are for defining a Word of the Day
#Throwback Thursday or #TransHealth Thursday
#PublicFigureFriday or #FeminismFriday
These various post categories all excite me and I cannot wait to create posts about them!

This graphic celebrates the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

I did not volunteer on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day because it is a federal holiday. I do not recall the number of hours I spent for training but it was around 4-6 hours, I believe. Furthermore, I was absent on the 29th due to a dentist appointment. Although I only volunteered two days in January, I earned about 20 hours of service for Equitas.

JANUARY = ~20 hours

My experience so far has been positive and there is plenty to learn! Please follow my posts as I grow personally and professionally at Equitas this spring!

Global Health Initiative – Autumn 2017

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.

Our active organization is always accepting members, and dues are just $5!

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

Global Health Initiative booth

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!

We all have some skills from the different color groups; we usually are strongest in one group.


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

Full house at our first meeting!

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.

Radhi made this Canva flyer promoting our first meeting of the school year.

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

Health Science Scholars hosts an annual Service Fair, where GHI attended and talked about our service opportunities.

 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!

During training we made photo petitions of why we #Fight4HER!

Tanisha is a great presenter and introduced us to the world of advocacy!

 

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.

We are thankful to have Sarah Perry give back to GHI.

 

A good attendance at our second meeting

 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.

Sophia,  Jennifer and I attended the fourth annual banquet to accept the John Lewis Award on behalf of GHI.

 

GHI executives posing with Ashley L. Pryor, Interim Director of the Department of Social Change, http://socialchange.osu.edu/people/ashley-l-pryor/

A GHI co-president with the two event planning co-chairs on each side of her!

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!

Every baby should be able to live past their first birthday.

 

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! 

My poster for our study table session!

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.

Read here for more information on Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio

Photo from democraticvoices.com


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

A flyer we put on the Ohio Union TV screens.

Great turnout!


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.

Our most popular tables were, not to my surprise, pre-medicine and nursing.

A successful event usually takes months to prepare, such as this one!

A pre-law student (right) discussed building a resume with a GHI member (left) and a GHI executive board member Mackenzie (middle). A resume speaks volumes about your work and what you can potentially bring to the table.


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

The Facebook event ad for the event


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.

Senator Portman needs to get on board with us. We will lobby at Capitol Hill every spring until he supports our side.

Thank you to the three speakers who made time to speak and share their experiences!

 

Another round of good attendance at one of our events.

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

Photo from wagingnonviolence.org. Women are told “Don’t Get Raped” by making sure we do not wear clothing that is too revealing, or drink too much, or go out alone to parties. There are precautions that we take like watching our drinks. Many times, rape victims are blamed and even shamed, being told that they are just seeking attention. Instead, people should be told to not rape. Another frustrating point of the issue is that when perpetrators are found out, they don’t get as harsh sentences as they deserve. The offenders get excuses such as “He had a promising career.”


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.

Tierra Prometida means the Promised Land in Spanish.

 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.

Photo from NBC4 team building a garden with Local Matters

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!

GHI had a private potluck!

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.

Study tables/sessions can help encourage people to get work done! I made this flyer.

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.

Research during your undergraduate is an enriching experience. It does not have to be in a lab – there’s research done using interviews, focus groups, and other methods. Research is not always science-heavy; any field, even social sciences, can involve research.


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!

CONNECT WITH US
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalhealthosu/
Instagram: @osuglobalhealthinitiative
Website: http://globalhealthosu.wixsite.com/globalhealth
Lyft Code: OSUGHI
For new users – get $5 your first 10 rides for each ride!

  • All funds will go to GHI‘s international trips!

Email: osuglobalhealth@gmail.com

 

 

HIV Prevention Volunteering – Summer 2017

One volunteering position I was involved with during this summer was on the HIV Prevention Team for Care Alliance Health Center, a nonprofit federally qualified health center in Cleveland, Ohio. Care Alliance strives to provide high-quality comprehensive medical and dental care as well as patient advocacy services to people regardless of ability to pay. They have four different clinics around the city. The target population is those experiencing homelessness and those living in/around public housing. Everyone is welcome at Care Alliance, and no one is turned away from care. (I volunteered with them previously in January!)

Image result for care alliance health center images

The Central neighborhood clinic for Care Alliance opened in 2015. In Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, 73% of families live in poverty. The infant mortality rate and the type II diabetes rate are both double the city’s average. Therefore, it is pertinent to increase health access in this area.

The HIV Prevention Team 2017 summer cohort is made up of 8 volunteers (we are all college students) split among three teams since there are three supervisors who conduct HIV tests themselves. It was an honor to be one of those selected and I was glad to be a part of Care Alliance once again. This summer, LaChanee was my supervisor and I was on her team along with another volunteer. (She is currently a HIV test counselor with Care Alliance and graduated from college in 2015.) Another impression accomplishment is that she runs her own dance business on the side.

HIV has stigma attached to it, and my hopes while I was volunteering was to decrease the discrimination and dispel common false perceptions about it.

In May, I applied and interviewed for the volunteer position, which was posted on Care Alliance’s Facebook page, which I follow. I was immediately drawn to the role because of how much impact it could have on my community and the valuable skills I would gain from the experience. Some requirements for this HIV prevention role were good verbal and communication skills, cultural sensitivity, open-mindedness, optimism, responsibility, and accountability. Being at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent was also needed. I was chosen to be in the cohort after showing that I was serious and committed to the betterment of the community. Afterwards, there were mandatory training sessions later in May, and prior to that, I had to research more on HIV to get a firm grasp of the topic.

TRAINING
Training took two days in their Central Neighborhood clinic. I brought a tote bag that was large enough to carry water, my planner, pencil pouch, and a binder and notebook to jot down notes. It pays to be prepared.

The first day, we were welcomed and did introductions. Each volunteer was provided with a folder containing documents, including the Volunteer Program Handbook. I read this handbook over multiple times to refresh my memory. The volunteer coordinator gave us training, which involved an interactive PowerPoint about patient confidentiality and we had to answer if the scenario was confidential or not. We reviewed general volunteer information like the code of conduct and expectations. We were given a packet of HR documents to complete too. Next we were provided a comprehensive information presentation, which was a run-through of HIV/AIDS, STIs, PrEP, and PEP. The counselors also covered risk reduction (with a demonstration of proper condom usage).

Image result for prep and pep

PrEP is for HIV negative people who are at high risk for contracting HIV because they engage in risky behaviors like unsafe sex with an HIV+ partner. This is taken daily for the rest of your life. PEP is post-exposure, and for people who have recently engaged in risky behaviors (such as unsafe sex or sex while intoxicated) within the last 72 hours. This is taken daily for 28 days.

The second day of training, we learned about funding streams for HIV testing, universal precautions for testing, forms and data-collection when working with clients, pre- and post-test counseling, and positive procedures. Additionally, we reviewed databases and data entry. Training ended with us getting into our teams and meeting to discuss anything we had to do before June. Leaving training, I was excited about the scope of my volunteer work with Care Alliance (which I’ll call CA). However, I was informed that I’d be finger pricking clients, and I assumed I’d only do cheek swab tests. I was not feeling that comfortable taking even a drop of blood from a person. Then I was told that cheek swab tests (or OraQuick) are more expensive and may not be as accurate. So I had to do this even if it made me uneasy. Besides training, I had to complete a drug screening.

Throughout my volunteer tenure, I was required to wear business casual clothing for the office and more casual while we were doing outreach on the streets. With outreach, especially if outdoors, jeans and sneakers are allowed! A CA volunteer badge was also worn to identify that I was with the organization. Personal hygiene was important, as well as high respect for everyone I encountered. I held myself to the standard of treating each client as if they were my own family member. But above all, the number one important thing during work was to protect and maintain patient confidentiality!

Image result for clearview hiv test

This is the Alere Clearview Complete 1/2 HIV Test, which Care Alliance workers call Clearview for short. This test involves pricking the finger to draw blood. In 10-15 minutes, results are ready!

In June and July, I helped work towards preventing HIV transmission through a variety of methods like conducting rapid testing and risk-reduction counseling around the community. I conducted HIV testing in clinic as well as at community events with the HIV Testing Mobile Unit; some activities were in the evenings/on weekends. My work schedule conflicted with my volunteering one and did not allow me to conduct HIV education sessions like originally planned. Additionally, I assembled and distributed risk reduction materials such as condom kits. Also, I scheduled primary care and PrEP appointments as well as assisted with quality control of all required paperwork. Everything I did, I recorded in my daily journal. I was required to keep and turn in a monthly log for my volunteer tenure as well.

In one or two hours, my colleague and I prepared over 100 condom kits, which consisted of five condoms, five lubricant oil tubes, a business card, and a sticker. This was for Safe on the Scene, a CDC-funded initiative.

Rapid testing is done at the site of care and can be completed in about 20 minutes! They are highly sensitive and specific tests, so results are usually accurate, but they need to be confirmed by additional testing if the result is positive.
Risk-reduction counseling involves discussing with the client what are things they can do to lower their risk, realistically. For example, some people who have had 50 sexual partners within the last year will not likely change to becoming abstinent. They may lower that to 25 partners a year. It has to be something they can stick with, and be completed incrementally (baby steps!)

One major project I was involved with was a CDC-funded HIV prevention initiative called Safe on the Scene (SOTS). Their slogan is Safe Just Got Safer. This $4 million initiative is intended to turn around incidences of HIV in Cuyahoga County, and the target population is African American males who have sex with males (MSM).
According to HIV/AIDS surveillance records at the Cleveland Department of Public Health, approximately 200 county residents were newly diagnosed with HIV-only or HIV-with-AIDS in 2013, and 42 percent of all HIV cases in 2012-2013 were among African American males ages 13-29. That’s almost one in two men.
(Source URL: http://www.carealliance.org/2015/07/07/newsletter-july-2015/)
Therefore, the most at risk for HIV contraction are African-American MSM.

Recovery Resources and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio are partners of Care Alliance for this initiative. From this project, it is estimated that over 30,000 people will be served during the five-year span. Progress can already be witnessed; in 2015, Care Alliance reported that they provided risk reduction counseling and HIV testing to 3,314 individuals!

JUNE
Most of my time was concentrated around Care Alliance’s Stokes Clinic (6001 Woodland Avenue, second floor), on the east side of Cleveland, and outreach events at places like Walgreen’s and public centers.

East Side Clinic for Care Alliance Health Center

  • June 5 – Walgreen’s in Lakewood, OH
    • I went on the Mobile HIV Testing Van to recruit people and conduct the questionnaire to assess their sexual health behaviors.
    • Recruited two women!
  • June 7 – Prepared condom kits at our Stokes Clinic for distribution and recruited people around the neighborhood for walk-in testing
    • Tested real citizens for the first time! I tested three men!
    • Went to Woodland library nearby and hung poster on bulletin board!
  • June 15 – LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland
    • This was my first time at this center, which is a huge, great resource for not only the LGBTQ community but also allies. It was a lovely facility, and colorful. My colleague Bailee and another volunteer Katherine were present with me; they focused on recruiting people outdoors. Altogether, I tested four people, all of whom were walk-ins, and my testing skills were getting better. I did have awkward silences with the first couple of clients, but one client and I had a nice conversation. I found myself sharing life details with that person! He made me appreciate my work more.
      Image may contain: text
  • June 17 – Park Village Apartments (Section 8 Housing) in Hough neighborhood
    • There was a community event in this public housing neighborhood, including a cookout, bouncy house, DJ, and resources fair. The booths in the courtyard included Planned Parenthood, University Hospitals, and more.
      We parked our Mobile Testing Van close to the action, and set up our materials to test people. That afternoon, we tested four folks, which was not as much as we hoped, but Planned Parenthood also used our van to test people since they’re one of our partners.
    • I personally tested two people and distributed the condom kits I made!

      The interior of the Mobile Testing Van has four chairs and a table that serves as the work surface for testing. It is actually very comfortable in the back.

       

  • June 24 – Cleveland’s 28th Annual Pride Festival
    • For five hours, I attended my first Pride! With a handful of Safe on the Scene workers, we walked in the Parade at noon and held a giant banner! I do not have a strong, powerful voice when I shout out so I couldn’t be heard well but the others hollered out “Who are we? Safe on the Scene! What do we want to be? HIV free! Safe on the Scene! Safe on the Scene! Safe on the Scene!” And then another worker following behind the banner yelled out “Get tested! Know your [HIV] status! Knowing is sexy!” It felt so different to be walking in a parade with hundreds of people watching you from the sidewalks and the rooftops. I never knew the feeling until this day. I was so fortunate to be a part of this moment.
    • At the booth we set up, we had a table in front as well as one in the back. The front table held a spin-the-wheel trivia game, free promotional items, fans, and business cards, and a clipboard. One or two people manned the front to ask the booth visitors trivia questions related to HIV, and then ask if they wanted their prize as a keychain, phone wallet, condom case (in black or pink), or a wristband. In the back, I was in charge of the build-your-own-condom-kit station. Participants write down their demographics and then get a goodie bag. They can put as many condoms and lubricants as they like into the bag, and it must fit. We had an assortment of condoms in a variety of flavors. We also had female condoms and flavored dental dams. Our lubricants were water-based and silicone-based.

      The condom station at our Safe on the Scene booth

    • In just the four hours I was at the table, we had over 120 people stop by to make condom kits. Since the Safe on the Scene team would remain until 8 pm, I am sure that we would see at least 200 people total for Saturday. We gave away all the female condoms and dental dams we had. The one thing that bothered me at this station was that one man overstocked on our condoms and I did not say something to him. His goodie bag was overstuffed and he also placed a good number of condoms into his backpack. At least he’ll have protected sex. Overall, I had a great experience and we did a good amount of outreach.
    • According to our organizer Lawrence White, who stayed all day, we interacted with 250 people. Furthermore, the festival staff said that we were in the top 10 most visited booths at Pride! Apparently they surveyed visitors about which booth was most memorable and recommended and people said “Safe on the Scene!”
  • June 25 – “Buck on the Scene” event @ Cleveland Exotic Dance Studio
    • This dance workshop event was made possible by Buck Out Cle LLC and Safe on the Scene! These two entities partnered together in efforts to raise awareness around HIV testing, prevention and linkage to HIV services. The workshop was lead by two members of the group Prancing Elites, Jerel and Kareem. The Prancing Elites are from Mobile, Alabama, and are featured on the hit show on Oxygen “The Prancing Elites Project.”
    • We had the Mobile Testing Van out by the entrance for HIV testing and the upstairs where the dance studio was, we had HIV testing as well as STD testing (a restroom is needed to collect a urine sample). I had my phone out so I could ask the event attendees to fill out the registration form, and so we could keep track of how many people attended.
    • Admission for the event is free if visitors get a confidential HIV or STD test provided by Safe on the Scene workers/volunteers. Otherwise, they pay a $10 admission fee.
  • June 27 – Walgreen’s in Lakewood – National HIV Testing Day!

    awarenesshivtesting_122.png

    • The first National HIV Testing Day was observed on June 27, 1995 (www.hiv.gov).
    • All afternoon, we recruited a total of 19 people for HIV testing at Walgreen’s, which partners with health departments/AIDs services each year for this special event! We had four volunteers, including myself, wearing our red shirts. While we are trained to test people, our job for the day was to recruit citizens to get the tests. The HIV testing counselors handled the bloodwork and paperwork. We also handed out $5 Dave’s Supermarket and McDonald’s gift cards, as well as Care Alliance Health Center goodie bags that included condoms, a sticker saying “I got tested”, and much more.

      The volunteers!

    • There were quite a number of people out, but we did get many rejections. However, 19 people is phenomenal because our goal was to get at least 12 people tested.

      Me squinting into the sunlight.         Taken by my college mentor and HIV Testing Coordinator, Carly.

      Our station set-up. Results were given inside the Mobile Testing Van for confidentiality.

  • June 28 – Walgreen’s in Lakewood, OH
    • This day went by faster than anticipated. The first hour there, we tested five people! Wow! We tested over a dozen people total, exceeding our goal for the day. We even had a client talk with us for over 20 minutes.
  • TOTAL HOURS: 29 (including May training: 36)
    Total Personally Tested: 9

JULY

  • July 19 – Stokes Clinic
    • I assembled 47 condom kits in an hour. The kits had five condoms, five lubes, and a business card. It was just me and LaChanee in the office. LaChanee was answering emails and doing other administrative duties.
    • I read part of a book called 100 Questions & Answers about HIV and AIDS, third edition.
      Image result for 100 questions and answers about aids third edition

      Then I distributed flyers advertising Care Alliance’s Block Party, held the next day. I went to the library, police station (no luck), Boys & Girls Club, and an apartment complex (no luck). I also handed some to a Beechbrook staff member, who shared the rest with her team.

  • July 20 – Care Alliance Block Party @ Central Neighborhood
    • CA hosts an annual block party. This year it was at their newest branch clinic, Central Clinic. This was a community celebration of health and wellness. Food, beverages, and entertainment were provided, along with raffle prizes and free giveaways!Services included bike repairs, blood pressure checks, cancer screenings (lung, colon, etc.)and information, health education, appointment scheduling, fitness activities (such as Zumba), CMSD student enrollment, and SNAP enrollment. We also had other community resources such as the neighborhood food bank, Molina Health Care, and our HIV van. A face-painter was available for the kids.

      The role I had was to greet visitors at my booth and have them sign in if they wanted a meal ticket and/or a BINGO score card. Those who completed the card by going to each booth inside and outside the clinic would then get a raffle ticket to enter the giveaways. We gave away two child bikes and two Dave’s Supermarket gift cards as well as a goodie bag. Everyone who attended the event left with something though – pamphlets, free food, and more. I was amazed at how we had hundreds of people come! Even the CEO and COO of Care Alliance stopped by to thank the staff for our hard work. This was my last day of volunteering for the summer too, and this block party was a great way to end my term.

       

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  • Thank you to Carly Hill, my college mentor and HIV Prevention Coordinator of Care Alliance. You’re so motivational and positive! You make things all run smoothly and no one gets left behind when they’re on your team. I am always grateful for you.
  • Thank you to Annette James, HIV Prevention Specialist of Care Alliance. Your laidback demeanor was always appreciated! During training, you pushed the volunteers by asking us “Why? Explain it to me. Teach me.” Your presence is calming.
  • Thanks to LaChanee Davis, my team supervisor. I really enjoyed working with you. You were very flexible with working out my schedule. You motivated me to be better and was honest with me about my strengths and weaknesses. I also love how you are involved with your own business in addition to what you do with Care Alliance.
  • Thank you Mohamed Yugo, for your bright personality. You are very polite and look out for others. You also made me smile often when you danced or sang while driving us in the Mobile Testing Van! Good luck with your MPH at BU!
  • Thanks to Bailee, my fellow volunteer. You help make me feel comfortable when we work together. You’re in Public Health as well and you’re going to be a great doctor! You’re hardworking and easygoing.
  • Thank you to Karl Kimpo, who works with Planned Parenthood. I have done some community outreach and testing with you. I am glad to meet someone who’s had decades of experience with sexual health and marginalized populations.
  • Thanks to the people I have met through Planned Parenthood and Safe on the Scene. It was great to work with you all! Lawrence White, you rocked for organizing our parade walk and booths for Pride!
  • Thanks to Care Alliance in general for what it has done for the community. All volunteers have to pat themselves on the back for assisting in carrying out CA’s mission.
  • Thanks to the organizations CA collaborated with; community partnerships are a key to success! I learned more about the resources around Cleveland.
  • Thank you to my supporters, including the readers of my blog.

REFLECTION

I spent a total of 43 hours with Care Alliance this summer. I enjoyed the work I have done with Care Alliance as part of their HIV Prevention Team. The summer was productive and I reached dozens of individuals. The most pivotal moment of my work (and biggest struggle) was getting over my discomfort with pricking patient fingers. Some really hated needles, and I share their pain. I was able to work with diverse groups of people: people in public housing, people who were incarcerated, people who were MSM, and transgender people.

The amount of knowledge I gained while volunteering was tremendous! I furthered my own knowledge on HIV and the stigmas people have towards it. I learned about the Ryan White CARE Act, which made it possible for more treatment, attention, and funding to be allowed for HIV/AIDS. We have come a long way since AIDS was called an epidemic in the 1980s; before, public discourse perceived AIDS as contagious and people with AIDS would not be allowed in schools or other areas. Fear guided people’s actions. With technology and education, there is less controversy over it. Public health is such a rewarding field and I am happy to be in this major at OSU.
During winter break, I strongly believe I’ll return to Care Alliance to help out more with their HIV efforts.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please see these resources to learn more:
“Giving HIV Test Results”, April 2013, by Maria A. Corwin, LCSW, CAC III, and edited by Lucy Bradley-Springer, PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN.

HIV/AIDS
http://ryanwhite.com/rwcareact.html
https://www.aids.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html

To find a testing site near you:

  • visit ActAgainstAIDS,
  • text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948), or
  • call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

For Care Alliance:
www.carealliance.org
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter as well!

For Safe on the Scene,
http://www.safeonthescene.com
https://www.facebook.com/safeonthescene/
#SafeontheScene #KnowingisSexy

For LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland:
https://www.facebook.com/LGBTCLEVELAND/
http://lgbtcleveland.org/index.html

Upperclassman Interview with a Pre-Med Public-Health Senior

Academic Enrichment: Please interview an upperclassmen who is pursuing a similar major/career path. Take about 15-20 minutes in asking them specific questions regarding the intended career path and how they are preparing themselves.

One upperclassman I spoke with is also a Health Sciences Scholar named Tyler. I first met him when he gave a presentation on LGBTQ health in my residence hall, and his style of presenting kept me engaged and made me hooked on his every word! He was animated and descriptive, and most importantly, I could tell he had a passion for educating his peers. On October 25, 2016, I conducted an informational interview with Tyler because I was interested in finding out more about him. He’s a senior who will graduate with a Bachelor’s of Public Health – Environmental Health specialization and then proceed on his journey to medical school! Tyler is a Resident Advisor for Park-Stradley (from second through fourth year), and is an Ohio Department of Health Certified HIV/STI Test Counselor.(Even though my BSPH specialization is Sociology and I plan on achieving an MPH, not an MD or DO degree, I found our conversation enlightening.)

Coming into OSU as a freshman, Tyler was sure he’d major in Anthropology because he loved the multidisciplinary aspect of using knowledge from fields like science and history. However, he soon realized he wanted to focus on living people’s health issues. During orientation, he spoke with an advisor for the College of Public Health, a guy named Guy. In our college, the advisors and students are all supportive, and he did not see any competitiveness like he witnessed in other OSU departments. Furthermore, because of the small, tight-knit atmosphere of the college, it was easier to build connections with other students and faculty and staff. I definitely agree with him on that aspect! The advisors, especially Guy, really try to establish a personal relationship with you. Also, our advisors have been here for years; they have wisdom from seeing hundreds of students and know the personalities of the public health professors.

Having an undergraduate degree in Public Health is valuable and applicable to the field of medicine. Many pre-med students go the traditional route of majoring in Bio or Chemistry but not many colleges offer public health, so there’s unique experiences and knowledge we BSPH majors offer; we learn the importance of using preventive medicine, and we learn about biostatistics and epidemiology, which others may not even touch during their studies. According to Tyler, his academics made him more attractive to medical schools because public health gives you a humanistic approach to healthcare.

Tyler gave me a brief overview of the MCAT process, which is an astounding, grueling 8 hours at a desktop computer! He spent a whole semester studying for it, and his public health background prepared him to ace the psychology/sociology section! I admire his physical and mental stamina, and he provided me a piece of advice that’s going to stick with me during school. He only took the MCAT once and that was enough for him; if a school wasn’t going to accept him just because of the score, he wouldn’t want to go to the school anyways because he had much more to offer.

We discussed his favorite and least favorite classes, as well as his internship/extracurricular experiences. He made me excited for Intro to Global Public Health; “you learn for the sake of learning, not to get a grade.” That class has you conducting a TED-talk-like presentation to your peers about a health topic of your choice! Furthermore, as I mentioned earlier, he is an RA and HIV test counselor, both of which require interpersonal and problem-solving skills, among other characteristics. I think those roles help prepare him for working with diverse populations of people and helping them navigate their healthcare/self-care. Tyler is for-sure well-rounded who knows what he wants and has made great advances during undergraduate to prepare for medical school.

This interview confirmed my desires to pursue public health and helped give me more of an idea about what my major courses, professors and advisors would be like. I also love how with public health, the career opportunities are endless and applicable to many real-world situations. He implanted into my head the idea of becoming an HIV counselor so I can get to help my peers with situations they may not be comfortable in. Sexual health is important and it’s often not conveyed properly or comprehensively in school education, so having peer counselors may make it easier for students to ask questions and partake in better actions to stay happy and STI-free!
Thanks Tyler for sharing your experiences with me!!!