Second-year Clinton School of Public Service students spoke on World Health Day, Monday, April 7th in the College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science to highlight their international health-related service projects completed during the summer of 2013.
The panel coincided with the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda and served as a reminder of how public health is inextricably tied to conflict across the globe. Don Simpson, Ph.D., MPH, the acting Director of the Office of Global Health at UAMS offered introductory remarks and a brief presentation regarding the current public health issues facing world citizens, including the ever-increasing threats of malaria and dengue.
Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor and Director of International Programs at the Clinton School of Public Service discussed highlights of the International Program Service Project (IPSP) at the Clinton School and then introduced the four student panelists to the audience. Nicole Maddox shared her experience evaluating the effectiveness of treatment and diagnosis guidelines with respect to patient outcomes for cancer at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Kenya. Angela Bukenya discussed her project identifying and recruiting educational nutrition related NGOs to build short or long term partnerships with the Nepal Nutrition Foundation. Alex Handfinger, a concurrent Master of Public Service and Master of Public Health student, explained his project developing an agronomic and nutrition food plan for 250 students at Hope North School in Uganda. Jenna Rhodes, also a concurrent Master of Public Service/Master of Public Health (MPS/MPH) student, worked with local residents and a medical NGO in a small town in Nicaragua to determine the current eating and cooking choices through interviews in order to develop a nutrition curriculum.
Questions from the audience for the panelists ranged from whether or not positive deviants were identified in the four countries represented to how influential Western diet and culture was impacting the rate of obesity. “It was great to hear more about the amazing things my classmates had accomplished,” said Marisa Nelson, a current Clinton School student and audience member. “Repeatedly the panelists discussed the need for community engagement and involvement in program development and evaluation. The ability to effectively do this is essential for any public servant, and discussions that further that capacity are appreciated – and necessary.”
The most interesting questions revolved around the biggest surprises and lessons learned in working with people from around the world. “My biggest revelation was that residents in my small rural town weren’t sad, miserable, starving people even though they live at a level that most anyone would consider impoverished. I went in to the experience with these ideas and expectations that were almost immediately shattered,” said Jenna Rhodes, presenter and current Clinton School student. “They had vibrant communities and simple homes full not of things, but relationships. By the time I left I was envious of the rich and peaceful lives that my newly made friends were living.”