Monday, May 7, 2012
National Park Week Event!
This year two of our members are working on projects with the National Parks Service along with Bronx Health REACH. Throughout the year these members are working to get community members outside and get fit using their local parks. The members have worked on a variety of initiatives in the Bronx, from walking groups, Girls on the Run, working with youth in Citizen Schools projects, collaborating with our diabetes education member and their Zumba group, and overall trying to improve access to the parks for communities in the south Bronx.
As last week was National Park Week, the members planned an afternoon of fun in Roberto Clemente State Park. The day included relay races, Zumba, stretch band exercises, limbo, face painting, and lots of fun! Although it was a chilly day outside, they had a great turnout and a wonderful time was had by all!
Get out and enjoy the parks!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Member Profile: Women's Health Advocate
This year, the IFH Healthcorps team has 17 full time members! Every month we will be profiling one or two so you can get a chance to meet our crew and learn more about their work!
This month, meet Natasha!
Name: Natasha
Position: Women’s Health Advocate
Brief bio:
I grew up in Northern California and studied Public Health at U.C. Berkeley. I have always wanted to try out the big city, and am proud to say that I’m almost in the clear for surviving my first East Coast Winter (almost over, and it really hasn’t been too bad!). I’m a big supporter of Harry Potter, women’s health care (clearly), Tina Fey, peanut butter, funny accents, Beyonce, and now, New York. I’m also a runner, knitter, and can touch my tongue to my nose.
What is your hometown? Napa, California
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
Best part of living in NYC hands down is the amazing public transportation. You can be totally spontaneous and get some good reading done all at the same time - talk about double tasking! Not that you asked, but least favorite part? Tiny apartments, tiny kitchen, tiny closet, tiny sidewalk. Every thing in this city is miniature size. Except for the black and white cookies. Those are huge and delicious.
My favorite place in the city is the High Line and also a bakery which I will not share because I don’t want it to get too crowded.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I spend half my time working with a non-profit called the Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP). They are a teeny tiny organization that believes women’s reproductive health should be part of your primary care. This means, ladies shouldn’t have to go to a giant abortion clinic, or a women’s free clinic, to get the care they need. This should be available from their primary care provider — the same place they go to when their throat hurts. Coming from the liberal hub of the Bay Area, this seems pretty obvious, but RHAP reaches out to family doctors in rural areas of Texas, Illinois, and other states where access to women’s health care is hard to find. I help write a monthly publication about contraceptive best practice which is sent to our network of over 1500 people, including clinicians, educators, and reproductive health advocates. I also help with the collection and analysis of data about the number of IUDs and Implanons inserted at the Institute for Family Health sites. My role is constantly shifting based on deadlines and upcoming conferences, which is great because I’m always learning.
The second part of my job is spent directly with the ladies who need the care. I’m a doula. Now, Wikipedia defines doula as, “a provider or non-medical support to women and families during labour, childbirth, and the postpartume period.” But my role goes beyond this more traditional definition of the doula to include support for all aspects of reproductive care. I chat with and support women who come to the clinic, most often for reproductive health procedures. These women (and sometimes, teenagers) are scared, nervous, or completely fine. But however they’re feeling, for the 10 or 20 incredibly intimate minutes that our lives intersect, I’m their friend.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Through this job, I have met some amazing women, many of whom I wish I could be friends with post-procedure (some have even offered for me to add them on Facebook, although I never have). I’ve met opera singers, police officers, mothers, graphic designers, nannies, comedians, and students. I’ve heard happy stories about celebrity sightings or amazing NY apartment finds. I’ve heard sad stories about siblings in jail and unsatisfying careers. But mostly, I’ve heard dreams about what the future will hold, with an underlying message of how this procedure, whatever it may be - from protecting against unintended pregnancies, to screening for cancer - will allow these women to get where they hope to be.
It’s hard to explain the impact each patient has on my life without sounding cliche or overly dramatic. But working at a community health center whose mission says they will not turn away any person for lack of insurance or funds, I really do interact with all types of people, and you know what? We all have something in common. Although the 19-year-old mother living in a half-way house seems miles away from the 38-year-old architect from England, I find a way to relate to each of my patients as I ease their anxieties and normalize their medical care.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Being a doula can be tough, because you always have to be on your game (for instance, as I write this I am incredibly jet lagged, but that is just life in the working world!) and keep that conversation rolling. And sometimes, I just really don’t know what to say to comfort a patient. Also, this job requires a lot of non-verbal communication which I always need to be in tune with. When I walk in to the room, I have to sense whether the patient is nervous or embarrassed, or maybe totally fine, and adjust my mannerisms and conversation topics accordingly. While socializing for your job can be totally fun and interesting, it can also be exhausting, and many evenings I just need to go home and tune out my brain to a good episode of Mad Men.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I love that I get to work with such passionate and smart people, and I love that I get to meet and hear about the interesting lives of patients almost every day. I also love that I get to live in New York. It’s just a win-win all around (I guess the catch is that measly stipend).
What are your future career goals?
I want to be a Family Nurse Practitioner, and have a ceramics studio on the side. And a few chickens too.
This month, meet Natasha!
Name: Natasha
Position: Women’s Health Advocate
Brief bio:
I grew up in Northern California and studied Public Health at U.C. Berkeley. I have always wanted to try out the big city, and am proud to say that I’m almost in the clear for surviving my first East Coast Winter (almost over, and it really hasn’t been too bad!). I’m a big supporter of Harry Potter, women’s health care (clearly), Tina Fey, peanut butter, funny accents, Beyonce, and now, New York. I’m also a runner, knitter, and can touch my tongue to my nose.
What is your hometown? Napa, California
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
Best part of living in NYC hands down is the amazing public transportation. You can be totally spontaneous and get some good reading done all at the same time - talk about double tasking! Not that you asked, but least favorite part? Tiny apartments, tiny kitchen, tiny closet, tiny sidewalk. Every thing in this city is miniature size. Except for the black and white cookies. Those are huge and delicious.
My favorite place in the city is the High Line and also a bakery which I will not share because I don’t want it to get too crowded.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I spend half my time working with a non-profit called the Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP). They are a teeny tiny organization that believes women’s reproductive health should be part of your primary care. This means, ladies shouldn’t have to go to a giant abortion clinic, or a women’s free clinic, to get the care they need. This should be available from their primary care provider — the same place they go to when their throat hurts. Coming from the liberal hub of the Bay Area, this seems pretty obvious, but RHAP reaches out to family doctors in rural areas of Texas, Illinois, and other states where access to women’s health care is hard to find. I help write a monthly publication about contraceptive best practice which is sent to our network of over 1500 people, including clinicians, educators, and reproductive health advocates. I also help with the collection and analysis of data about the number of IUDs and Implanons inserted at the Institute for Family Health sites. My role is constantly shifting based on deadlines and upcoming conferences, which is great because I’m always learning.
The second part of my job is spent directly with the ladies who need the care. I’m a doula. Now, Wikipedia defines doula as, “a provider or non-medical support to women and families during labour, childbirth, and the postpartume period.” But my role goes beyond this more traditional definition of the doula to include support for all aspects of reproductive care. I chat with and support women who come to the clinic, most often for reproductive health procedures. These women (and sometimes, teenagers) are scared, nervous, or completely fine. But however they’re feeling, for the 10 or 20 incredibly intimate minutes that our lives intersect, I’m their friend.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Through this job, I have met some amazing women, many of whom I wish I could be friends with post-procedure (some have even offered for me to add them on Facebook, although I never have). I’ve met opera singers, police officers, mothers, graphic designers, nannies, comedians, and students. I’ve heard happy stories about celebrity sightings or amazing NY apartment finds. I’ve heard sad stories about siblings in jail and unsatisfying careers. But mostly, I’ve heard dreams about what the future will hold, with an underlying message of how this procedure, whatever it may be - from protecting against unintended pregnancies, to screening for cancer - will allow these women to get where they hope to be.
It’s hard to explain the impact each patient has on my life without sounding cliche or overly dramatic. But working at a community health center whose mission says they will not turn away any person for lack of insurance or funds, I really do interact with all types of people, and you know what? We all have something in common. Although the 19-year-old mother living in a half-way house seems miles away from the 38-year-old architect from England, I find a way to relate to each of my patients as I ease their anxieties and normalize their medical care.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Being a doula can be tough, because you always have to be on your game (for instance, as I write this I am incredibly jet lagged, but that is just life in the working world!) and keep that conversation rolling. And sometimes, I just really don’t know what to say to comfort a patient. Also, this job requires a lot of non-verbal communication which I always need to be in tune with. When I walk in to the room, I have to sense whether the patient is nervous or embarrassed, or maybe totally fine, and adjust my mannerisms and conversation topics accordingly. While socializing for your job can be totally fun and interesting, it can also be exhausting, and many evenings I just need to go home and tune out my brain to a good episode of Mad Men.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I love that I get to work with such passionate and smart people, and I love that I get to meet and hear about the interesting lives of patients almost every day. I also love that I get to live in New York. It’s just a win-win all around (I guess the catch is that measly stipend).
What are your future career goals?
I want to be a Family Nurse Practitioner, and have a ceramics studio on the side. And a few chickens too.
Member Profile: Breast-Feeding Educator
This year, the IFH Healthcorps team has 17 full time members! Every month we will be profiling one or two so you can get a chance to meet our crew and learn more about their work!
This month, meet Allison!
In purple!
Name: Allison
Position: Breastfeeding Education Coordinator
Brief bio: I love being outside and staying active. Traveling and exploring new places is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I get to eat amazing food and meet interesting people!
What is your hometown? Traverse City, Michigan (Cherry Capital of the WORLD)
For those in the Mid-Hudson: What is the best part about living upstate? What is the best place you’ve been? I love living in the Mid-Hudson Valley because I’m surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lots of green stuff. There’s always a ton of out-doorsy things to do, it is a really active place. There are many cool towns around here: Woodstock, New Paltz, Rhinebeck, etc. and I feel like I get the best of both worlds because I get to go down to NYC a couple times a month too. I love everywhere I have been out here!
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day? I work primarily at Kingston Pediatric Care Center and Family Practice. I am involved in a lot of community organizations that support breastfeeding so I usually attend or facilitate several meetings a week. I also get to teach pre-natal breastfeeding classes and participate in post-partum support groups for new moms and babies. I am doing a research project focusing on increasing breastfeeding rates within IFH and also helping a local hospital go Baby-Friendly, both projects take a lot of time. My favorite part of my day though, is seeing patients, supporting and helping them to be successful with breastfeeding.
What is your favorite part of the job? I love supporting, educating, and empowering patients!
What is the most difficult part of what you do? Sometimes realizing that regardless of my “intervention” or how much I support a family, it doesn’t always make a difference. It is hard when I care more than the patient does.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member? I get great training and an incredible amount of experience while working with the coolest people.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A nice person who has travelled the world and made a positive impact on the people I’ve met and worked with.
This month, meet Allison!
In purple!
Name: Allison
Position: Breastfeeding Education Coordinator
Brief bio: I love being outside and staying active. Traveling and exploring new places is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I get to eat amazing food and meet interesting people!
What is your hometown? Traverse City, Michigan (Cherry Capital of the WORLD)
For those in the Mid-Hudson: What is the best part about living upstate? What is the best place you’ve been? I love living in the Mid-Hudson Valley because I’m surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lots of green stuff. There’s always a ton of out-doorsy things to do, it is a really active place. There are many cool towns around here: Woodstock, New Paltz, Rhinebeck, etc. and I feel like I get the best of both worlds because I get to go down to NYC a couple times a month too. I love everywhere I have been out here!
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day? I work primarily at Kingston Pediatric Care Center and Family Practice. I am involved in a lot of community organizations that support breastfeeding so I usually attend or facilitate several meetings a week. I also get to teach pre-natal breastfeeding classes and participate in post-partum support groups for new moms and babies. I am doing a research project focusing on increasing breastfeeding rates within IFH and also helping a local hospital go Baby-Friendly, both projects take a lot of time. My favorite part of my day though, is seeing patients, supporting and helping them to be successful with breastfeeding.
What is your favorite part of the job? I love supporting, educating, and empowering patients!
What is the most difficult part of what you do? Sometimes realizing that regardless of my “intervention” or how much I support a family, it doesn’t always make a difference. It is hard when I care more than the patient does.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member? I get great training and an incredible amount of experience while working with the coolest people.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A nice person who has travelled the world and made a positive impact on the people I’ve met and worked with.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Member Profile: Diabetes Educator!
This year, the IFH Healthcorps team has 17 full time members! Every month we will be profiling one or two so you can get a chance to meet our crew and learn more about their work!
This month, meet Sarah!
Name: Sarah
Position: Diabetes Educator (New Paltz, NY and Hyde Park, NY)
Brief bio:
I’m from the good ole’ midwest. I attended the University of Missouri for undergrad (Go MIZZOU!) and have my Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences and minors in Biology and Psychology. I have traveled extensively outside of the U.S., both for volunteering and studying. My favorite painting of all time is “Bridge over a pond of water lilies” by Claude Monet.
What is your hometown? Moberly, Missouri
For those in the Mid-Hudson: What is the best part about living upstate? What is the best place you’ve been?
I think the best part about living upstate is being surrounded by nature. I love hiking and driving through the Catskill Mountains.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I work at the Family Health Centers of New Paltz, NY and Hyde Park, NY with our diabetes outreach and education team. I outreach to patients with diabetes, either to check up on how they’re doing, to get them to come in for an appointment, or updated labs, or to inform them of the available diabetes classes at our clinics. I also do a lot of diabetes, cholesterol, and nutrition education and counseling with patients in the exam rooms and during our classes. I am also working on a special project which includes recording and outreaching to patients who were either hospitalized or visited the Emergency Room in an effort to prevent re-hospitalizations in the future.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Easy, the people. Both those I work with and my patients as well as being able to be a positive motivator in others lives.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Trying to help teach patients self-efficacy when it comes to their diabetes, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle management against many barriers they may face such as lack of insurance, illiteracy, unemployment, etc…
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
It has given me opportunities with which I would never have been able to experience otherwise. It has been incredibly rewarding being a HealthCorps member. I have learned so much about healthcare by seeing people’s passion for their work and have seen so many approaches to care. I know that what I have learned here will reflect in my future career path. It has truly been a great experience being a HealthCorps member.
What are your future career goals?
My true passion lies in medicine, education, and travel. I hope to one day incorporate all three into my future career as a primary care physician providing aid to underserved areas and as a university faculty member teaching eager young minds!
This month, meet Sarah!
Name: Sarah
Position: Diabetes Educator (New Paltz, NY and Hyde Park, NY)
Brief bio:
I’m from the good ole’ midwest. I attended the University of Missouri for undergrad (Go MIZZOU!) and have my Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences and minors in Biology and Psychology. I have traveled extensively outside of the U.S., both for volunteering and studying. My favorite painting of all time is “Bridge over a pond of water lilies” by Claude Monet.
What is your hometown? Moberly, Missouri
For those in the Mid-Hudson: What is the best part about living upstate? What is the best place you’ve been?
I think the best part about living upstate is being surrounded by nature. I love hiking and driving through the Catskill Mountains.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I work at the Family Health Centers of New Paltz, NY and Hyde Park, NY with our diabetes outreach and education team. I outreach to patients with diabetes, either to check up on how they’re doing, to get them to come in for an appointment, or updated labs, or to inform them of the available diabetes classes at our clinics. I also do a lot of diabetes, cholesterol, and nutrition education and counseling with patients in the exam rooms and during our classes. I am also working on a special project which includes recording and outreaching to patients who were either hospitalized or visited the Emergency Room in an effort to prevent re-hospitalizations in the future.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Easy, the people. Both those I work with and my patients as well as being able to be a positive motivator in others lives.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Trying to help teach patients self-efficacy when it comes to their diabetes, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle management against many barriers they may face such as lack of insurance, illiteracy, unemployment, etc…
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
It has given me opportunities with which I would never have been able to experience otherwise. It has been incredibly rewarding being a HealthCorps member. I have learned so much about healthcare by seeing people’s passion for their work and have seen so many approaches to care. I know that what I have learned here will reflect in my future career path. It has truly been a great experience being a HealthCorps member.
What are your future career goals?
My true passion lies in medicine, education, and travel. I hope to one day incorporate all three into my future career as a primary care physician providing aid to underserved areas and as a university faculty member teaching eager young minds!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Member Profiles: Bronx Health REACH Program Assistant
This year, the IFH Healthcorps team has 17 full time members! Every month we will be profiling one or two so you can get a chance to meet our crew and learn more about their work!
This month: Meet Hardeep!
Name:
Hardeep
Position:
Bronx Health REACH Project Assistant
Brief bio:
Born in New Jersey and raised in a suburb outside of New York City. I received my Bachelors of Science from Cornell University in 2011. I majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Global Health.
What is your hometown?
Rockland County, NY
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
The best thing about living/working in New York City is observing the timeless beauty of the infrastructure and experiencing the rich diversity of cultures. Even though many NYC buildings were built over 50 to 100 years ago, the beauty of such landmarks truly persists alongside the magnificent and eco-friendly newly-built buildings that also contribute to same NYC skyline. The number of cultures represented in NYC is truly amazing. It seems to me as if every culture around the world has its own restaurant dedicated to it in NYC.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I primarily work at the Sidney Hillman Family Clinic building, a block away from Union Square, Manhattan. Yet, on a weekly basis, I outreach to different areas of NYC and engage community based organizations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, senior centers, etc about health disparities. A lot of what I do is community education and organizing around issues of racial and ethnic disparities in health.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is community outreach. Outreaching to the five boroughs of NYC and being able to observe the blatant and subtle environmental, socio-economical, and cultural difference between and within boroughs has truly been a learning experience to say the least.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
The most difficult part of my job is navigating the bureaucracy within the organizations that I outreach to. It takes patience and persistence in following up with these organizations. The end goal of Bronx Health REACH’s community outreach is to establish a relationship with outreached organizations and eventually having these organizations join our coalition on eliminating health disparities.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I enjoy being a healthcorps member because I am finally out in the community gaining the real- life experience of situations and issues that I learned about in the classroom. I couldn’t truly understand health issues such as the lack of health care access, racial and ethnic discrimination in health, and the rising cost of healthcare, until I was able to get into the community and see those issues at play in my position as a healthcorps member. Additionally, the healthcorps position at Institute for Family Health (IFH) is great. At IFH, there are over 15 other diverse and friendly healthcorps members who can help you adjust to your position, cope with stresses of moving to NYC, or simply hang out with.
What are your future career goals?
I hope to become a physician who travels the world providing medical aid.
This month: Meet Hardeep!
Name:
Hardeep
Position:
Bronx Health REACH Project Assistant
Brief bio:
Born in New Jersey and raised in a suburb outside of New York City. I received my Bachelors of Science from Cornell University in 2011. I majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Global Health.
What is your hometown?
Rockland County, NY
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
The best thing about living/working in New York City is observing the timeless beauty of the infrastructure and experiencing the rich diversity of cultures. Even though many NYC buildings were built over 50 to 100 years ago, the beauty of such landmarks truly persists alongside the magnificent and eco-friendly newly-built buildings that also contribute to same NYC skyline. The number of cultures represented in NYC is truly amazing. It seems to me as if every culture around the world has its own restaurant dedicated to it in NYC.
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I primarily work at the Sidney Hillman Family Clinic building, a block away from Union Square, Manhattan. Yet, on a weekly basis, I outreach to different areas of NYC and engage community based organizations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, senior centers, etc about health disparities. A lot of what I do is community education and organizing around issues of racial and ethnic disparities in health.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is community outreach. Outreaching to the five boroughs of NYC and being able to observe the blatant and subtle environmental, socio-economical, and cultural difference between and within boroughs has truly been a learning experience to say the least.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
The most difficult part of my job is navigating the bureaucracy within the organizations that I outreach to. It takes patience and persistence in following up with these organizations. The end goal of Bronx Health REACH’s community outreach is to establish a relationship with outreached organizations and eventually having these organizations join our coalition on eliminating health disparities.
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I enjoy being a healthcorps member because I am finally out in the community gaining the real- life experience of situations and issues that I learned about in the classroom. I couldn’t truly understand health issues such as the lack of health care access, racial and ethnic discrimination in health, and the rising cost of healthcare, until I was able to get into the community and see those issues at play in my position as a healthcorps member. Additionally, the healthcorps position at Institute for Family Health (IFH) is great. At IFH, there are over 15 other diverse and friendly healthcorps members who can help you adjust to your position, cope with stresses of moving to NYC, or simply hang out with.
What are your future career goals?
I hope to become a physician who travels the world providing medical aid.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
MLK Day of Service
Every year the Community Healthcorps team at IFH is sure to make MLK Day a day of service. In the past we have often teamed up with City Year to do some colorful painting projects at local schools.
This year we teamed up with New York City Coalition Against Hunger to spread the word to our local communities about the food stamp and WIC programs. These programs are so important to make it easier for folks to get the food they need. In 2009, over 55% of local food pantries didn't have enough food to meet the need. According to NYCAH, nationally, only 66 percent of people who are income-eligible for food stamps receive them. In New York City, roughly 700,000 people are eligible to receive food stamps but don't get them. There is clearly a huge need to get the word out about the program!
Our group was sent to grocery stores accross Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Although it was chilly, members succeeeded in getting many families and individuals screened for food benefits that might not otherwise have known about the program.
Our group that helped out in the Bronx.
If you'd like to learn more about hunger and NYC, be sure to check out NYCCAH's website for loads of resources and ways to help!
This year we teamed up with New York City Coalition Against Hunger to spread the word to our local communities about the food stamp and WIC programs. These programs are so important to make it easier for folks to get the food they need. In 2009, over 55% of local food pantries didn't have enough food to meet the need. According to NYCAH, nationally, only 66 percent of people who are income-eligible for food stamps receive them. In New York City, roughly 700,000 people are eligible to receive food stamps but don't get them. There is clearly a huge need to get the word out about the program!
Our group was sent to grocery stores accross Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Although it was chilly, members succeeeded in getting many families and individuals screened for food benefits that might not otherwise have known about the program.
Our group that helped out in the Bronx.
If you'd like to learn more about hunger and NYC, be sure to check out NYCCAH's website for loads of resources and ways to help!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Member Profile | Mentor Connection Coordinator
This year, the IFH Healthcorps team has 17 full time members! Every month we will be profiling one or two so you can get a chance to meet our crew and learn more about their work!
This month: Meet Kate!
Name: Kate
Position: Mentor Program Coordinator
Brief bio:
I love teaching and public health of course, but when I’m not involved in those activities, I like to paint and travel (well, the travel part has been more reduced to making plans for the distant future). I also love cooking and eating, which leads me to my next hobby of running and (whenever possible) going hiking. I love the outdoors in general!
What is your hometown?
Shawnee Mission, KS…it’s a suburb of Kansas City
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
Either the Highline or the Williamsburg Flea Market, especially when it’s warm out!
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I work at the Manhattan Staten Island Area Health Education center, where my primary job is to coordinate a mentoring program for high school students. This also involves teaching them in a health seminar class.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Seeing students really connect with health topics and relate them to their own lives.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Motivating students and mentors to stick with it even when they are busy!
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I feel like we are given real responsibilities and are trusted by our supervisors, instead of just entry-level work.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A community health educator!
This month: Meet Kate!
Name: Kate
Position: Mentor Program Coordinator
Brief bio:
I love teaching and public health of course, but when I’m not involved in those activities, I like to paint and travel (well, the travel part has been more reduced to making plans for the distant future). I also love cooking and eating, which leads me to my next hobby of running and (whenever possible) going hiking. I love the outdoors in general!
What is your hometown?
Shawnee Mission, KS…it’s a suburb of Kansas City
For those in NYC: What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city?
Either the Highline or the Williamsburg Flea Market, especially when it’s warm out!
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day?
I work at the Manhattan Staten Island Area Health Education center, where my primary job is to coordinate a mentoring program for high school students. This also involves teaching them in a health seminar class.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Seeing students really connect with health topics and relate them to their own lives.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Motivating students and mentors to stick with it even when they are busy!
Why do you enjoy being a healthcorps member?
I feel like we are given real responsibilities and are trusted by our supervisors, instead of just entry-level work.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A community health educator!
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