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This Is Public Health, a brand run by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, raises awareness about education and career options in public health through student ambassadors, graduate fairs, partnerships, interprofessional activities, and other pipeline-building events for students.

Since the inception, This Is Public Health has produced:

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thisispublichealth

Today is my first day of classes. For today’s, #ambassadortakeover, my plan was to share some of the things that I love about my program. But then I read the news.

Racism is a public ...

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Sep 23

Today is my first day of classes. For today’s, #ambassadortakeover, my plan was to share some of the things that I love about my program. But then I read the news.

Racism is a public health crisis. The vision of Healthy People 2020 is “a society in which all people live long, healthy lives.” All people. Growing up, racism was defined to me as something only bad people did. Individual actions. As I’ve grown, learned, reflected, and traveled, my understanding of both race and racism has changed.

As a high school biology teacher, race undoubtedly was a topic of discussion. We learn about our human bodies and the interconnectedness of all life on earth. I learned to prepare for the question, “So, what is race, Ms. Vaughn?” I would show videos and we would have discussions about how race is a social classification, not a biological descriptor. And students would wrestle with this, as I have wrestled with this. This fact that biologically, race doesn’t matter at all but socially matters a lot. In the real world, where we live each day, these social constructions of race have very real impacts. These discussions would ultimately lead us to the question, “Where do we go from here?”

So, where do we go from here? Dr. Camara Jones is a public health researcher whose work focuses on naming, measuring, and addressing the impacts of racism on health and well-being of the nation. In the journal Phylon (2003), Dr. Jones defines racism as “a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how we look (race), that unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, while unfairly advantages others and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources.” When I say racism is a public health crisis, this isn’t just me calling for individual actions to change. It is a call to examine our society and ask ourselves the question, “How is racism operating here?” and take the steps to address it. If we can’t name it and talk about it, we can’t address it. (continued in comments)

thisispublichealth

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Voting is a public health issue because it helps to shape the conditions in which people live. Voting means having the opportunity to shape the future of our ...

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Sep 22

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Voting is a public health issue because it helps to shape the conditions in which people live. Voting means having the opportunity to shape the future of our country; the opportunity to ask how things can be done differently. Today, I’m asking myself a few questions and takings steps to ensure that I’m registered to vote, that I know the deadlines for requesting and sending a mail-in ballot, that I’ve found reliable places to learn more about candidates, and that I’m aware of opportunities, as a young person, to continue to help my community. The link in our bio (vote.org) is a reliable place to answer many of these questions.

The conversation about voting wouldn’t be complete without mentioning voter suppression and voting rights in our country. If we acknowledge the barriers that exist and know what to look for, we can work together to overcome them. Check out our stories for links to organizations that are working to fight voter suppression and ensure all of our voices are heard.

I’m voting because I have high expectations for my country and my community. I’m not just participating in electoral politics but making sure I’m engaged in local and state elections as well. I’m voting so that my voice on policies that I care about like education, combating systemic racism, public health, and climate change, are heard. Why are you voting?

#ThisIsPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeOver #BetheChange

thisispublichealth

My path to public health is different than many. The picture above is me teaching in my Biology classroom, when I started my career as a high school science teacher, teaching in various cities across ...

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Sep 22

My path to public health is different than many. The picture above is me teaching in my Biology classroom, when I started my career as a high school science teacher, teaching in various cities across the U.S. My work in the classroom, and the people I met while doing that work, greatly inform my goals as a future public health professional.

Public health seeks to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy. But health is not a destination. Rather, it’s a continuous pursuit of mental, physical, and social well-being [13]. Because this pursuit is continuous across the lifespan, factors such as our access to a quality education [3], the neighborhoods we live in [7], access to healthy food [6], and of course, healthcare itself, all can contribute to our health. These factors, known as the social determinants of health, are the conditions in which we live, work, and play. Although these conditions often aren’t the first things that we think of when we think of the word health, they play a large role in health outcomes. In fact, it’s been shown that these social factors can account for as much as 55% of our health outcomes [14]. Interventions that address the social determinants of health have the greatest benefit to public health outcomes. Check out our stories for more resources about the connection between public health and education. I’ll also post links to the sources mentioned in this post.

Even though I’ve left the classroom as a teacher, each fall I think about students, families, and teachers as they return back to school. Oregon State University begins Fall 2020 classes this week, joining millions of other students, teachers, staff, and families who have already returned during the pandemic and uncertainty. Sending love to all teachers, students, staff, secretaries, custodians and everyone who has a connection to schools. Rooting for all of us.

#AmbassadorTakeOver #ThisIsPublicHealth #BacktoSchool

thisispublichealth

Hello beautiful humans! My name is Ashley Vaughn and I’m currently a Master of Public Health candidate at Oregon State University’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences @cphhs

...

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Sep 20

Hello beautiful humans! My name is Ashley Vaughn and I’m currently a Master of Public Health candidate at Oregon State University’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences @cphhs

I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here this week with #thisispublichealth as a National Ambassador during my #ambassadortakeover . I shared the quotes by Carvell Wallace and Eric Liu because they resonate with me, especially now. This week, this month, this year has been a challenge. From COVID-19 and its global impacts to unprecedented climate events, hope feels like hard work. But hope is necessary, especially now. Part of what brought me to public health is deciding what helping looks like to me...what hope looks like to me. I truly believe that the work within public health, when done with agency and intention, has the potential to bring us closer to a more equitable and just future.

During my time with you this week, I’ll talk about some public health topics that interest me, some questions that I’m asking about the future of public health, and some things that are bringing me hope right now.

Let’s kick off this week with some hope. I’d love to hear from you. What does helping mean for you? How are you bringing hope to your communities? Thank you for being here! Looking forward to our week together!

#AmbassadorTakeOver #ThisIsPublicHealth #hope

📸: Photographer @bohusthesecond

thisispublichealth

An informative webinar series #FridaysForTheFutureOfAging put together by the Health and Aging Policy Fellows at New York Psychiatric Institute @columbia featuring expert panels discussing the most ...

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Sep 18

An informative webinar series #FridaysForTheFutureOfAging put together by the Health and Aging Policy Fellows at New York Psychiatric Institute @columbia featuring expert panels discussing the most pressing issues facing older adults and the policy levers to address to address them. #AmbassadorTakeover #ThisIsPublicHealth

The second installment in the series is happening today, September 18, 2020 at 12pm EST focusing on eldercare workforce and their instrumental role in providing care for the aging population.

The final installment in the series will happen next Friday, September 25, 2020 at 4pm EST and will focus on economic security and aging from a global perspective.

The webinar from last week was recorded and also available online.

Visit the link in our bio for more information and to register. It is open to all and free to register!

thisispublichealth

Interested in pursuing a degree in public health? We have numerous virtual graduate school fairs coming up this fall!

Take advantage of these opportunities to connect with staff, students and...

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Sep 15

Interested in pursuing a degree in public health? We have numerous virtual graduate school fairs coming up this fall!

Take advantage of these opportunities to connect with staff, students and faculty from CEPH accredited graduate schools/programs across the nation.

Visit the link in our bio for more information and to register! #ThisIsPublicHealth #GraduateSchool

thisispublichealth

A primer on aging in the United States. This series of posts highlight key facts on the aging population. We will explore each topic over the week focusing on demographic shifts, trends, challenges ...

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Sep 15

A primer on aging in the United States. This series of posts highlight key facts on the aging population. We will explore each topic over the week focusing on demographic shifts, trends, challenges including the impact of COVID-19, and policy priorities. #AmbassadorTakeover #ThisIsPublicHealth

Data from @aarp @uscensusbureau @cdcgov @prbdata and the National Institute of Aging @nihgov

thisispublichealth

Greetings from Baltimore! I’m Linda and I’m excited to host this week’s #AmbassadorTakeover for #ThisIsPublicHealth!

I’m a third-year PhD student concentrating in Health Services ...

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Sep 14

Greetings from Baltimore! I’m Linda and I’m excited to host this week’s #AmbassadorTakeover for #ThisIsPublicHealth!

I’m a third-year PhD student concentrating in Health Services Research and Policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management @johnshopkinssph. I’m originally from Toronto, Canada. Prior to starting my PhD, I went to college @uchicago, completed my MPH also @johnshopkinssph, worked as a policy analyst @mdhealthdept, and was a consultant for a health economics and outcomes research firm. My research focuses on understanding the trends, predictors, and impact of care transitions on older adults with the aim of improving policies on long-term services and supports.

Growing up in a multigenerational home, I witnessed firsthand the health and social challenges my grandparents faced as they got older and this served as the impetus for my passion at the intersection of aging and public health. This week, I will highlight the challenges and opportunities to promote health and well-being of individuals as they age.

In my spare time, I enjoy podcasts (favorite is @thisamerlife), reading, and dog sitting. Be sure to follow along this week and comment below with your favorite podcast!

thisispublichealth

Creating and maintaining a sense of community among others is important in building resiliency and trust before, during, and after the response to natural disasters, outbreaks and other emergencies. ...

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Sep 12

Creating and maintaining a sense of community among others is important in building resiliency and trust before, during, and after the response to natural disasters, outbreaks and other emergencies. Four ways to build community during COVID-19 is to:
1) Limit contact with others, practice social distancing and wearing a mask;
2) Stay informed and be aware of misinformation;
3) Acknowledge and work against reducing stigma;
and 4) Keep in contact with at-risk individuals/loved ones by calling, video chatting, email/text to reduce feelings of loneliness.

For more information on building community, please visit the CDC resource on “Prep Your Health.” - link included in story.

#AmbassadorTakeover #ThisIsPublicHealth
#PrepYourHealth
#BeReady

thisispublichealth

In observance of 9/11, #nationaldayofservice and #nationalpreparednessmonth, here are a few ways you can volunteer in your community. Please visit Ready.gov for more information on how you can get ...

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Sep 11

In observance of 9/11, #nationaldayofservice and #nationalpreparednessmonth, here are a few ways you can volunteer in your community. Please visit Ready.gov for more information on how you can get involved. #AmbassadorTakeover #ThisisPublicHealth #BeReady

thisispublichealth

Today’s preparedness focus? Pets and large animals! Don’t forget to create a plan and pack items for your pets in case you need to evacuate.

In the event of an emergency, most emergency ...

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Sep 8

Today’s preparedness focus? Pets and large animals! Don’t forget to create a plan and pack items for your pets in case you need to evacuate.

In the event of an emergency, most emergency shelters will only allow service animals. Check with your local emergency management agency to determine whether shelters will be set up for pets.

For more information on pet preparedness check out resources from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ASPCA, The Humane Society, FEMA, Ready.gov, local health departments, and the American Red Cross. #becausepetsarefamilytoo #ThisisPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover #BeReady #PetPreparedness

thisispublichealth

This month is National Preparedness Month! Each week has a theme that surrounds preparedness for weather related and man-made disasters. Common disasters in the U.S are: flooding, earthquakes, ...

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Sep 7

This month is National Preparedness Month! Each week has a theme that surrounds preparedness for weather related and man-made disasters. Common disasters in the U.S are: flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes and tropical storms, wildfires and droughts, and severe storms/tornadoes. For more information on common weather disasters near you, check out the interactive map from the American Red Cross. (See story for swipe up link) Tomorrow we will be covering preparedness plans for pets! #ThisisPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover #BeReady #DisastersDontWait

thisispublichealth

Hi y’all! My name is Amanda Mohammed and I will be doing this week’s #ThisisPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover!

I’m a second-year Master of Public Health candidate in Behavioral, Social ...

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Sep 7

Hi y’all! My name is Amanda Mohammed and I will be doing this week’s #ThisisPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover!

I’m a second-year Master of Public Health candidate in Behavioral, Social & Health Education Sciences (@bshesatrollins) @rollinspublichealth. After graduating from @abac_college in 2018, I worked as a social needs screener in rural Georgia screening Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries for the social determinants of health. Currently I’m working as an Epidemiology Assistant on the response to COVID-19 with the Georgia Department of Public Health and as a Graduate Research Assistant in academia consulting. At Emory, I serve as the Community Outreach Liaison for the Student Outbreak and Response Team (@rollinssort) a student-led org that focuses on providing students with hand-on training and experiences in outbreak response and emergency preparedness. My interest surround quality improvement methods, emergency response/preparedness, health literacy, rural health, and the intersection of public health and agriculture.

This week, I’ll be posting topics related to National Preparedness Month and how we can all be better prepared for public health disasters! #BeReady

thisispublichealth

Attention all book lovers! We are happy to announce the selection of our fall book club 📖: You Don’t Have to be a Doctor: Discover, Achieve, and Enjoy Your Authentic Health Career by Jeffrey ...

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Sep 6

Attention all book lovers! We are happy to announce the selection of our fall book club 📖: You Don’t Have to be a Doctor: Discover, Achieve, and Enjoy Your Authentic Health Career by Jeffrey Oxendine.

Whether you are a student or recent graduate, a health professional, or are considering a career change to the health field, this book provides the framework, exercises, and insights you need to advance from where you are today to experience the joy, power, and success that comes from living your authentic life and career.

Join us Sunday evenings for a discussion on GoodReads (link in bio).

As we get ready to read the book, we ask that you reflect on where you are at in your academic or professional career. Are you on the right path? Are you doing what you love? Are you good at what you love? If you don’t have the answers to these questions just yet, that’s okay! It means you’re in the right place to open the book with us. Discussions start on September 13th. We look forward to having you join us!

thisispublichealth

I remember the first day of my MPH program like it was yesterday. I didn’t have friends in Denver yet, my first class was a late night elective taught by two brilliantly knowledgeable and ...

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Sep 4

I remember the first day of my MPH program like it was yesterday. I didn’t have friends in Denver yet, my first class was a late night elective taught by two brilliantly knowledgeable and intimidating substance use professionals, and I was starting to wonder what I had signed myself up for. We had a guest speaker that day who filled the role of a physician, behavioral health consultant, and person in long term recovery. He spoke of his journey through med school, rehab, and recovery and how they each played fundamental roles in getting to his current career as a behavioral health consultant. I was fascinated. I remember calling my dad as I walked to my car that night and said “I’m going to work for him one day.” We both laughed.
On the last day of that semester, in a different class, guess who the guest speaker was? Yup, Dr. Costello. After a long winter break full of internal debate, I sent him an email asking if he would be interested in taking on a practicum student over the summer. The next week we met over coffee and chatted for two hours about potential projects, career aspirations, and the endless opportunities that exist in the behavioral health policy world.
On May 8th, I started my practicum with his consulting firm working on RCORP Implementation grant in very rural Northwest Colorado. Through this grant we have been able to provide naloxone to several different agencies in the area, create culturally and linguistically appropriate informational materials to the largely Latino community, developed a comprehensive strategy map and corresponding data dashboard to monitor the outcomes of our efforts, and hosted a number of events and trainings for behavioral health specialists serving the area.
My practicum experience has been provoking, heartbreaking, and more rewarding than I could have imagined it would be. The perspective, skills, and connections I developed throughout this experience will live within me forever and propel my career in public health forward.

#AmbassadorTakeover #ThisIsPublicHealth
@coloroado.SPH @sydfromalaska @suualumni #suutoeverywhere #behavioralhealth #substanceuse #endoverdose #HRSA #SAMHSA #publichealth

thisispublichealth

FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS ARE 129X MORE LIKELY TO OVERDOSE WITHIN THEIR FIRST TWO WEEKS OF BEING RELEASED THAN THEIR NEVER INCARCERATED COUNTER PARTS! (NIDA)

Substance use disorder is...

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Sep 2

FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS ARE 129X MORE LIKELY TO OVERDOSE WITHIN THEIR FIRST TWO WEEKS OF BEING RELEASED THAN THEIR NEVER INCARCERATED COUNTER PARTS! (NIDA)

Substance use disorder is often my first thought at the mention of behavioral health. The United States however, has a long history of treating substance use disorder is a criminal justice issue.

Since President Nixon officially declared the War on Drugs in 1971, the US prison population has increased significantly. According the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 65% of that population has an active substance use disorder. Often, they go without adequate treatment during their incarceration.

Despite plentiful research showing the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment for a variety of substance use disorders, stigma and lack of knowledge prevent many people from receiving potentially life saving services.

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections has forged a new, effective model for treating substance use disorder in jails, prisons, and during reentry. Check out their strategy and outcomes. (RIDOC)

#ThisIsPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover #ColoradoSPH #SUUToEverywhere @Colorado.SPH @SUUTbirds @SUUAlumni @sydfromalaska

#publichealth #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #drugabuse #substanceusedisorder #criminaljusticereform #drugpolicy #rhodeisland #samhsa #government

thisispublichealth

Mental and behavioral health disorders frequently coexist, but treatment for both has not always been aligned.

In 1996 congress passed the first Mental Health Parity Act which did not mandate...

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Sep 1

Mental and behavioral health disorders frequently coexist, but treatment for both has not always been aligned.

In 1996 congress passed the first Mental Health Parity Act which did not mandate the coverage of mental health service. Rather those who did offer mental health coverage could no longer limit mental health services differently than any medical/surgical service.

The Affordable Care Act later mandated the coverage of mental health services, and rehabilitative services that may address behavioral health challenges.

Despite the efforts behind the ACA, there are still many barriers for individuals seeking behavioral health services. This is especially true for individuals with substance use disorders.

#thisispublichealth #ambassadortakeover
@colorado.sph
#mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #policychange #affordablecare #publichealth #suutoeverywhere @suutbirds @suualumni @sydfromalaska

thisispublichealth

OLA GENTE!
My name is Sydney and I am taking over this week from Denver. Let’s play a fun game, can you guess which of the following facts about me is a lie??
1. I lived in New York, Alaska,...

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Aug 31

OLA GENTE!
My name is Sydney and I am taking over this week from Denver. Let’s play a fun game, can you guess which of the following facts about me is a lie??
1. I lived in New York, Alaska, and Brazil before getting my Bachelor’s degree at Southern Utah University.
2. My favorite hobbies include impulsive road trips and camping with my dog and friends.
3. A personal goal of mine for 2020 is to read a book for each letter of the alphabet. (RECOMMENDATIONS REQUESTED)
4. My educational experience at @colorado.sph has allowed me to view all public health issues through new lens.
SPOILER ALERT!! They’re all true, I couldn’t think of a lie.
Stay tuned this week for more about me, my work surrounding behavioral health policy, and a few back to school tips.

Ate manha, boa noite!

#AmbassadorTakeover #ThisIsPublicHealth
#AmbassadorSydney #ColoradoSPH #suutoeverywhere @suutbirds @suualumni

thisispublichealth

Before I entered graduate school, I volunteered and worked in government agencies and mental health and affordable housing non-profits serving vulnerable populations. This was a critical period that ...

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Aug 28

Before I entered graduate school, I volunteered and worked in government agencies and mental health and affordable housing non-profits serving vulnerable populations. This was a critical period that revealed to me that health and well-being are substantially shaped by #socialdeterminantsofhealth. Seeing and hearing about their social, financial, and health challenges strengthened my motivation to pursue an MPH degree to make meaningful change. And I believe that making meaningful change involves design and innovation, especially in the complex and ever-evolving nature of healthcare.

One of the main reasons why I decided to attend @ucberkeleysph was its prime location and access to robust networks in #SanFrancisco and #SiliconValley. I think innovation will propel breaking out of the status quo and improving healthcare.

Healthcare design encompasses so many things such as digital health (e.g., mobile apps), architecture (e.g., hospitals), or workflows in healthcare settings. The design process consists of different phases and is informed by data, research, and user testing. The overall goal of harnessing design is to define the right problem and to solve that problem right.

If you love being creative, problem-solving, and developing products, consider exploring design!

Double diamond image provided by @designcouncil and @smashingmagazine.

@sphdream #AmbassadorClarisse #ThisIsPublicHealth #AmbassadorTakeover #changemakers #ucberkeleysph

thisispublichealth

Do you sit more than nine hours a day? Check out the link in our story to access the Sit Less, Move More checklist that you can use to remind yourself to stay active throughout the day!

Set ...

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Aug 27

Do you sit more than nine hours a day? Check out the link in our story to access the Sit Less, Move More checklist that you can use to remind yourself to stay active throughout the day!

Set a personal goal to move or change your posture at least once every 30 minutes and let me know in the comments how you sit less, move more. #AmbassadorTakeover #AmbassadorAthena #ergonomics @ucberkeleysph