Mission Team #16 2020-21

Mission Team #16

Public Health 2020-2021 School Year

“Doing good for others is not a duty. It is a joy for it increases your own health and happiness.”

Access to Treatment Squad

General Health Education Squad

Health Equity Squad

CONTENTS Mission Team Squads and Members List of squads and members in the mission team. Page #4

Ice Cream and Team Event Our fun mission-team wide event where we watched the informative What the Health Documentary Page # 7

Public Health Mission Team Overview of our mission, how we explored that mission, and what we hope to do to implement what we learned! Page #5

Rare Disease Awareness Panel Section wide event focused on learning about rare disease and supporting those with them Page# 8-9

4-3-2-1 Requirements Read about our awesome learning, service, advocacy, and networking events! Page #6

Letter Writing to St Lukes Writing letters to our COVID-19 healthcare heros Page #10

11| Access to Treatment Squad Mission, events, and future directions 15| General Health Education Squad Mission, events, and future directions 17| Health Equity Squad Mission, events, and future directions 20| Recommended Resources Recommended resources for future learning

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Issue 03 | 2020-21

Access to Treatment

Health Equity

11-12 | Meet the Squad

17 | Meet the Team

13 | COVID-19 Panel Viewing

18 | Health Inequity Article and Discussion

14 | American Medical College Application Service Meeting

19 | TED Talk/ Letters to Community Clinics 20 | Recommended Resources

General Health Education 15| Meet the Squad 16 | Healthy Living Checklist

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Mission Team #16

Public Health Magazine Issue 03 | April 2021

Squads and Members Access to Treatment Squad Meredith Munn Avantika Mitbander Ruthanne Teo Christina Aridi Umulkeir Mohammed General Health Education Squad Clarissa Savel Caroline Pernat Joseph Goyer Health Equity Squad Shriya Kakde Andrea Luna Sophia Ruiz Carla Rendon

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Public Health Mission Team

TEAM MISSION: Our mission as Mission Team 16 is to learn about the different aspects of public health and to bring awareness and change to improve health outcomes. Through our different squads focused on increased access to treatment, general health education, and health equity, we learned not only how to prioritize our own physical and mental health, but also how to help others. Though the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we engage with others and virtual formats were the primary method of communication, our mission team strived to make an impact on those in the ASU community and beyond.

EXPLORE Through squad events, as well as the several mission team events we hosted, we explored our individual missions, as well as the overall public health mission.

Our events all fell under one or more of the following categories including learning, service, networking, and advocacy. A learning experience that furthered our knowledge about why obesity is so prevalent in America was watching the What the Health documentary.

Also, we had a super informative and heartwarming panel with the rest of the Section 6 Mission Teams about Rare Disease Awareness that fulfilled all of the categories!

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IMPLEMENT All of us want to promote public health through our future careers.

Some of us want to directly work with patients as physicians, while others want to conduct research focused on Public Health. We all are going to take the ideas we learned about, such as serving our community and ways to live a healthy lifestyle, and share that with others throughout our lives.

4-3-2-1 Requirements for the Mission Team 4 Learning: -

What the Health Documentary Viewing/Ice Cream and Team Rare Disease Awareness Panel Healthy Living Checklist (General Health Education Squad) American Medical College Application Service Meeting (Access to Healthcare Squad) COVID-19 Vaccine Panel Viewing (Access to Healthcare Squad) Health Inequity Article and Discussion (Health Equity Squad) TED Talk/Letters to Community Clinics Event

3 Networking: -

Rare Disease Awareness Panel (with Section 6) Healthy Living Checklist (General Health Education Squad)with NGSC Letter Writing to Tempe St Luke’s Healthcare Workers

2 Service: -

Letter Writing to Tempe St Luke’s Healthcare Workers TED Talk/Letters to Community Clinics Event Writing Letters to Legislators Advocating for Policies to Help Those with a Rare Disease

1 Advocacy: -

Rare Disease Awareness Panel Healthy Living Checklist (General Health Education Squad)

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Ice Cream and Team/ What the Health Documentary Viewing Mission:

As one of the preliminary

events of the year, we wanted to combine one of our learning events with a team bonding event. It was an opportunity to get to know the people on our team and gain information about an important topic that affects public health.

Explore:

We hosted a virtual viewing party to watch the What the Health

documentary. Team members were invited to bring their own ice cream to foster social interactions during the event. After watching the documentary, we spent a few minutes discussing what we learned and how it impacted not only us as individuals, but also our community as a whole. We learned that the consumption of animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, etc) are very closely related to diseases such as cancer and asthma. Additionally learning that doctors are not sufficiently trained in nutrition and unfortunately patients ultimately suffer from the implications of this.

Implement:

During our discussion afterwards, it was clear that everyone was

shocked by the new information we had just been exposed to. For example, contrary to what we have been taught in school, humans are frugivores which means that meat is not a necessary requirement in our diet. Furthermore, we learned that minority communities were disproportionately affected by diseases like asthma and diabetes just because of the location of slaughterhouses which cause much pollution. As pre health students, we were grateful for the insight we gained regarding the manipulation and greed that is so prevalent in the system.

Therefore, we made sure to not only acknowledge the atrocities that exist in the food industry, but also make an effort to continue to raise awareness for it especially in the health field. As for the next steps, we plan on continuing to advocate for what is right through the intimate role we will play in the healthcare industry.

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Rare Disease Panel Mission Team Event Mission: Section 6 collaborated on this special event to highlight the importance of rare disease awareness, as well as to provide widespread education on ways to support those battling health issues. As a public health focused community, our goal was to create a safe space for students to share their personal health experiences with others. We wanted to not only educate people on various rare diseases, but also on ways to support others. We emphasized the importance of seeking help during tough times, and overall tried to promote the well-being of all individuals with varying levels of health.

Explore: Together, we hosted a Rare Disease Awareness Panel where 45 students were able to hear from a few of their courageous peers who shared their personal firsthand and secondhand experiences with rare diseases such as Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, Proteinuria, Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, and Lupus. Along with our student panelists, ASU counselors were present to provide more insight into ways we can provide support for others going through tough times, as well as the resources ASU provides for all students seeking support. Throughout the event, students were encouraged to ask the panelists questions ranging from the science behind their rare disease to the mental health side effects that come along with living with a rare disease. At the end of the panel, students were given the opportunity to apply their new knowledge by writing letters to their state government officials that encouraged more to be done in regards to widespread rare disease awareness and increased access to mental health education and resources for our communities.

Implement: Through

this event, we were able to leave with new knowledge about rare diseases and the effects health issues can have on individuals, friends, and family. The safe environment of this panel allowed students to share vulnerable experiences and touch on topics such as mental health that aren’t typically addressed within the community. Students were taught ways they can support others as well as resources out there to help us in times of need. This event gave us new perspectives that we can utilize by sharing resources and support with fellow community members. We will be that listening ear and comforting hand to hold for others who are going through their own battles. As students interested in pursuing careers in the medical field, we can take this knowledge with us into the real world to 9 provide human-centered, holistic care for all people.

Letter Writing for St. Lukes Hospital Mission: During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a strain on not only the healthcare system, but healthcare providers nationwide. As the numbers of those infected with the virus fluctuate, the toll on healthcare workers physically, mentally, and emotionally has been apparent. These essential workers face various challenges such as fear of contracting the virus, uncertainty about sufficient PPE, and more demanding work schedules. During times like this, it is important to support those who provide such vital services for the public and play a critical role in each and every one of us lives.

Explore: We, as a team, recognized this issue and came up with a plan to support our healthcare providers. We wrote heartfelt letters to essential workers in St. Lukes Hospital expressing our acknowledgement of the stresses they face, thankfulness for their efforts, and words of encouragement. It was important to our team that we make note of ALL players in the healthcare field who make it possible for a functioning system. We included those from a number of units including ,but not limited to, the emergency department, ICU, laboratory, admitting department, and maintenance staff. Not only did our team write these letters, but we also included some snacks as an additional token of our appreciation.

Implement: Through this experience, we were able to research each department and reflect on how much healthcare providers really do for us. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic face to face interaction was limited. However, we we were able to have make a connection with the workers through our letters and snacks. In the future, we hope to implement appreciation events for various units involved in the public health sphere.

Oftentimes we only take from those who provide such vital services and fail to to give and show gratitude. We understand the importance of showing appreciation and hope to continue to display these efforts in future events.

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Access to Treatment Squad Meet the squad!

I’m a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Sciences and I am passionate about expanding access to healthcare for underserved communities, especially for children. I hope to become a pediatrician someday and make an impact on children’s lives every single day!

Meredith Munn My name is Avantika Mitbander and I am a freshman majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. I have always been passionate about making a difference in others’ lives and I strive to spread acceptance and tolerance while ensuring everyone has equal access to healthcare and education. It is my long term goal to become a doctor.

Avantika Mitbander My name is Ruthanne Teo, and I’m a Junior majoring in Biological Sciences as a premed major. I’m on this mission team because I’m passionate about providing treatment to those in need as a doctor at a next to no cost.

Ruthanne Teo

I am a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering and I am passionate about engineering low-cost personalized medicines. In my future work after graduation, I hope to provide access to treatment for individuals in developing countries.

Christina Aridi 11

Access to Treatment Squad Hello! My name is Umulkeir Mohammed and I am a sophomore majoring in Biological Sciences with a pre med track. I am extremely passionate about providing healthcare and health education services to impoverished communities at a local, national, and international level. I strive to make sure that this goal is reflected in my current and future endeavors!

Umulkeir Mohammed

What We Do: The Access to Treatment Squad’s objective is to pave the way for equal access to care, especially for vulnerable populations. This semester, we focused on the impacts of the COVID pandemic by attending learning events to be the best possible advocates for at-risk groups. This helped us prepare ourselves for when we enter the healthcare field so we can promote access to treatment throughout our community.

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COVID-19 Panel Viewing Mission:

This past year was characterized by a global pandemic that took over

every aspect of our lives and forced us to adopt a “new normal”. As students, we were deeply affected not only by the devastation that rained on the country as a whole, but we also faced the implications that came from the transition to online school. This event was hosted in hopes of the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a vaccine. It gave students an opportunity to learn about the distribution process, opinions from physicians, and next steps we can take as a community to save lives.

Explore:

For this event, we viewed a webinar that was hosted by Covid 19

Conversations which focused on the realities of vaccines. We heard from professionals in the field regarding the next steps for ensuring COVID-19 vaccines reach the public, including overcoming vaccine hesitancy, ensuring a robust supply chain, and communicating clearly and consistently throughout.

Afterwards, we all joined a Zoom call to reflect on and discuss what we learned from the presentation.

Implement:

By having an open conversation about such a controversial topic,

we learned how to foster healthy discussions regarding important societal issues.

Additionally, we gained a new perspective on the supply side of vaccines, which consumers tend to neglect. This is a very relevant event because we are currently going through the process of vaccine distribution. By possessing the insight that we do, we will be able to play a crucial role in advocating for the vaccine in order to enter a new chapter in which COVID is not a worry.

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American Medical College Application Service Meeting

Mission:

Since we are the Public Health mission team, a majority of the members have an interest in pursuing medical school. Therefore, we attended this presentation in hopes of gaining more information about the process of how to apply and prepare for professional school.

Explore:

We attended a presentation hosted by the Medical Directive Program regarding the American Medical Student Application Service.

Students who had already gone through the process of applying gave us advice in the form of tips and tricks regarding building the best application. They covered everything from how to ask for letters of recommendation to what classes one should take during their undergraduate years.

Implement:

We will apply the information we learned by utilizing it when we apply for medical school. The presentation helped us become competitive candidates for the application process. We will be able to share this resource with others who need it and create a community of support while students embark on the somewhat stressful and overwhelming journey.

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General Health Education Meet the Squad!

Clarissa Savel I am a freshman majoring in Sustainable Food Systems and I am passionate about ensuring everyone has access to a healthy, sustainable, and culturally pertinent lifestyle. On the weekends, you can find me riding my bike, cooking plant-based meals, and volunteering at community gardens.

Joseph Goyer Prevention of health issues is the key to alleviating the strain placed both on families and on the healthcare system as a whole. Regularly people will go to the hospital and spend thousands on getting help with already solved health issues such as the flu. To solve this education is key, as many times a solution is available but people are unaware or misinformed.

Caroline Pernat I am a sophomore majoring in Medical Studies and minor in nutrition. I am currently planning to attend Naturopathic Medical School and spend my free time hiking, running, cooking and reading! I am passionate about making healthy food accessible to underserved communities.

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What We Do: The General Health Education squad is dedicated to providing the community with resources focused on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. We believe that empowerment and collaboration are essential tools to nurture and sustain a healthy lifestyle, both on an individual and community scale.

Healthy Living Checklist Mission: Keeping up with healthy habits isn’t always easy, especially in the midst of school, work, and all the other obstacles life throws our way. The Healthy Living Checklist was created to provide NGSC members with a simple list of actions that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Explore: For culture credit, participants were able to join a GroupMe, where we shared tips and reflections as we completed the checklist throughout the month of March.

This was a great way to keep each other motivated and inspired!

Implement: Throughout this process we learned how building a community dedicated practicing a healthy lifestyle and uplifting one another can be very influential in one’s personal lifestyle! Going forward, participants can adapt the ways others practice healthy living into their own routine.

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Health Equity Meet the Squad!

Shriya Kakde I am a freshman majoring in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior) and minoring in Global Health. Structural and conscious racism within healthcare has hurt the quality of health in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and the current pandemic has exacerbated this issue to an alarming extent, so this issue is more important than ever.

Sophia Ruiz I am currently a freshman majoring in nursing. My personal mission is to promote, protect, and preserve the health of my community and eventually expand to helping in-need communities around the world obtain the medical care and knowledge I believe is a right for all. I want to be a part of the growing number of healthcare worker advocating for the health needs of all people.

Andrea Luna I am a junior majoring in Transborder Studies and Political Science with a minor in Spanish. I am very passionate about immigrant rights and accessibility to basic health needs within the Latinx community, Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.

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What We Do: The Health Equity squad’s objective is to educate and inform the community on existing health inequalities, while working to mitigate the issues at hand through hands-on initiatives, collaboration, and problem-solving. This semester, our events included education opportunities for members to learn more about the topic as well as a service project to empower and thank community clinics for their work.

Health Inequity Article and Discussion Mission: Being informed about

health inequities and what causes them is extremely important, especially in today’s modern world.

The intention of this meeting was to obtain more information about the topic at hand, learning more about real life situations, and discussing it with members of the Health Equity Squad. Having strong background knowledge is the basis for being able to mitigate complex problems such as health inequities.

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Explore: On a Zoom call, members of the Health Equity Squad read the article “What are Health Inequities?” by Unite For Sight and discussed the main points of it. It was very interesting to hear different perspectives on the topic as well as potential solutions to work towards it.

Graphic below: University of Colorado, Boulder

Implement: Participants of the event felt a lot more knowledgeable of the topic.

Having the discussion opened more avenues to talk about the problem, as well as to bring more awareness to it. Learning about possible solutions and points of action helped us think about what we personally could do going forward, to mitigate the issue.

TED Talk/Letters to Community Clinics Mission: The purpose of this learning and service night was to become more educated on the purpose and function of community healthcare workers and clinics in areas where health inequity is more prevalent. After learning about the core causes of health inequity such as unequal allocation of resources and power during our last team activity, we wanted to dive into some strategies that help restore health equity in areas with less access to health services.

Explore/Implement: As a squad, we watched the TED talk, Community-Based Innovation for Health,

by Karen Teitelbaum and had a discussion about some of our key takes aways from the video. A common theme most of us highlighted was the impact community healthcare workers have on community members in areas placed at a disadvantage. It was interesting to see how communities located near one another can greatly differ in terms of average health and quality of life simply because they lack adequate funding or resources to live a healthy life. After learning about the work of healthcare workers in community clinics, we then individually wrote and sent out letters to community clinics in the Phoenix area to express our gratitude and share some of our newly learned knowledge. Taking part in these activities allowed us to become more aware of some of the health services and resources out there, especially within our own communities.

Moving forward, we can become more involved with some of these services that 19 focus on repairing health equity.

Recommended Resources Our mission team has compiled a list here on recommended resources for future learning. This list is from events that we did throughout the year, and contains ideas for potential podcasts, documentaries, service opportunities, and community partners. Our hope is that this list will help you explore public health as much as it helped us!

Articles ● What are Health Inequities?

Documentaries ● What the Health ● Ted talk: Community-Based Innovation for Health Webinars ● COVID-19 Conversations panel ● American Medical Student Application Service

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Community Partners ● Organizations ○ AARDA ○ St. Luke’s hospital ○ Amistades ○ Aliento ● Health Professionals ○ Amy Wasserbauer PhD, CEDS, ASU counselor ○ Kristi Stuckwisch, LCSW LISAC, ASU counselor ○ Tom Gagen, former CEO of Sutter Medical Center Service opportunities ● Advocate for autoimmune diseases through AARDA: https://www.aarda.org/get-invol ved/action/voter-voice/ ● Write letters to St. Luke’s hospital

Mission Team #16 Mission Team Public Health Next Generation Service Corps

Thanks for reading!