Photos by Linda Kastleman
(Clockwise from left): Dr. Geni Eng (center), professor and capstone adviser, attends a planning session with students and their community partners; Dr. Laura Linnan, professor and adviser (far right), listens to a community partner describe a project and invite capstone students to be part of it; Meg Landfried (left) poses with capstone teaching assistants Melissa Cox (center) and Christine Agnew-Brune during a final presentation of team projects.
Schiro, PhD, program leader and
PROGRAM BENEFITS
public health needs, working with
assistant professor of general
Although capstone is the culminating
capstone partners gives them first-
and acute care surgery at the
academic element of the Master of
hand experience and a taste of what
UNC School of Medicine, says
Public Health degree, its benefits
to expect in their future jobs.
the program initially presented
are far-reaching, both for student
lectures about driving to between
and community partner.
30 and 60 teens. Being closer to the young drivers’
“For the community organizations,
An added benefit, Schiro says, is that the program exposes students to potential employers and provides
capstone students offer a fresh per-
students with work references
ages (15 and 16 years old), she says,
spective on how each program runs,”
outside academia.
capstone students were able to
Horowitz says. “It certainly forces
“Capstone is a fusion of academic
identify ways to keep teens more
us to change and improve. When
instruction and real-world endeavors
engaged. Not only were the teens
you have people asking questions
that prepares MPH candidates to
divided into smaller groups for
and thinking outside the box, it will
better meet the public health needs
direct interaction, but they also
inform the changes that we make to
they will encounter in their careers,”
were given more activities.
our own programs.”
Landfried says. “The program is
In the future, Schiro says, she
Master’s candidates also benefit
a unique opportunity to carry out
hopes capstone students will help
from the capstone experience.
important field work while having a
expand the program and take Safe
Although time spent in Gillings
wonderful, supportive safety net.”
Teens Think First beyond Cleveland
School classrooms gives students
County to the rest of North Carolina.
a solid foundation for meeting
—Whitney L.J. Howell
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