I am fortunate to have pursued multiple employment and volunteer positions during my time at Pitt. These different opportunities have shown me how public and global health rely upon and affect multiple disciplines. For example, my research experience has included studies about cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are increasingly prevalent around the world. As a Teaching Assistant, I have gotten more experience teaching and tutoring students, increasing my health education skills. As a Patient Care Technician, I saw healthcare from an employee point of view in addition to my clinical perspectives as a student. My group exercise instructor experience also helped me provide wellness opportunities to Pitt’s campus.
These skills helped me as well as the ones I gained from employment and volunteer opportunities more directly related to global health. My Medical Services Internship in Italy helped me see a different healthcare system and understand the need for constant evaluation and change to implement best practices, practices that increase quality of life first and foremost. As a Bridging the Gaps Intern, I gained greater awareness of global health issues in Pittsburgh, specifically food insecurity and sedentary behavior. This past winter, I also started a United Nations Online Volunteer Position with CAEPA Cameroon (Community Agriculture and Environmental Protection Association, Cameroon). As a result, I have been able to help the organization write grant proposals relevant to gender equality, health, and environmental sustainability.
