-The Path Forward-

Since May of 2023, I have used Health in Perspective to explore the ins-and-outs of the health policy space. From exploring policies (such as the resident physician shortage act and maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting), care systems (including organ donation policy and government involvement in care for renal disease), and health determinants (such as voting and access to food and healthcare), Health in Perspective has always been about bringing light to important debates and topics within the larger public health space, focusing on how and why policies are created, and the disparate effects of those policies on different communities. I hope the articles I posted every week or two have been informative; they have definitely informed how I think about public health and how I approach public health topics and research.

Moving forward, I hope to use this platform to focus on my experiences within public health while weaving together ongoing issues as I have over the past year. Later this week, I will be traveling with the organization Worldwide Healing Hands where I hope to put my public health knowledge into action serving the indigenous Batwa community in Southwest Uganda. (1) The Batwa people maintain a traditional lifestyle but face poor health outcomes, possibly due to their limited access to healthcare and education. Collaborating with local providers and government officials, I hope to survey this community to identify pressing needs and develop evidence-based solutions to reduce existing disparities in the future.

Starting this Spring, as I take health policy and management courses at the Gillings School at UNC, I hope to use this platform to highlight current and emerging issues in public health and explore the field through my lived experiences. Through classes, activities, and an exploration of public health via a clinical and health systems lens, I hope to gain a broader understanding of the field and the applications of public health in reducing national and global disparities surrounding healthcare quality and access. If you are interested, stay tuned!