PD2065: Social Justice Awareness and Global Health Experiences
PD2065 was designed to help students better understand the social determinants of health and health access in a global context. This year, the international study abroad was adjusted to be a local project with Closing the Health Gap, but the context is still crucial in a global pandemic. Over the course of the class, we completed GAPS training (Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety), as well as the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to assess our stage of intercultural development. This was my second time doing both of these activities and it was interesting to see growth since last spring, especially as I was being intentional in the ways and areas I could (and still will) grow through.
Our community project with Closing the Health Gap was focused on their goals of “Eat Right, Move Right, Live Right,” a campaign that equips community residents to take ownership and craft solutions to improve their health. Stations included Ask the Healthcare Professional, Strengths Assessment, Childcare activities, Movement/Dance, and Healthy Cooking/Living. The station I worked was the Healthy Cooking, which was sponsored by New Leaf Kitchen. I learned a lot about food substitutions and making complex cooking accessible, as well as the barriers many face when it comes to cooking.
I took this course because the last four years have been full of experiences heavily focused on social justice and I strongly believe my future in healthcare is going to be heavily influenced by the topics we have discussed in class. Disparities in healthcare actions and provider-patient interactions are a systemic issue than need to be address on federal, state, and local levels; this begins with each and every one of us.
