Students in Action
MPH in San Salvador, Bahamas
MPH students, faculty and staff have made multiple trips to San Salvador, Bahamas where they have conducted community needs assessment regarding fruit and vegetable intake and access to healthier food options. The MPH students also went to the local elementary school where they conducted a nutrition focus presentation, was able to teach the students at the school how to plant herbs at home and experienced Commonwealth Day where they heard from the students at the school about different countries and cultures! Additionally, MPH students started a community garden at the Gerace Research Institute that can be used for any community member on the island.
MPH & OT Collaboration - Delivering Evidence-Based Program in our Community!
Public Health faculty member, Dr. Elizabeth Hathaway, partnered with Dr. Elicia Cruz and students from the UTC Occupational Therapy (OT) program as part of an interdisciplinary project to deliver an evidence-based program, Matter of Balance (MOB), throughout Chattanooga. MOB is an 8-session program, structured group intervention that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels among people with disabilities and geriatric populations.
Our first year MPH students were certified by OT faculty member, Dr. Erin Melhorn earlier in January. Both MPH and OT students facilitated the MOB sessions across nine sites in the Chattanooga community. A special thank you goes out to the following community partners:
Ridgedale Baptist Church Purpose Point Community Health John Calvin Apartments YMCA Downtown YMCA Cleveland Silvertree Seniors The Bridge at Ooltewah Caldstead Foundation Community Orange Grove
MPH & Austin Hatcher Foundation
Public Health students were able to provide nutrition education to the kids participating in camps at Austin Hatcher Foundation. They taught students about the importance of a balanced meal, what a healthy plate looks like, created art by using different fruits and vegetables as well as created a few healthy snacks such as a green smoothie and no-bake protein balls! Our students had a fantastic time and looking forward to continue our partnership with Austin Hatcher!
MPH Student Serves in the Dominic Republic
UTC MPH Cohort 2022 Student Emory Evans went to the Dominican Republic where she participated in an amputee hand-fitting as well as needs assessment for portable water filtration systems. She traveled as a Rotarian Intern under the guidance of Dr. Catherine Colby, who was once a professor at UTC. Check out these articles to learn more about the work she was part of!