By Neha Dubli, BA
Entering the belly of the APHA convention center was quite similar to Odysseus’ journey returning home. I desperately wanted to find my Shangri-La at APHA after feeling lost for the last couple of months.
As the impending graduation deadline approaches, and work plans regarding my job search emerge, I have started to feel quite exhausted and a bit cynical regarding my role in the field of public health at large. I have been questioning how much legitimacy I truly have to implement programs, what kind of impact I want to create in my career, and overall how I can carve a role for myself among these public health giants. Suffice it to say I was feeling more than insecure before experiencing all that APHA has to offer.
Immediately after receiving my schedule and creating a strategy so as not to feel overwhelmed by the vast number of sessions and 12,000 people, I was able to sculpt out my specific interests and papers being presented. I was instantly moved by the humility and passion expressed by outgoing APHA President Joyce Gaufin. The sessions on the Affordable Care Act and Maternal and Child Health refueled my inspiration to fight policy changes and social disparities. Other sessions on International Health, abortion disparities in the US, social marketing techniques, child health emergency preparedness, and United Nations Millennium Development Goals updates informed me about many changes about to unfold through APHA and other organizations, and finally I was able to gain enough confidence to network through the various social hours and the Expo.
If there is one thing I am glad I was able to overcome, it is the ability to realize no matter what field of public health I go into, the smallest impact is still a ripple effect in the large pond. I have a community I belong to, and they are my support system for any future doubts and concerns.
Neha Dubli is a second-year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health and Health Education and Communication. She plans to graduate in May 2015. Her interests include labor/delivery services, preterm birth disparities, sexual health, and immigrant population health policies. She also loves exploring NOLA by bike, practicing yoga, and eating.
