By Sarah Short, MPH
APHA this year (2013) was full of new experiences that showed me an entirely unknown side of public health.
Since last year, my focus has drastically changed since I have recently been accepted into medical school. This year, I aimed to learn more about clinical integration of public health practices for underserved populations, and I was very pleased to learn that this field was booming at APHA this year! There were so many knowledgeable speakers who had valuable information to share, and I had the opportunity to network with some of the innovative leaders of both the public health and medical worlds.
The knowledge I obtained this year surely has given me a stronger public health foundation that will be unique (but very important) among my medical school peers. The most valuable talk I attended began with a physician and public health practitioner repeating a phrase that so many of us hear every day on television ads: “ask your doctor.” This session focused on the likelihood of physicians prescribing the exact medications (or at least the same class of medications) that patients suggest. This discussion really got me thinking about the number of patients who might ask to be prescribed some sort of addictive medication when they do not really need it. This highlights a huge need that I am sure is under-recognized in many clinics. It is important that physicians truly understand their patient needs and histories in order to correctly prescribe them appropriate medications.
Overall, I was very impressed with APHA this year. I got to see things from a new point of view, and I was very happy to learn that my needs as a future physician are so clearly met in the public health world. I am excited to take the next step in my career, and APHA makes me even more comfortable with taking that step.
Sarah Short, an MCHLT Scholar, completed her MPH, with a concentration in MCH and Health Education and Communication, in December 2013. She currently works at a shelter for homeless youth, and is starting medical school in the fall.
