Several MPH students recently attended the joint CityMatCH Leadership & MCH Epidemiology Conference (September 17 – 19, 2014, in Phoenix, AZ) and were asked to share a few thoughts about their experiences. What follows is one of these reflections.
by Helena Likaj, BA
Flying out to CityMatCH I was very excited. I was excited to gather with new faces in a new city to share our passions and discuss the amazing work that is being done within Epidemiology and MCH. The moment the Conference Welcome began I knew that the excitement was well warranted.
Throughout the conference I was touched deeply with the words that presenters and speakers graced us with. So much that I decided write a few quotes down so I could remember them throughout my public health journey but also share them with others.
“ Float before you swim.”
“Anything that can be done can be undone.”
“Rock the boat.”
“What do we owe this kid? This kid did not create these consequences.”
“Zip code matters more than genetic code.”
“You can’t cure a lifetime of illness in nine months.”
These quotes probably spoke to the audience in a number of different ways but without a doubt we all left inspired by these words. Through these quotes and a number of other discussions, I left Arizona and came back to New Orleans with a number of thoughts.
We must be ready to understand the needs and wants of community members, face opposition head on, we must remember the importance of the life course perspective and promote a healthy lifestyle early in the life of a child, we must break down and chip away at the norms of society that have lead to such great inequality and disparity among individuals, and we must fight for the right of equality and access to a healthy life for all regardless of your gender, race, level of education, and financial situation. These are the ideas with which I left CityMatCH and these are the ideas that I will carry with me throughout my professional and personal life.
Helena Likaj is a second-year MPH student and MCHLT Scholar, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2015. Her interests include adolescent reproductive health.
