By Kendra Gardette, BS
As a first time attendee of AMCHP, I can say my experience was both exciting and beneficial compared to other public health related conferences I have attended in the past. The conference offered ample learning opportunities, starting with the skills building sessions, and ending with the closing session speaker Ian Watlington.
During the skills building sessions, it was an eye opening experience to use diagrams such as Fish bone, and Impact Matrix with state health department professionals. This was a great opportunity to observe how large ideas are broken down into sections and how these ideas progress into a larger scheme.
I think my favorite session of this entire conference was the speaker at the closing session, Ian Watlington. Not only was his story of being an advocate for individuals with disabilities inspiring, but the delivery of his message made the session both amusing and moving. In short, his main message was that we must not only advocate for healthcare quality but we must collectively take action to address these issues in public health. Overall, Ian’s speech was authentic, enlightening, and nothing short of amazing.
In summary, the conference gave me tremendous hope that the future of public health is bright and ever igniting because of the many health professionals all over the U.S. that contribute in every realm to public health. The 2015 AMCHP conference reinforced why I personally want to serve Maternal and Child Health populations, and refreshed my excitement of working in the field in the near future to contribute to great changes.
Kendra Gardette is a second year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal & Child Health and Health Education & Communication, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2015. Her interests include sexual health, intimate partner violence and health disparities among minority women. She also enjoys reading, crafting and yoga.
