Hotel Galway: you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave!

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Ní slán é seo, feicfidh sé go luath thú! – This is not goodbye, it’s see you soon! The time I’ve spent in Ireland has flown by, yet the memories of the island, the people I’ve met, and the research I conducted will stay with me forever. Despite my brief 8-week stay, Galway has truly become my home more than any other place I’ve lived. In my previous blog post, I spoke of the remarkable luck and wonderful experiences I’ve had on this journey, and the trend continued until the very end. Just look at the double rainbow I caught on my last solo day here!

Marveled at this double rainbow on my last solo day in Galway.

As my fourth week arrived, so did the long-awaited rain and clouds, giving me a taste of a “true Irish summer.” I embarked on some grand adventures, traversing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Connemara mountains via boat, train, bus, and on foot. Moments that will always live with me include learning the traditional Irish sport of Hurling, taking a dip in the Corrib River alongside a family of swans, visiting Europe’s oldest restaurant, and exploring the grounds of Kylemore Abbey and its beautiful and expansive gardens. However, above all, I made it my mission to explore every nook and cranny of Galway, becoming so familiar with its streets that my colleagues jokingly suggested I should lead the walking tours offered for tourists. With daylight extending until 11pm, I had ample time to immerse myself in the city’s charm and find some hidden gems during the evening hours.

On one of my favorite evening walking routes.

Engaging in research here at the Health Promotion Research Centre (HPRC) on a global scale has opened my eyes to crucial aspects of children’s health that matter most to them. Specifically, my focus has centered around a cross-national study called, “The Health Behaviors of School Children,” (HBSC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO), encompassing data collection from 51 different countries. I have primarily learned to analyze the survey responses specific to Irish children ages 10-17, so we could evaluate their priority concerns. I created an infographic to be disseminated to researchers involved in the study on an international scale, participating schools, and policy makers who are interested in the findings. This infographic highlights the top 10 health priorities for Irish children from the HBSC 2022 national report.  The infographic describes six engagement workshops with primary and post-primary school children. Through this deliverable, I have learned to turn verbal and written information provided by children into a useful infographic that is easily digestible and visually appealing to a wide range of audiences.

Ranked priority health issues for Irish children.

I also created a report-output and infographic on my own using the 2022 HBSC data to analyze food security and its relationship to wellbeing, with a focus on potential confounding variables such as sex and age group. It has been truly fascinating to observe the association between food insecurity and happiness, perceived health, and quality of life. Additionally, I contributed to a qualitative research study called “Reducing the exposure of children and adolescents to digital marketing of unhealthy foods” (ClickBite), where I learned how to develop interview protocols for children ages 2-17. This aspect of the work is entirely new to me, as my previous experience did not involve protocol development for research studies.

An exciting opportunity during my time here was being accepted to present my poster on the research findings from my Honors Thesis at the annual Health Promotion Research Conference in Galway, Ireland! The conference was hosted in collaboration with the Department of Health, Health Service Executive, and the Association for Health Promotion Ireland. Not only was I able to present research that is extremely important to myself, but I was also able to network with seasoned professionals both internationally and locally. It was a great privilege to learn from distinguished individuals including Ireland’s Minister of Health, Chief Medical Officer, Director of Health Iceland, and many more! The conference’s focus was on strengthening intersectoral health promotion action through building healthy communities. The presentations covered a range of topics including public health and wellbeing, the role of health in all policies, listening to voices of local communities, and building sustainable health communities, to name a few. I hope to continue contributing to impactful research that affects vulnerable populations on a global scale through my public health professional journey!

Presenting my thesis at the Annual Health Promotion Conference!

The best part of my experience by far were the people I was surrounded by and the family I’ve made here. They adopted me without question, taught me the language, traditions, and showed the best parts of Galway: my new favorite place on Earth.

A quote from my close colleague is “The Health Promotion Research Centre and Galway itself is like Hotel California, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” I believe this represents how I feel about my Galway, I am checking out for the time being, but it will always be with me, and I will most definitely be back! Feicfidh mé go luath thú – See you soon Galway!

Cheers,

Dawn Ritzwoller

 

My Galway HPRC Team and Family!

Challenging Myself in a Spanish Speaking Environment

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I am completing my practicum with Ipas LAC. Ipas LAC addresses reproductive health and justice needs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The team I am working with is specifically addressing access needs along the US-Mexico border. Before pursuing a Global Health MPH at Gillings, I was a medical assistant and trainer in reproductive health clinics in San Diego. This practicum has allowed me to build on my previous experience addressing the reproductive health needs of border populations by utilizing the skills I gained in the first year of my MPH. My Ipas LAC teammates are primarily Spanish speaking, and this has been my greatest personal challenge through the practicum. Though I have worked with Spanish-speaking patients in the past, working and collaborating in Spanish almost exclusively has been a new challenge. The team I work with is international, hailing from Central and South America and Mexico. Working with such a diverse team has been a unique learning opportunity. I have applied many skills I learned throughout the previous school year, particularly communication skills and decentering my cultural perspective.

Some of the resulting artwork from a tie-dye party we had.

So far in my practicum, I have had the privilege of meeting with multiple teams of community leaders. Together we have strategized about feasible and appropriate resource allocation in the region to maximize patient safety and access.

My dog, Goose, cooling off mid-trail.

Outside these meetings, I have primarily been improving existing English language resource materials for clarity and accuracy. This has been a more sensitive project than I first anticipated because of the challenge of maintaining the voice of the original Spanish language materials through translation. I am also cognizant of the variety in educational attainment and English proficiency of potential utilizers of the resources. As the border is a culturally diverse region, I know that non-native English or Spanish speakers may still seek English language materials. I am careful to ensure that materials are accessible to non-native English speakers through clear visualizations and simple language. Ipas LAC places a particular emphasis on de-stigmatization and encouraging self-sufficiency in their materials. As someone who has previously worked in highly regulated clinical settings, the less institutionalized perspective that professionals outside of the United States bring to access efforts has expanded my understanding of possible avenues of intervention.

Goose and I recovering at the top of Occoneechee Mountain.

When not working on my practicum or my other research work, I am trying to get to know North Carolina better. Most evenings, I take my dog for a run or a bike ride, which he loves. Unfortunately for my car’s interior, his favorite thing to do in the heat is roll in whatever mud puddle he can find. I’ve also thrown a couple of bonfires and done some tie-dying with friends this summer.

– Maddy

Nurturing Health through Nutrition: Building Bridges between Clinical Expertise, Field Trips, and Community Engagement

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As my fulfilling journey in the field of Public Health and Nutrition practicum comes to a close, I reflect on the remarkable experiences that have shaped my path. Throughout my practicum, I witnessed the seamless integration of clinical expertise, field trips, and community engagement, forging strong bridges between them. This holistic approach has revealed the transformative power of nutrition and public health in promoting well-being.

And let’s not forget the luck I have in enjoying fresh avocados every day from my friend’s garden, reminding me of the abundance of healthy food options available to us.

Avocados from the garden.

Clinical Expertise: Nurturing Health from the Inside Out

Within clinical settings, under the guidance of Dr. Caro Roman, we had the privilege of assessing and addressing the nutritional needs of diverse patient populations. Together, we developed algorithms for managing conditions such as dysphagia, gastrostomy/jejunostomy, and created personalized artisanal diets for patients at Clinica de la Merced. These innovative approaches ensured that patients with specific nutritional requirements received optimal care.

A Desire to Help, Beyond Material Constraints: Assessing nutrition status and delivering education in Lloa, Pichincha, Ecuador.

These experiences reinforced the importance of evidence-based practices in delivering optimal nutritional care and highlighted the vital role nutrition plays in patients’ recovery and overall well-being. Our collaboration and innovative approaches have contributed to improved patient outcomes and enhanced the quality of care provided.

Medical Brigades: Empowering Communities through Nutrition

Participating in medical brigades provided a platform to directly engage with communities in need and make a tangible impact on their well-being. From assessing the nutritional status of individuals of all ages to delivering personalized nutritional counseling, I witnessed the transformative power of education and support. These brigades, conducted in vulnerable areas, such as Lloa and Pifo, Pichincha, offered communities their first exposure to formal nutrition education and invaluable access to professional guidance.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work has been the appreciation I have received from individuals who have never had the opportunity to connect with a nutritionist or a professional in this field. Being able to offer them guidance and support and witnessing the positive impact it has on their health fills my heart with gratitude. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of bridging the gap between clinical expertise and the community, ensuring that nutrition is accessible to all.

Contrasting Water Quality: The polluted Rio Machangara in Pichincha, Ecuador.

Water Quality and Public Health: Safeguarding Communities’ Well-being

Immersive field trips to breathtaking locations like Lago San Pablo and the Río Machángara unveiled a profound correlation between water quality and public health. Through hands-on water quality testing and assessments, I witnessed the impact of contaminated water sources on the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated risks. Studies conducted in Ecuador’s Lake and River areas have specifically highlighted the heightened vulnerability of indigenous communities and their children living near these bodies of water. Addressing water contamination becomes an imperative step in preventing malnutrition and improving the overall health of the community.

Contrasting Water Quality: The Lake San Pablo in Imbabura, a popular tourist destination in Ecuador.

These eye-opening experiences deepened my understanding of the environmental factors that shape nutritional outcomes and underscored the need for comprehensive interventions that consider both nutrition and water quality. We observed a profound correlation between contaminated water sources and the prevalence of malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations living near the Lago San Pablo and the Río Machángara. Notably, the Río Machángara exhibited higher levels of pollution compared to other water sources. These findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing water quality issues and their detrimental impact on community health, particularly in areas like the Río Machángara.

I am immensely grateful for the invaluable opportunity to work with La Universidad San Francisco de Quito and learn from the expertise of Ma. Belén Ocampo and Daniela Chiquito. Their guidance has been instrumental in shaping my learning journey and has contributed significantly to my growth in the field.

– Mili