The Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, through its teaching, research, and service initiatives, generates knowledge about the social and behavioral determinants of health and applies that knowledge to the design, delivery and evaluation of disease prevention and health promotion programs.
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Haley Jackson will be completing her requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion program in December 2012. She is from Marietta, Georgia and attended Harrison High School.
Why did you choose to get your degree in public health? Why did you choose your particular concentration?
I always knew that I wanted to be in a field in which I was working hands-on with people of different backgrounds on a daily basis. Between this interest, my love of volunteering, and my attraction to science public health seemed like the perfect fit. As a public health professional, I look forward to advocating for those whose voice may not be heard, educating those who make health related public policies, and promoting behaviors, knowledge, and skills necessary for optimal health.
What achievements/awards during your time here are you most proud of?
During my senior year, I received the service award for the Health Promotion and Behavior department. I have been volunteering for Special Olympics for 9 years and have served on Special Olympics at UGA’s executive board for 2 years. It is a great honor to be recognized externally for something that gives you so much joy internally.
In fall of 2011, Special Olympics at UGA received a grant of $4500 to adapt a local playground in Athens Clarke County with universal access to better suit those children with physical and intellectual disabilities. This grant has allowed Special Olympics at UGA to create a bond with the local school system and has opened the door to future endeavors within the school system.
What will you do for your internship?
In the fall of 2012, I will be in Harrisburg Hospital in the inner city. My internship has a focus on community health and I will be working with local assisted living centers and churches to create a community connection in order to promote proactive care and prevention instead of reactive care, as in the case of an emergency room visit. Additionally, I will be working with a Type II diabetes prevention program for Harrisburg’s Hispanic population and working to create a stronger connection between Harrisburg Hospital and area homeless shelters to improve patient care.
In terms of learning about health, what do you hope to achieve during your internship experience?
I am looking forward to working with a wide array of different populations all working together to attain one goal- optimal health. Additionally, I look forward to conducting needs assessments in local communities, so that Harrisburg Hospital and local agencies can create programs and provide services specifically for these communities’ needs. I hope to advocate for those whose voice may be unheard and create health programs that best suit their individual needs in hopes of improving and maintaining health.
Describe any other volunteer or practicum experiences that were especially meaningful.
My first practicum was at AIDS Athens, where I was able to recognize and see first-hand the specific needs of those living with HIV/AIDS. This experience opened my eyes to the effects that a chronic disease poses not only on the affected person, but on the family members who surround and support this person. This has led me to attaining a more conscious mind when working in the public health field, recognizing both the mental and physical causes of effects of illness on the support system of an individual.
My subsequent practicum was at Odyssey Hospice. It is through this practicum that my belief about the need for supportive and individualized end of life care was strengthened. With an aging population, it is imperative that the public health sector is able and ready to accommodate both the mental, physical, and emotional health issues faced by those who are aging. During this practicum, I introduced a doll therapy program, as a source of non-pharmaceutical therapy, to the facility and conducted a doll drive in order to attain dolls for Odyssey’s patients.
What do you consider to be the highlights of your time at UGA?
I spent my last 2 spring breaks on Alternative Spring Break in Charleston, SC and Philadelphia, PA. In Charleston, the focus was ageism. We visited a foster home for children who have been rescued from abusive homes and spent time at an assisted living facility. In Philadelphia, we worked at the Philadelphia Arc and Developmental Disabilities Corporation where we spent time with adult with intellectual disabilities, both at the facility and on trips around the city. Each trip was a week long, consisted of 40 hours of volunteer work, and each left an everlasting impact on my heart.
As far as extracurricular highlights, my time volunteering with Special Olympics at UGA has served as the highlight of my stint at UGA. I first encountered Special Olympics at UGA during the prom event in December of 2008 and I have been hooked ever since. I have served as the adapted physical education chairperson and president on the executive board. The population served by Special Olympics at UGA is one that is brave, energetic, and loving and is a group that I will always keep close to my heart.
My academic highlights while at UGA include taking a solid and hazardous waste management class taught by Dr. Zimeri of Environmental Health and a leading EPA official. The instructors taught this content-rich class in an interactive manner that allowed me to gain interest in the topic and the ability to relate the information learned in the class to public health situations.
What do you want to do after graduation?
As of now, I am leaving all options open. I am very interested in teaching Special Education, possibly through Teach for America and am open to moving anywhere I am called and starting fresh. I most enjoy working with underserved populations such as the aging population and those with intellectual disabilities.
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you live your legacy?
We’re more alike than different- a simple statement, but one that holds merit in every aspect of life. This is the motto of the National Down Syndrome Congress. It is easy to look at the student next to you or the person you are serving at a homeless shelter and think how different they are from you. It is easy to think that the older woman you meet at a nursing home or a Special Olympics athlete is so different than you, but in reality, we are all so alike. Each and every person wants respect; each and every person wants to succeed; each and every person wants to live the best life they can. It is my goal in life to promote this concept, to promote respect, and to promote inclusion. Through Special Olympics and my volunteer work, I promote each of these ideals and encourage others to delve into new, possibly uncomfortable situations in order to realize that in the end we’re all more alike than different.
