Following the COVID-19 pandemic, public health communication methods faced passionate scrutiny, especially in the United States. This scrutiny prompted an examination of public health campaigns, revealing the untapped potential of humor in communicating public health messages. Within marketing, humor is used to create positive associations and generate emotional connections with audiences, echoing the goals of public health campaigns, which strive to distribute health information and encourage positive behavior changes. This project assesses the present role of humor in public health communication, seeking to improve strategies for promoting health in more engaging and impactful ways.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
Every year, approximately 5,000 children in Oregon interact with the foster care system. Many of these children experience abuse, neglect, proximity to drug and alcohol addiction, food insecurity, and homelessness. Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children work concurrently with lawyers and social workers to support children, evaluating their unique situations and recommending progressive next steps. Drawing on my internship with CASA of Marion County during Spring 2024, I will evaluate the role of CASAs in relation to comparable programs and the long-term implications they can have on children in the Foster System.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
Burnout has become an increasingly common problem in the working world. Among the programmatic interventions available to address burnout and improve workplace wellness, organizations such as Trauma-Informed Oregon (TIO) have promoted trauma-informed practices within institutions. This presentation draws upon my internship and directed research with TIO. In it, I will review the findings on how trauma-informed approaches can help anticipate and repair vicarious trauma in high-stress professional healthcare environments. Further, I will share the results of my own work on developing culturally responsive strategies for various population cohorts to better facilitate the adoption of these practices to enhance workplace well-being.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
Sexuality and gender are highly politicized dimensions of public health. In October, 2023, the Oregon Board of Education approved new K-12 Health Education Standards and Curricula. What are the challenges and opportunities facing effective implementation by 2025? In Spring 2024, WU will host the Willamette Sexual Health Education Symposium, bringing together community members, school teachers and administrators, and government agencies. Participants will discuss implementation, health communication, and teacher supports. This presentation draws upon my internship with the Symposium, including collecting community data. Further, it will situate Oregon in relation to other states and best practices scholarship within the U.S.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
The US is in the midst of a mental health (MH) crisis compounded by shortages in MH providers and facilities. Multiple social determinants are involved and all age cohorts are impacted. What role can the regional hospital play in addressing MH? This presentation focuses on the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Over the years, Samaritan Health has innovated in healthcare and prioritized empathy. How have their outpatient MH facilities embodied quality care and equitable community engagement? In this presentation, I draw upon my internship during Spring 2024 together with scholarship on best practices in the community provision of MH services
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
We’ve all experienced loneliness, so how much of a public health crisis can it be? Loneliness is increasing in the U.S. However, loneliness is more than a negative feeling. Systemic isolation is harmful, complicating health outcomes in individuals and undermining productivity societally. How should public health systems identify who is affected by loneliness? During Spring of 2024, I interned at Marion County Health and Human Services and reviewed scholarship on best practices in the implementation of a Social Connection Assessment and interventions to reduce isolation. In this presentation, I share the results of this review and its local relevance.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
There is a woeful maternal mortality crisis in the US. In Oregon, the maternal mortality rate over doubled from 1999-2019, albeit at a lower rate than seen nationally. What sorts of programmatic interventions are known to prevent/reduce this outcome? How widely implemented and available are they? This presentation will share findings from my research on distinct types of interventions: prenatal and postpartum health education/care and culturally competent birthing support in the form of licensed Doulas and Midwives. It will draw on scholarship and internship experience with provider programs, and consider the importance of increasing and integrating such efforts.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
Climate change (CC) produces Environmental Hazards & Threats (EHHT) to population health, yet who is most vulnerable to these risks and how can healthcare best address their distinctive needs? In many communities, local free clinics provide vital health services to those lacking adequate access to healthcare. Salem Free Clinic is committed to providing healthcare to the uninsured population in Marion and surrounding counties. In this presentation, I draw upon my internship at the Salem Free Clinic, and a review of best practices to be implemented through emergency preparedness and patient/clinician awareness.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
Can corporations benefit community health and wellbeing? This presentation focuses on the Nike Community Team Program, a program that partners with local non-profit organizations & schools in lower income neighborhoods and school districts in the United States. It provides schools, as well as community leaders and members with insight, activities, & supplies (including sports supplies) to aid activities and improve the quality of life. I draw upon my internship experience as a Nike Community Ambassador (NCA) of Region 129. In addition, I also relate the Nike program to best practices in public-private partnerships in community engagement. Mainly because understanding the functionality of the company requires us to remain consistent as a private entity, but, on the other hand, reach out & connect with other public organizations & programs.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
This thesis explores the establishment of a Spanish-speaking writers group at Willamette University, drawing from the successful model at 'Salem’s Seniors and Center for 50+'. Insights from Burt Kanner, the group's founder, guide its adaptation. This research delves into public health theories regarding storytelling's positive impact on mental health and community cohesion. Recommendations emphasize the importance of creating an inclusive environment to foster belonging and interpersonal connection. Ultimately, this initiative enhances university inclusivity, addresses the mental health needs of Spanish-speaking students, and promotes community engagement and well-being.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu & Huike Wen
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
The US maternal mortality rate is considerably higher than in other industrialized countries, and within that average, the rate for Black women is three times that for white women. This presentation assesses potential impacts of incorporating culturally congruent care, specifically through the presence of Doulas in the delivery room as a strategy to mitigate maternal mortality rates. In it, I draw upon my past internship experience with BLKBRY, a Seattle-based Doula center, and research on the unique challenges faced by black women during childbirth, examining societal, systemic, and healthcare-related factors contributing to adverse outcomes.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership
In this presentation, I will draw on experiences from my internship at the HIV Alliance to discuss harm reduction, a notoriously controversial practice. I will start by providing a profile of the HIV Alliance and their implementation of harm reduction tactics with their prevention work in Marion County. Then I will draw upon wider research to reflect on the best practices in harm reduction (in terms of equity, equality, and efficiency) to determine how to make harm reduction optimally equitable for everyone.
Faculty Sponsor: Sammy Basu
Discipline: Public Health Ethics, Advocacy and Leadership