sessments of and best practices from other
similar programs across the United States.
Sara reviewed literature on the SFSP
program, as well as interviewed sponsors
A
riella Zbar partnered with Health
Care for the Homeless, Inc. (HCH)
in her practicum to conduct an orga-
nizational assessment of trauma-informed
and vendors in Baltimore City and repre-
care (TIC) at HCH. TIC is care that is
sentatives from the public school system
sensitive to the manifestations of prior
and City offices to become familiar with
trauma (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder)
Baltimore City’s SFSP program. Addition-
and works to avoid re-traumatization. It
ally, Sara interviewed program sponsors
also aims to prevent secondary trauma (i.e.
and child hunger advocates throughout
burn-out) in those caring for individuals
the US. Moreover, Sara attended meetings
with a history of trauma. TIC is integral
of the Baltimore Summer Meals working
to providing care for persons experiencing
group, which fosters program innovation
homelessness, as it is in itself a traumatic ex-
and improvements.
perience. During her practicum, she worked
As a Registered Dietitian, prior to
with a team at HCH and a PhD candidate
entering the MPH program Sara’s focus
from Hopkins to conduct client interviews
had been centered on individual nutrition
and staff surveys to assess whether HCH
assessment. This practicum illuminated the
provides TIC. The results from these inter-
wider, more systematic and programmatic
views and surveys will be analyzed to find
aspects of food provision. This work solid-
areas in need of improvement as they relate
ified Sara’s commitment to child nutrition
to providing TIC (for example, if clients feel
projects at both the state and federal levels.
safe while attending HCH). Focus groups
Sara looks forward to continuing her
will be conducted to develop solutions and
career in Baltimore with a large nutrition
these will be presented to the organization’s
program where she can incorporate the
leadership. The overall goal of this project
knowledge and skills she gained during the
is to ensure HCH is providing TIC to best
experience.
care for some of the city’s most vulnerable
About the JHSPH
Student Practicum
All professional degree students complete a practicum experience to
apply classroom knowledge and theory to real world
public health practice problems.
A practicum experience involves a minimum of 100 hours, is supervised and evaluated by a qualified preceptor from an established organization or agency, applies
public health skills and competencies, and involves a population-level project
framed and carried out within a public health practice context.
Practicum placements can be in a variety of organizations,
including local and state public health agencies, community-based
organizations, as well as international non-governmental
organizations and agencies.
Ariella Zbar, MPH/MBA Candidate
Partner:
Health Care for the Homeless, Inc.,
(HCH)
Course:
Baltimore Community Practicum (BCP)
Adding Caffeine to Foods:
A New Public Health Challenge
Veterinary Medicine. Their seven weeks
Students:
ature to support the habituation claim;
“We are delighted to honor these inaugural Student
Practicum Recognition Awardees for their outstanding
public health practice contributions through partnership with
community organizations and public health agencies. The practicum has
been a wonderful addition to the MPH program. We look forward to the
continued creation of practicum opportunities that benefit our
students and the work of our School.”
included examining the scientific liter-
Sadie Barr, MPH/MBA Candidate &
conducting an analysis of these foods in
Natalie Draisin, MPH/MBA Candidate
the marketplace; and performing research
Partner:
to inform their policy position. To com-
US Food and Drug Administration
Course:
Johns Hopkins Clinic for Public Health
plement the students’ project, the faculty
facilitated presentations by subject matter
experts to provide background and insight
on the subject. The results were distilled
into a comprehensive 40-minute presentation for Mr. Taylor and his FDA associate.
The goal was to convey to Mr. Taylor, a
food policy expert, the gravity of this issue
as a growing public health concern that
should be addressed through the team’s
S
recommended policy interventions. Mr.
the practicum course Johns Hopkins Clinic
implications for public health. In fact, he
for Public Health Law and Policy. Their
was so impressed that he encouraged the
team, under the guidance of Hopkins fac-
team to publish their findings in a peer-re-
ulty, addressed the market influx of added
viewed journal. As such, Sadie, Natalie
will enhance Ariella’s future interactions
caffeine to food products where it tradi-
and two classmates are preparing an article
with patients experiencing homelessness.
tionally has not been found (e.g., in high
to submit for publication. A published
Additionally, as community-academic
calorie snack foods such as potato chips,
paper will provide scientific evidence to
relationships are becoming increasingly
candy bars, and beef jerky), many of which
help bring about and inform policy and
important in building strong public health
are marketed to vulnerable populations.
regulatory changes. In addition, both Sa-
involvement in communities, this work will
The addition of caffeine to such foods may
die and Natalie are planning to continue
advance her abilities to forge partnerships as
cause habituation, essentially increasing
their collaborations with the FDA on this
a community-based public health physician.
the likelihood that people get “hooked” on
issue over the next year.
This practicum experience was a definite
these unhealthy foods.
As a primary care physician and a resident
Student:
Office of Public Health Practice and Training, Spring 2014
Law and Policy
— M A R I E D I E N E R - W E S T, P H D
Chair of the Master of Public Health Program
populations.
Organizational Assessment of
Trauma-Informed Care at Health
Care for the Homeless, Inc.
2013–2014 JHSPH Student Practicum
Award Winners:
Connecting the Classroom to the Real World
in public health and preventive medicine,
an understanding of trauma-informed care
highlight of Ariella’s MPH studies and she
For more information, please visit
http://www.jhsph.edu/offices-and-services/practice-and-training/practicum
adie Barr and Natalie Draisin com-
Taylor was impressed with their work and
pleted their practica through partic-
was enlightened about the habituation
ipation on a team of six students in
issue relating to caffeine and its potential
In the clinic, Sadie, Natalie and their
The Johns Hopkins Clinic for Public
Health Law and Policy was undoubtedly a
is continuing to work with HCH to see the
team had seven weeks to become experts
highlight of the students’ Hopkins expe-
project through to completion.
on the topic before their culminating
rience, serving as a real-world application
presentation to Michael Taylor, J.D., FDA
of what they learned in class. The most
Deputy Commissioner for Foods and
powerful part of the experience was learn-
ing directly how the policy process works
in this area. The students hope that their
with VHW’s leadership.
The level of community engagement,
form the current landscape of HIV/AIDS
among key populations based on existing
work will have an impact on public health
problem-solving and collective pride in
evidence and identify gaps in country-spe-
policy related to the addition of caffeine to
Burundi was inspiring. Additionally, as a
cific HIV/AIDS program areas. Kim
foods.
physician, Cathryn gained perspective and
worked closely with staff, students and fel-
insight through VHW’s ability to foster
lows from both the Center and The Foun-
community healing through music, com-
dation for AIDS Research (amFAR) to
Post-conflict Reconciliation and
Health Delivery in Kigutu, Burundi
munity flower gardens, adult literacy classes,
create concise, yet rigorous, evidence-based
and other programs that might typically be
summaries and tools based on the latest
Student:
deemed frivolous. The solidarity forged by
science on HIV/AIDS of key populations.
this community-owned effort to become
a model for the rest of the country offers
lessons for nations throughout the world.
indicators and targets to over 13 countries
This practicum experience has greatly im-
considered to be part of “High Impact Af-
pacted Cathryn’s future as she anticipates an
rica.” The Global Fund will utilize the data
ongoing role with the organization.
from the toolkit to inform their funding
Cathryn Christensen, MPH ’14
Partner:
Village Health Works (VHW)
C
Village Health Works (VHW), a
practicum was to understand, document,
Center for Public Health and Human
and maximize VHW’s role in promoting
Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
post-conflict reconciliation. The practi-
of Public Health, The Foundation for AIDS
cum included both a literature review
Research (amFAR), The Global Fund to
and an on-site component. The literature
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria
allocate resources efficiently and equitably.
Thus, this practicum experience enabled
Kim to get at the crux of the growing
and address larger structural inequalities
that continue to criminalize and ostracize
such communities. Kim’s passions lie in
ensuring that the most marginalized populations, particularly those in low-resourced
or rural areas, have the opportunity to
reach their full potential. The practicum
ments, it cannot be fully understood until
Partner:
Moveable Feast
immersed into such an effort, such as
Course:
Baltimore Community Practicum (BCP)
Yvonne S. Kingon, MPH ’14
Partner:
Baltimore City Health Department
P
hillip Gross’s practicum was complet-
gave Yvonne a first-hand perspective of
a resource-limited but dedication-rich
municipal health department. Upon
relationships she developed in her practicum to become a permanent member of
Baltimore’s HIV care community.
Course:
Baltimore Community Practicum (BCP)
ed with Moveable Feast, a non-profit
organization that prepares and deliv-
ers nutritious meals at no cost for people
with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening
Systematic Improvement
Recommendations for Baltimore
City’s Summer Food Service
Program
chronic diseases. He conducted a cross-sec-
Student:
tional survey to assess the impact of the
Sara McClean, MPH ’14
home-delivered meals on both the health
outcomes and healthcare costs of its clients.
Findings from this endeavor informed the
development of a white paper and advocacy
efforts.
Phillip initiated his practicum with a
Y
Partners:
vonne Kingon partnered with the
Baltimore City Food Policy and Baltimore
Baltimore City Health Depart-
Partnership to End Childhood Hunger
ment (BCHD) in her practicum to
develop the first multimedia education
program for people living with HIV/
security interventions, as well as an assess-
a computer-based set of learning modules
ment of initiatives of similar non-profit
combining animation, live-action sequenc-
organizations around the country and con-
es, voiceover narration, and hyperlinks to
sultation with academic experts in the field.
deliver educational messages to people with
Building on the findings from this work,
HIV/AIDS, particularly those with limited
he then designed a mixed methods study
literacy about their diagnosis, treatment
including a survey and interview. It is an-
and prevention. As an HIV provider for
ticipated that the study and dissemination
over a decade, Yvonne provided expert
her practicum to create a policy document
with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
of the findings will be completed over the
consultation in the script development and
regarding meal quality and food procure-
Tuberculosis & Malaria to develop
has given Kim the experience and perspective, along with quantitative and qualitative skills, to gather the evidence to begin
peace-building in post-conflict settings and
addressing these complex issues. Kim aims
how such efforts are measured. The practi-
to apply skills gained in this experience
cum work in Burundi was dedicated to key
to her future goals to create public health
informant interviews and focus group dis-
and various staff members from clinical,
discussed in classes and addressed in assign-
AIDS entitled, “Positively!”. Positively! is
health care organizations have impacted
repatriated refugees, government officials,
him towards his career goals and aims.
Phillip Gross, MPH ’14
literature review of food insecurity and food
review examined existing research on how
cussions with community leaders, recently
the concept of community health is
graduation, Yvonne plans to build on the
Student:
Partners:
Student:
Student:
HIV/AIDS epidemic in key populations,
Kim Dam, MPH ’14
level of fortitude and patience. Although
medicine. This experience will help propel
estimates, prevalence, current coverage,
have tremendous impact on the ability to
2006 in Kigutu, Burundi. The aim of the
with his passions in both nutrition and
The team summarized findings such as size
Toolkit Development to Inform
Current Landscape of HIV/AIDS
among Key Populations in High
Impact Africa
community-based organization founded in
individual patients, requires a different
a community as a whole, rather than for
Yvonne’s work on Positively! This work
Understanding funding mechanisms can
ed in partnership with the NGO
Phillip’s MPH year, as it directly aligns
This practicum was the highlight of
Developing a Literacyappropriate Multimedia
Education Program for People
Living with HIV/AIDS
allocations to countries.
athryn’s practicum was complet-
Assessing the Impact of HomeDelivered Meals on Health
Outcomes and Healthcare Costs
K
im Dam’s practicum involved working
interventions to address gender, migration
and labor inequalities.
S
ara McClean partnered with the Baltimore City Food Policy Director and
the Program Director of the Baltimore
Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in
summer. Phillip is working in collaboration
production, as well as identifying resources
ment practices for Baltimore City’s federal
a funding toolkit for in-country managers
with other Association of Nutrition Services
and performing in an on-camera HIV
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
the community, document how it impacts
and funding portfolio managers. The toolkit
Agencies (ANSA) members to develop a
provider speaking role.
The practicum goal was to create a docu-
reconciliation, and identify opportunities
consists of summaries of data (such as size
session on this topic for next fall’s American
to do more. Cathryn shared her findings
estimates, coverage indicators, etc.) to in-
Public Health Association (APHA) annual
new perspective on population health,
systematic improvements to Baltimore City’s
meeting in New Orleans.
illuminating the concept that caring for
SFSP implementation, as well as provide as-
educational and agricultural organizations.
The goal was to examine VHW’s role in
The project provided Yvonne with a
ment to serve as a starting point for making