Anonymous Interview; Region V (7/12/16)
1. Identification:
-What is
your name? Anonymous
-Where were
you born? Cleveland, Ohio
-Where did
you grow up? Cleveland, Ohio
-Profession
currently: Public Policy Consultant (Health)
-Region
working in right now: Midwest
-State
living in right now: Ohio
2. Why are you interested in public health and how did you
get into the field of public health?
My undergraduate degree is a BS Biology. My original
ambition was to become a physician. After years of working on the clinical side
of medicine, I almost naturally migrated into health promotion and disease
prevention as a way of warning communities about the impact of lifestyle and
the environment on health.
3. What is health equity to you?
Access to the resources and opportunities that allow for
optimal health.
4. What are some challenges (that still persist) within the
field of health equity in public health?
Many barriers are social economic and racially
based. Many people hold the belief that certain groups of people are
less worthy of the right to be healthy and have access to resources to do so.
5. Why do you think those challenges still persist?
Social structure and attitudes that undervalue the lives of
minorities, women and children.
6. What models within your workforce have worked
to encourage health equity?
None. Few organizations have the passion for the long-term
efforts needed to address decades of purposeful discrimination. Some community
based social movement are helping but have limited resources to have a full
population impact.
7. At the beginning of your career, what were some root
causes for health inequities and health disparities? How has those changed
(or not at all) following the end of your career?
Root causes were mainly related to lack of access to
prevention resources, and the lack of education concerning wellness and
prevention. Those still exist. Schools focus less on teaching about and
modeling healthy eating and activity living. Children have less
active leisure time and thus are less fit.
