Anonymous Interview; Region X (7/22/16)
1.
Identification:
-What
is your name? Anonymous
-Where
were you born? Glen Cove, NY
-Where
did you grow up? Glen Cove, NY
-Profession
currently: Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
-Region
working in right now: Alaska
-State
living in right now: Alaska
2.
Why
are you interested in public health and how did you get into the field of
public health?
I like working with communities to
develop capacity to solve problems on their own. There are many proclamations of expertise and
self-importance, but communities have all the tools they need to address most
if not all public health problems (or at least the ones I’m interested in). I
am a medical anthropologist by training and landed in public health almost by
accident. Did a post-doc at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies and it
directly led to my current position. Never would have imagined I would land in
a Health Sciences department. I have a background working with people who
experience disabilities, both as a direct service professional, care
coordinator, director, and (more recently) researcher. Also work with people
experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use disorders, and
youth.
3.
What
is health equity to you?
Still trying to figure that out. Unencumbered
access to healthcare. Health inequities are social inequities at the core. Health
is a symptom.
4.
What
are some challenges (that still persist) within the field of health equity in
public health?
The industry of public health relies on
disparities to keep itself relevant. There is a lot of lip service about
serving people and communities but oftentimes researchers in particular are
only serving themselves.
5.
Why
do you think those challenges still persist?
Because health inequalities ultimately
have nothing to do with health.
6.
What
models within your workforce have worked to encourage health equity?
Not sure what this question means.
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?
Much
of the world’s problems are linked to economic inequality and structured differences
in life opportunity. This has not changed as long as I’ve been in the
field.
