Reflections

Happy New Year! I know I've already written on more than one occasion since 2011 began, but today marks the first day of the new academic term (and my last semester at HSPH)! Despite my MLK, Jr. Day volunteering, four day intensive GIS workshop, and braving the horrendous Boston weather, today marks the first day of...well...real work. After 2 classes, 4 hours of work, and 1.5 hours of socializing (clearly I need more interaction with my peeps if I'm counting the hours I spending chatting...haha), I feel that it's completely appropriate that I reflect on the past month and a half, remember the best of the end of 2010, and making my New Year's resolutions (better late than never).

My winter holiday started on Dec. 22, when I finally finished working and was able to head home for the holidays (even though I still remained on call for my RCA position). I had a wonderful Christmas with the family - which included a generous visit from good ol' Santa and my attempt to cook a gourmet holiday dinner all by myself! We decided to beat the snow for New Year's Eve by going to...Sandusky, Ohio!! Confused? Well, I was at first, but then we pulled into the Kalahari Water Resort, complete with 78 degree weather, yummy food and drinks, a gigantic water park, and a New Year's Eve family dance party (yes, I partied it up with my mom, dad, and 2 younger bros, and it was a blast).

Look at all the pretty presents I wrapped! Martha Stewart has nothing on me...

Baking and frosting cookies for Santa

Christmas dindin

Happy New Year from the Kalahari!

Happy New Year (dad and mom)!

If there's one thing I learned I should be thankful for - aside from my family and friends - it's my young looks. 

Compare: age 12 (left) and age 20-something (right)

I know it sounds a little bizarre, but think about it: when your 10 years old, you want to be a teenager; when you’re 13 years old, you want to be 18 years; and when you’re 18, you want to be 21 years old; and once you’re over 21 years old, you want to remain forever in your 20s. I was yelled at by resort staff for trying to take a fluke of champagne for the New Year's toast and was later told that I looked 15 years old the first time I tried to enter the water park. Then, on the last day at the resort, when I thought I was doing my mom a favor by taking one brother to the park, the resort staff made an announcement: no one under the age of 14 was allowed without an adult. All 10 of us in the line full of grandmothers and their grandchildren (and me and bro) wondered why the announcement was made, until, of course, I tried to enter with my brother and told that I looked 14 years old. While I initially felt annoyed - especially because I was told I looked 15 years old the day before - my brother smiled at me and said "And they say you don't get younger!" Indeed! 

I finished up the January visiting my Alma matter Michigan State University (home of the Spartans) and getting to hang out with some of my favorite people in the world! 

My friend Megan, future world leader!

My friend Jenn. I still love her even though she chose Hopkins :)

If I got one more Christmas present, this would have been it...a SNUGGIE!!

Then, I spent a few days at Hampton University while visiting a close friend of mine. 

Me by the harbor in Hampton, VA

My good friend Nwakaego standing in front of what I found to be one of them most hilarious signs I've seen lately.

Aww! I miss her already!

The weather that kept me at the airport for 2 days. In MI, this would be ridiculous, but in Atlanta, this is serious!

While several of my colleagues were traveling all over the world - to Cyprus doing an environmental science course; to China on a public health and policy tour; and all over the U.S. with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-related projected - I was perfectly content to have the personal break that I had. I managed to recharge, find a thesis advisor, and begin the first steps of thinking about life after graduation. Unfortunately, I didn't get too far on the last step, so don't ask me what I'll be doing just yet!

Want to share your holiday experiences? Feel free to post below! 

Adeus até a próxima vez

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.  

-From American author Hal Borland

Two Truths and a Lie

I know I was supposed to do my New Years reflections, but...

Have you ever played the game "two truths and a lie?" It's easy; I tell you three things, and you have to guess which two are true and which is the lie. Let's try it.

1. Boston is home to approximately 250,000 college students each year and has one of the highest concentrations of colleges within a mile radius in the U.S.

2. While Boston boasts a population of over 600,000 people, it should not be considered a real city because public transportation stops running by 1 am.

3. Boston has beautiful weather all year round.

Which is the lie...?

I'll give you a clue. It's not #1. Boston truly is college town capital of the U.S. (okay, I haven't verified this or anything, but the population of students is 250,000). Within one mile of my apartment, there are at least nine universities; crazy right? This is one of the fun facts about Boston.

I'll give you another clue. The lie is not #2. This is true. How can a "city" that's just 4 hours from NY and 8 hours from DC call itself a "city" when the train stops at 1 am? The clubs don't even close until 2 am, which leaves broke college students (i.e., moi) stranded or forced to take a taxi. Then again, almost everything in Boston is no more than a $25 taxi ride, which is also pretty amusing for a "city" right? Don't be hoodwinked; Boston is not a "real" city.

So, if you didn't already guess it, the lie is #3. Boston weather sucks. I mean, it really sucks, "Hoovers," sips, slurps; whatever you want to call it. In the summer, it's too hot and humid. My first purchase in my new apartment was a fan because I couldn't cope! And on days like today, in the middle of the winter, it decides to play between rain and snow. What a mess!!

Do I seem bitter? Well maybe I am! I've been home for all of four days and I've already uttered the words "I hate Boston" on three of those days. First, it was the feet of snow that surprised me among my return. Then, it was the fact that I missed my family and friends that I left behind; I was bored and all alone in my little apartment. Then, today, after attending the first day of a four-day Geographical Information System workshop from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm today, my salsa dance class plans were thwarted by this terrible rain! (Of course I'd been complaining about the snow at lunchtime...how fitting...). Not only was the rain bad enough but my down jacket was completely soaked and smelled like wet feathers, and I discovered that my brand new winter boots are defective. Uggh! I don't say it often but...I miss Michigan!

Until next time...

"There's no place like home...There's no place like home...There's no place like home!"

-From Dorothy of "The Wizard of Oz"

Remember Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! (And Happy New Year, since this is my first time back).

I have so much to share about my wonderful, super-sized winter break, but I'll save that for another entry. Instead, in honor of MLK Jr. Day, I want to share how I commemorated this memorable man's legacy.

I was invited by a friend at church to volunteer at the 8th Annual Boston Children's Chorus MLK Jr. Tribute. Since I always love volunteering - and HSPH does very little to encourage public service - I was so excited to help out and to hear young children sing! If you've never heard of the choir, they're world-renowned for their diverse makeup and stunning voices. The children ages 7-19 have been featured on TV and have traveled all over the world; they are truly incredible and inspiring.

My volunteering included some odd jobs - such as stuffing programs - and getting to interact with other volunteers including a group of City Year volunteers (including my friend from church). My favorite part was that I got to be a "seat filler" (like they do for the Grammies to make sure that there are no empty seats when the cameras are rolling). In other words, I got to watch the concert for free!

The televised concert, directed by Anthony Trecek-King, started with a beautiful old spiritual "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round." The choral members held picket signs and marched in, adding some dramatic flare to the opening number. It was particularly moving, knowing that Dr. MLK, Jr. himself spoke in this very same venue (the beautiful Jordan Hall of the New England Conservatory) and that someone was sitting in the same seat that I was seated in, listening to the the empowering words of the preacher himself!

After a few other spirituals, Grammy award-winning special guest Patti Austin sung a beautiful duet entitled "Over My Shoulder" with one of the choir members (who had a voice to die for, I might add). If there was one point in the show I thought I'd cry, it was then.

Hosts Kyle Massey (of the Disney Channel's "Corey in the House") and his brother Christopher composed and performed a rap entitled "If I Had a Dream," which talked about the tribulations of African-American leaders today.

Other favorites that the chorus performed included "Lean on Me" and "Ya Gotta Be," as well as the other songs that featured soloists from within the choir.

I'm preparing now to start the first day of a week-long workshop tomorrow, so in superstar student fashion, I do need to go to bed now! Stay tuned for my reflections on my past holiday!!

Mpaka baadaye (Swahili!)

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Artistic director Anthony Trecek-King directs the choir

"If I had a dream..."

Christopher and Kyle Massey make concluding remarks 

Christopher, Patti, Kyle, and Choir

All I want for Christmas

2 days (and counting) until one of my favorite holidays of the year: Christmas!! While the holiday is important to me because of the meaning behind it, I especially love getting to take a break from everyday life. No matter where I am, I get to find my way to family, friends, and fun! What's especially exciting about this time at HSPH is that it marks the beginning of Winter Session, an opportunity for small classes, travel, research, or - in my case this year - an extended break!!

Last year, I used my January term to travel to India on a 3-week field study trip with Dr. Richard Cash, world-renowned inventor of Oral Rehydration Therapy. (See blog entry #2 for more details).

This year, after considering traveling to Brazil, Cyprus, and New Orleans, I'm ending up in one of my favorite places: my home! I've decided to use the holiday to spend time with family (especially my younger siblings) and catch up with friends. I'll also be working on my thesis and doing work for the Office of Diversity.

I've made many references to the "OD," as we call it, so I'm sure you're wondering what it is. What is this thing called diversity? And what is this mysterious place that I manage to spend 10 hours of my week working for?

Well, the Office of Diversity is a special division within HSPH that is designed to "to initiate and support activities that increase diversity and promote cultural competency among members of the HSPH community." It has been well-documented that diversity, i.e., a blending of different racial/ethnic, religious, political, and cultural groups, is important in higher education. It's especially crucial in the fields of medicine and public health in order to more effectively assist minority populations, which are often overrepresented in poor health groups. Through mentoring, providing resources, bringing in speakers, and providing both support and study space, the OD is important in supporting underrepresented minority groups and in increasing the cultural education of all students, faculty, and staff.

While I know that some of you may not see the necessity of such an office, I would argue that it's offices like these that bring qualified, talented individuals that might not otherwise be at an institution like Harvard there. It's not about affirmative action or providing handouts to people who don't deserve it; it's about recognizing that people from different backgrounds have different needs, and ensuring that there is someone who understands. The OD is actually what encouraged me to come to Harvard, demonstrating to me that the institution where I would spend 2 years of my life actually cared about creating an environment composed of different types of people that can reach different audiences. It's a second home to me! When I hear stories like this one that talk about the "old white male" legacy of Harvard University, I'm reminded that while Harvard is trying to make strides, we still have a long way to go.

Mata ato de (trying a little Japanese now!)

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

-From poet Maya Angelou

It's Finals Week Again :(

This week is [dun dun dun...] finals week, everyone's favorite time of year! :) In light of my 10 minute procrastination break, I thought I'd share an atypical finals week schedule (i.e., my schedule) with you. Unlike many of my colleagues, I actually have a fairly light exam load this term. Of my four current classes, one had the final exam two weeks ago, another doesn't have an exam component, and one is an independent study which has a final paper instead of an exam. Sound easy? Well, I wouldn't take it that far.  But I am thankful that I took a lighter load this course; it will make the next few days much less painful!

Sunday 
8:30 am - Head to church for Praise and Worship team practice
10:00 am - Church service
12 pm - 5:30 pm - Write thesis proposal...(ugh...not fun!)
6:15 pm - Shopping and setting up for Resident Community Advisor "study break" program in Shattuck International House tonight
7 pm - 9 pm - Hang out with Shattuck residents for my program (while frantically trying to write)
all night - Write! Write! Write!

Monday
8:30 am - 10:30 am - Last Biostatistics lecture (who thought it was a good idea to have lectures during the week of final exams?!)
AM - Continue writing, writing, writing
12:30 pm - 10 minute chair massage, compliments of HSPH !
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm - Biostatistics review session that I organized for exam on Wednesday

Tuesday
8 am - 1:30 pm - Research assistantship job through the Research Program on Children and Global Adversity
Rest of the day (and night) - Biostatistics cramming!!

Wednesday 
8:30 am - 10:30 am - Biostatistics final exam!!
11 am - Final Independent Study meeting to discuss my thesis proposal/literature review
12:30-1:30 pm - Maternal and Child Health Seminar Course
3:30 pm - Docs appt
PM - Try and catch up with some friends before they travel for the Christmas Holiday

Thursday
8 - 12:30 pm - Research assistant job
1 pm - 2 pm - Massage workshop, compliments of the "Maintain, Don't Gain" Harvard Wellness Center holiday program
PM - frantically try to find a first and second reader for my thesis
5 - 8 pm - Work at the Office of Diversity

Friday 
AM - Work to finishing putting in my 15 hours as a research assistant
1:30 pm - exercise!!
PM - Keep searching for thesis committee members; hand in signed proposal today and try to catch up on other departmental paperwork
6:30 pm - Praise and Worship practice

Then...BREATHE!!!

I won't be leaving Boston until next week, so I'll be sure to give you another update before I head home for the holiday break!

Until next time...

Success is a journey, not a destination.

-From Ben Sweetland

The Forum at HSPH

Yesterday was the launching of the first-ever "Forum at HSPH" : a series that is looking to bring global health leaders together to engage in dialogue at the School of Public Health. To some of you, this may not seem like a big deal. But from my experience as a student here,  the school is always bringing Ministers of Health and other government officials but not the "sexy," high-profile people who impact the global health agenda as well.

The talk was focused on a conversation on "Vision for Global Health over the Next Decade." The informal conversation featured  Ted Turner (yes, the Ted Turner, founder of CNN, Cartoon Network, Captain Planet, and - oh wait - the UN Foundation as well) and Dean Julio Frenk (Dean of HSPH and former Minister of Health to Mexico), and was moderated by award-winning jounalist and author Abigal Trafford.  I volunteered as an usher for the event and was also one of the lucky 100 to get a seat in the main seating area.

While both participants have an impressive resume, it was Dean Frenk who was particularly captivating. He encouraged the audience "to think of health not as a separate sector but a shared social objective" and even gave an example of how health has been used as a tool for diplomacy and peace in Central America. He emphasized the need to focus on strengthening health systems and improving the role of women, and managed to plug in some of his own initiatives including the Millenium Development Goals and the Women and Health initiative.

There's no question that Mr. Turner is a very accomplished man, but I was slightly put off by his lack of "PC" dialogue. Perhaps with age comes an increased level of "frankness," but frankly, I wasn't a fan. Mr. Turner did, however, stir the audience with his promotion of the Voluntary One-Child Policy, which he suggests he will help the world reach its equilibrium population if followed for the next 100 years. He explained that an ideal population size for the globe is between 2 and 2.5 billion people if everyone were to live at U.S. standards; more will cause sub-standard living and less will not allow for the "Western" perks that exist today. Hmmm....

This question sparked my own interest in the role of culture in promoting sound health policies. No one wants to be told how many children they can have, myself included. In response to my question, Dean Frenk chose to focus more on the "social objective" of health while Mr. Turner didn't respond at all. Ah well, I guess this is all the more reason for my future doctor research...

For more information, see: The Forum at HSPH

Bon week-end!

Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it. 

-From Marian Anderson

World AIDS Day 2010

Today marks the one week anniversary of World AIDS Day 2010, a day where the public is asked to remember the 25 million lives lost and more than 30 million lives infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I chose to share the details of this event after the actual day because I think that there shouldn't just be one day dedicated to a 100% preventable disease that has destroyed millions of lives, especially on the African continent. I've spent the last five plus years investigating possible ways forward, particularly focusing on policy and grassroots involvement in the response, so of course I have a lot to say. But instead of belaboring you with facts and figures, I want to share with you the way that I encouraged my school to get involved.

As Co-President of the HSPH Africa Health Forum Student Organization, I knew that one of our annual programs should be used to bring attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly since discussion has waned over the past few years. Despite the ongoing HIV/AIDS research at HSPH, our organization was the only one to create an event. And unfortunately, last year's event was a debacle; it was poorly attended, not well-planned, and lacked an innovative component to show that the fight against AIDS is still ongoing.

This year, in working with Co-President Kafui and the AHF board members, we decided to reach out to Harvard AIDS Initiative (HAI), a major force in global HIV/AIDS research that didn't have an event planned for the occasion. We worked with Martha, the HAI Communications Manager, to develop an exciting, innovative panel that centered around "New Developments in HIV/AIDS Prevention," and it was great! We catered Senegalese hors d'oeuvres from the local restaurant Teranga and invited more than 100 students, faculty, and staff to engage in fresh dialog surrounding prevention in HIV/AIDS. (See: http://www.aids.harvard.edu/conferences/index.html for the event flier).

The panelists were as follows:

Max Essex, DVM
Dr. Essex, who is Director of HAI and Advisor of AHF, was the moderator for this panel. He provided an overview "report card" of HIV/AIDS prevention methods to give the audience an idea of what has been working and what hasn't been. Top contenders were: prevention of mother-to-child transmission and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Bottom-feeders included: control of HSV (a form of herpes) and microbicides, in general (with the exception of Tenofovir).

Lori Panther, MD, MPH

Dr. Panther (an alumni of HSPH) presented on microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis. She talked about two hot-off-the-press studies (including iPrEx) that showed some promising results for the short-term use of these two forms of prevention. (See: http://www.globaliprex.net/ and http://www.avac.org/)

Roger Shapiro, MD, MPH

Dr. Shapiro had some very exciting results to share in regards to PMTCT. He talked about the level of risk for a mother transmitting HIV to the baby as increasing from pregnancy (5-10%) to labor/delivery (10-20%) to breastfeeding (5-20% depending on duration). Different medications have proven to almost completely reduce risk of transmission, such as highly-active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). He also discussed two different studies - Mma Bana (focused on maternal HAART) and BAN (infant nivirapine prophylaxis). These studies provide greater hope to reducing transmission from mothers to their children, particularly because breastfeeding has been proven important for infant survival in developing country contexts. 

Rebecca Plank, MD

Dr. Plank gave a witty presentation about how male circumcision has greatly reduced transmission of HIV among men. One of the biggest draws towards using this method is that there is 100% adherence, unlike taking a pill each day. Dr. Plank talked about the challenges toward promoting male circumcision, particularly as it relates to cultural practices in different contexts. In Botswana, however, the government has supported a massive circumcision campaign, integrating cultural ceremonies as well. Additionally, Dr. Plank advocated for infant male circumcision due to increased safety and lower cost.
(See: http://malecircumcision.org/)

Stella Safo, MPH Class of 2010 

Ms. Safo (also a dear friend of mine) talked about her work in starting a peer-to-peer education program among African-American adolescent girls in a Boston public school. Her program "Let's Talk Love" gives girls the opportunity to discuss sexual education in an open, supportive environment while also being able to share methods of preventing the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Ms. Safo's talk showed how research can be translated into practice in the fight against AIDS. 

Other photos:

 An engaged audience filled Snyder Auditorium

Me facilitating the 40 minute Question and Answer period

AHF Board, Event Planners, and Panelists

For more information about the AHF World AIDS Event - or for more info about AHF or HAI - please see:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/coverage-in-the-media/hsph-hosts-hiv-aids-panel-world-aids-day/index.html

-Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

From William James.