Nate Warren, Graduate Student – Public Health

In a “former life” as an emergency preparedness specialist with the Red Cross, part of my job was to educate community members on everyday practices that can support their preparedness for disasters. A suggestion I often cited was, in order to make the task of building a “bug out bag” (emergency items to help you survive) and the magnitude of facing disasters less daunting, creating a “culture of preparedness” is crucial. A few examples for … Read More

Unless your workplace is having a snow day or you brought an incredible lunch to look forward to – Mondays tend to be a bit of a bummer. As we all push through the daily grind – I try to revitalize my afternoon with a reminder of how often public health touches our lives each and every day… (Adopted from www.whatispublichealth.org)   6:30 am BUZZ. Wake up and brush my teeth, take a shower and … Read More

Imagine a student’s brain as a goldfish (not a very complimentary metaphor). Next, imagine the (although obviously false) claim that a goldfish can expand concordant to the environment it’s placed in. That is precisely how I felt upon my return from the Oregon Public Health Association and American Public Health Association annual conferences earlier this year. My gratitude for the privilege of graduate school education, as well as the financial ability to travel (and the … Read More

As an eighth grade student, I picked up the novel “Mountains Beyond Mountains” in preparation for a high school course. The novel, which chronicles the creation of international aid organization Partners In Health, inspired me deeply. It gave great examples of community-based solutions to global health disparities. While discussing the notion of health as a civil right, my middle school instructor challenged students to view this novel through the lens of the United Nations and … Read More