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| Tori Hoffman observes group discussions at the KDHE statewide chronic disease reduction plan workshop. |
I was fortunate to have the chance to work with Amy Delamaide. She served as my preceptor. My focus this summer was a project on the integration of public health and primary care in Kansas with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Through the state summit in June and several regional listening meetings, I’ve had the opportunity to meet healthcare professionals from different cities across Kansas.
Two women in particular spoke with me about the work they do:
a director of a nearby county health department and another woman who is
working on an infant mortality project. These connections will be helpful as I
finish my undergraduate degree in Health Services Management and Community
Development and graduate in August.
I met Lynnette Redington, director of Harvey County Health Department, at the state summit. I was very
shy and timid. Lynnette introduced herself and told me a little bit about her
role at the health department. She also asked about me and what I was
interested in. She was kind, energetic, and helped me feel comfortable. I also
saw her at the Wichita Regional Listening meeting where we were able to catch
up. Several weeks later I was able to connect with her again and ask her about
her health department’s community health assessment. It was always nice to talk
with Lynnette.
A few weeks ago I met Christy Schunn, executive director of KIDSNetwork, Inc., at the Wichita Regional
Listening meeting. I was in the group where she talked about the project she
was working on called Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR). I instantly became
interested because after taking a class in epidemiology at Wichita State
University last semester I knew that Sedgwick County had an extremely high
infant mortality rate, especially among African-American infants. After the
meeting I contacted her and asked if we could meet and talk more about her work. We met for coffee and talked for
nearly two hours. She informed me about FIMR and how it is a fairly recent
project. I found out that there is a community baby shower
where pregnant women can get a crib and other essentials needed for raising a
baby along with helpful information and education about being a good parent. She
also shared information about the proper way to care for babies. I’m glad that
there is an organization that recognizes this problem in Sedgwick County and that
someone who is passionate about it like Christy is trying to change that statistic.
These women have made an impact on my outlook on the
healthcare field and a connection that I’m very happy that I made. I look
forward to having a chance to work with them in the future!
Tori Hoffman
Public Health Practicum Student
