While I expected a broad exposure to public health practices, I immersed myself in diverse activities that opened my eyes to the multifaceted nature of public health work. Most of my time was between two crucial areas: water quality testing and mosquito control. Several days a week,
we would go out to collect water samples from several homes in the community. I learned the proper techniques for sampling, ensuring we gathered accurate data on our local water quality. This hands-on experience showed me how meticulous and essential this work is for protecting public health. Due to the recent train crash in Ohio, we needed to test the healthy water of homes in the southern region of Montgomery County. This water sampling ensured that none of the biochemicals spilled by the train managed to seep into the Indiana groundwater. The mosquito aspect was equally fascinating. I became adept at setting up traps, using a bucket with an alfalfa mixture and a fan, which would blow the mosquitos into the net. Unfortunately, we were not able to catch very many. In the lab, I got to try my hand at identifying mosquito species under a microscope. This skill is vital for determining which species of mosquitoes were vectors for disease in humans and which mosquitoes were harmless and poised to pose no threat to humans. Learning about the different types of mosquitoes, which ones were vectors and which were not, was very interesting. However, my internship wasn’t limited to fieldwork and lab analysis. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the department’s public outreach efforts through social media. Working closely with the Public Health Education department, I helped create engaging posts about various public health topics. We created social media posts covering the public health
awareness days in the month of August, as well as some posts for the septic department. This social media work taught me the challenges of translating complex health information into concise, engaging content for the public. I learned to use Canva and my creativity to capture attention and convey crucial health messages. Seeing our posts garner engagement and spark discussions about health in our community was rewarding.
This experience has given me good experience and a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our communities healthy. Public health isn’t just about responding to outbreaks – it’s about constant vigilance, preventative measures, and effective communication with the public. From technical skills like water sampling and mosquito identification to soft skills like communication and social media management, I’ve gained a well-rounded foundation in public health work. I want to thank Kristin and Adrianne for allowing me to work at the public health department this summer.
