Hardy ’27 | Warren County Health Dept.

This summer, I had the privilege of interning with the Warren County Health Department, where I gained firsthand experience in public health preparedness, community outreach, and youth engagement. My time here allowed me to see how much impact a small health department can have in supporting the well-being of an entire county.

One of the major projects I worked on was updating and writing the appendices to the county’s Point of Dispensing (POD) plan, which is designed to coordinate the rapid distribution of medicine or vaccines during a mass prophylaxis event. I was also able to help facilitate and run the county’s practice POD, where emergency personnel rehearsed the logistics of distributing medication. Seeing this process in action gave me a deep appreciation for the planning and teamwork required to protect communities during a public health crisis.

Another highlight of the summer was working at the Warren County Fair, where we distributed free well water testing kits and educated families about the importance of safe drinking water. I also had the chance to participate in programs focused on youth, including a summer parks program and a youth summit for ages 13–20. The focus of the youth summit was the problems these youth were having and hopefully to provide insight on what would bring these kids back to the already small community of Warren County when they were older. This event gave me valuable insight into the perspectives and needs of young people in the county and reminded me of the importance of connecting public health efforts to future generations.

I also participated in many different types of environmental health checks which included septic checks, a case of lead poisoning, and water quality checks. Along with this I attended numerous meetings about county needs, county grants, and the importance of safe parenting during infancy. This internship relates to my career goal of becoming a physical therapist because I was able to shadow, get hands on experience, and learn from therapists in the community. Although, it also broadened my idea and knowledge of public health, opening my eyes to possible new career opportunities that help better communities.

I am extremely grateful for the experience I gained this summer. I would like to thank Laci Frodge, the Warren County Health Department, and the Wabash GHI program for making this internship where I learned so much possible.