Imani Lucas
Specialization: Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Agency Name: Star House
Agency Location: Columbus, Ohio
Every year, Public Health Buckeyes take what they learn in their Master of Public Health programs and put it to practice. These applied practice experiences help students meet educational and professional development goals.
“My favorite part of the APE was getting hands-on public health experience in the Columbus community.”
Question
Why did you choose your APE with Star House, a drop-in center for homeless youth?
I have a passion for working with underserved populations and providing them with resources to improve their health. This population experiences unique challenges such as lack of support, limited access to education and increased vulnerability to health risks and behaviors. I wanted to create a positive impact on the lives of homeless youth in the Columbus area.
During my APE, I was able to conduct baseline interviews to enroll participants in a youth smoking study, collected biospecimens and determined CO2 levels of participants, managed weekly follow-up surveys about participants’ progress on quitting smoking and conducted qualitative data coding of focus groups to understand what resources youth experiencing homelessness need.
Question
What advice would you give to students completing their APE now?
Stay proactive. Look at opportunities early and cater your search to interest or new skills you want to obtain. Talk to your advisor about opportunities that are open and be open-minded to new experiences.