Jamia's Study Abroad Trip to the United Kingdom

Hello all-

 

My name is Jamia Haynes, and I am a 1st year Ph.D. student in the Department of Health Behavior at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Ryals School of Public Health.

 

I am also a 2020 graduate of the School of Graduate, Adult, and Professional Education at Benedictine University. I received my Master of Public Health with certifications in Epidemiology and Health Management and Policy. I also completed my Master of Public Health program with Summa Cum Laude honors (3.923 GPA).

 

As an advocate for positive mental, physical, and social well-being of communities suffering from communicable and non-communicable diseases, I am very excited to pursue lifetime goals related to the field of Public Health, Health Behavior, and Epidemiology. As I am building to my career aspirations, I would like to gain experience in areas of infectious and noninfectious disease epidemiology, SAS, SPSS, program development, health education and promotion/health behavior, public health assistance and leadership, and public health resource management in both national and international sectors.

 

Growing up in a single-parent home and being a first-generation college student has some high points and some low points. One of those low points is that I could not participate in as many mission trips as I desired. My mother’s meager income could not get me through school and fund mission trips. My mother is my inspiration. My mom has sacrificed a great deal for me emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. She has helped me tremendously financially, and she continues to do so. With the help of your donations, I will now have the ability to put some plans into motion for the sake of my future career endeavors. Your contributions will also lessen the financial load off of my mother.

 

As a public health practitioner and doctoral student, it has always been my goal to work/study abroad. In 2018, I graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham with my BS in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health and a minor in Medical Sociology. During my time at UAB, I was taught by outstanding and profound professors who shifted my mind on public health in the national and international sectors. In addition, I was educated on the significance of public health, locally and globally. This inspired me to be the change worldwide; it sparked innovation, increased my knowledge on developing sustainable approaches for communities (locally and internationally), and taught me the importance of community engagement. I hope to be the change worldwide. With your donations, I will study population health in the United Kingdom with Dr. Lisa McCormick and Ms. Meena Nabavi. Educationally, I would be able to learn about public health systems by meeting with community experts and healthcare organizations, meeting with community-based partners in both Aberystwyth and London to learn about public health issues facing the United Kingdom (rural vs. urban), and learn about historic and modern public health issues in the United Kingdom (London Fog, HIV/AIDS, drug use/misuse, health inequalities).

 

With your gifts, I will be able to use the funding for airfare and lodging expenses. This study abroad trip is an opportunity of a lifetime, and my love for networking and public health can be made through exploring a new country. I am beyond thankful for the chance to be in a position even to go.

I am looking forward to hearing from you all. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.