Jessica Tran, a recent graduate of the Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology program believes that access to healthcare is a human right. “Everybody should have the right to access proper healthcare,” said Tran.
Tran moved to Atlanta, Georgia for her APHA KP fellowship, a city different from her home state because she felt it was important for her growth in the field of public health. “I realized the disparities we experience weren’t only in Oregon. It was important for my training to better understand how disparities differ based on geographical location, current policies, culture, and demographics. I wanted to take my experiences to the next level,” said Tran. She attributes her courage for this new experience as possible because she has the support of her mentors, co-workers, family and friends.
Q. What attracted you to the field of public health?
A. My parents were refugees from Vietnam. I grew up seeing the sacrifices they had to make to make higher education a possibility for me. Seeing their struggles inspired me to have a career that helped vulnerable communities such as low-income, underserved and underinsured populations because I don’t want others to go through the same experiences my parents went through. In my undergraduate studies, I was a pre-med student. I had the chance to go to Vietnam to volunteer for a month. While I was there, I visited the state hospital. I saw patients crammed like sardines in the hallways and rooms, with no air conditioning. It made me realize how privileged I am to live in the U.S. and increased my resolve to help others. When I came back to the U.S, I worked in an Emergency Department as a medical scribe. In working there, I saw how our system fails our most vulnerable populations. The ED was a safety net for the community. From houseless patients looking for a warm meal to those that could not afford medication or dental care, most people relied on the ED as a last resort. I then eventually became a clinic manager of a free medical and low-cost dental clinic. Seeing firsthand the unbelievably difficult choices patients had to make to survive, like deciding if they were going to buy food or gas, inspired me to go into public health. I wanted to help address disparities and find a way to make a positive impact on more people by going upstream.
Q. What were you the most excited to learn about in your MPH program?
A. I studied epidemiology and loved it. I learned that data is the currency of public health. Epidemiology helps us quantify problems and explore potential solutions. We need this information to help address problems, to understand the breadth and depth of issues. Data is also a form of language. We use this language to communicate problems and propose solutions to stakeholders, as well as communicate information to the community.
Q. Who was your mentor(s) in your graduate program?
Dr. Boone-Heinonen was an integral part of my journey in public health. She was warm, welcoming and encouraging from the beginning of our introduction. I’m the first person in my family to get a graduate degree, so I had a lot of anxieties about graduate school, but she patiently answered all of my questions and made me feel that my questions were valid; she truly wanted all of her students to do well.
Q. What is the work you are currently doing as an APHA KP fellow?
A. I am currently working in the Population Health department at Grady Health System. The hospital is an integral pillar in the Atlanta community. The team is working on connecting patients to resources that can ease their disparities. One of our projects is increasing transportation access and food security for our patients. We have a Food as Medicine program. Patients that screen positive for food insecurity and have a diet-related chronic disease are referred to the program and receive fresh produce and healthy starches, grains, and proteins for 3-6 months, renewable up to one year. In addition, patients are enrolled in nutrition and cooking courses. Another example is our location is in downtown Atlanta where there is a lot of traffic. We received a grant from the American College of Preventive Medicine, which gives us more resources to address the social determinants of health. One of the things it allowed us to do was provide public transit passes to eligible patients to make it easier for them to get to their medical appointments. I feel so lucky to be working at Grady. My team has been so giving with their knowledge and experience in public health. I am a fish out of water in Atlanta, but everyone has been so welcoming.
Q. Do you have any advice for undergraduate students and graduate students?
A. It’s ok to ask for help. There are a lot of learning opportunities that can be challenging, but everyone in the program is so supportive and giving of their knowledge; they all want you to succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors; they are human just like us. I encourage everyone to apply to every opportunity (scholarship/job/internship) you have. Apply for opportunities, even if you think you won’t get it. You may be pleasantly surprised when you do get it.