My Professional Mission Statement:
As an indigenous woman growing up in my American Indian community
of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, I was exposed first hand to social and
environmental health injustices, many of which still exist today. My family has
to travel 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store and 40 minutes to the nearest
hospital emergency room. Aside from that, my American Indian people are
disproportionately affected by chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension,
heart disease, and diabetes.
These injustices motivated me to pursue a career in public health, attenuating the development of such diseases and the dependence on pharmaceutical medications. I am committed to empowering Indian Country and providing a VOICE to my seemingly VOICELESS population.
As time passed, I began to realize that similar health injustices exist within other communities across the state and nation. This furthermore motivated me to pursue a career in public health.
I accept the responsibility of advocating and conveying a voice of need for my American Indian people and the broader population. There are many marginalized and underserved communities of which I hope to bring attention and services to. No matter whether I end up working in health policy, health education, academia, health coaching, or program planning and evaluation, I hope to use my public health skills in community health education to create healthy communities.
These injustices motivated me to pursue a career in public health, attenuating the development of such diseases and the dependence on pharmaceutical medications. I am committed to empowering Indian Country and providing a VOICE to my seemingly VOICELESS population.
As time passed, I began to realize that similar health injustices exist within other communities across the state and nation. This furthermore motivated me to pursue a career in public health.
I accept the responsibility of advocating and conveying a voice of need for my American Indian people and the broader population. There are many marginalized and underserved communities of which I hope to bring attention and services to. No matter whether I end up working in health policy, health education, academia, health coaching, or program planning and evaluation, I hope to use my public health skills in community health education to create healthy communities.