SPPH Student Association Hosts NPHW Event

The SPPH Student Association at UTMB, with support from the Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice, hosted a thought-provoking film screening and panel discussion today as part of National Public Health Week.

Students, faculty, and community members gathered in the Health Education Center to view The Skin You're In, a documentary exploring health disparities and the various factors influencing health outcomes across different communities.

The documentary prompted attendees to consider how longstanding challenges might be met with practical strategies that reflect the values of responsibility, opportunity, and service to others.

Exploring Health Through Multiple Lenses

The documentary focused on Brownsville, a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, highlighting significant health outcome differences in life expectancy, diabetes complications, and cancer survival rates. The film also emphasized positive coping strategies like music, dance, and sports, concluding with messages of hope, community spirit, and neighborhood pride despite challenges.

Following the screening, a panel shared insights and engaged with audience questions, offering perspectives from community advocacy, healthcare practice, public health education, and student viewpoints.

Jonathan Warren, a former attorney and current Communities of Care Co-Coordinator for The Future is US (TFIU), joined UTMB-affiliated panelists representing staff, faculty, and student perspectives. Panelists clearly noted that their comments reflected personal experiences and observations rather than official UTMB positions.

Community Infrastructure and Health

The discussion examined how physical environments shape health outcomes, with panelists considering various aspects of community infrastructure that impact residents' daily lives.

One panelist discussed the importance of examining communities comprehensively–looking at everything from sidewalk conditions and water safety to street lighting and neighborhood security.

These environmental factors, often referred to as "social determinants of health" in public health practice, collectively determine whether residents can realistically practice healthy habits.

For example, poorly maintained sidewalks can discourage physical activity, while inadequate access to clean water may force families to purchase bottled water, redirecting limited household funds away from nutritious foods.

"It's important to work with the community, not for the community," another panelist emphasized. "Getting their input and buy-in is essential to effect real change."

Rather than focusing on blame, panelists centered the discussion on how all sectors–public, private, and community-based–can work together to ensure safe, supportive environments for all.

Multiple speakers noted Galveston's challenges with healthy food access, highlighting how some policy decisions regarding nutrition assistance don't fully consider the reality of neighborhoods where fresh food options are scarce. "It's not just about telling people to eat vegetables," Warren noted, "but asking why there are no vegetables available in the first place."

Solutions for Food Access: From Policy to Practice

When asked how public health professionals should approach food accessibility issues, panelists and attendees offered several community-based solutions that bridge both immediate needs and systemic change:

• Leveraging existing infrastructure like Galveston's farmers' market to distribute fresh produce to underserved areas
• Supporting "market match" programs that stretch nutrition benefits for fresh produce purchases–these programs typically provide bonus dollars when SNAP benefits are used for fruits and vegetables
• Teaching gardening and farming skills to children through school programs to build long-term food sustainability and nutrition literacy
• Utilizing Galveston's cottage food laws to increase local food production and distribution, allowing community members to legally prepare certain foods in home kitchens for public sale

These community-rooted efforts demonstrate that when resources are leveraged wisely and creatively, even longstanding barriers can be addressed in a way that benefits everyone.

Communication as a Catalyst for Change

Panelists emphasized the power of effective communication in creating meaningful change. They discussed how data-driven storytelling and concise "elevator pitches" can influence decision-makers.

"It's natural to get caught up in despair, which is why storytelling is so important," a panelist explained. "Understanding your mission, using data to tell the story, and speaking the language of those you're trying to influence is critical until it impacts the decision makers."

Warren discussed how advocacy requires imagination and thinking beyond conventional parameters. When engaging with legislators, he explained an alternative approach: rather than advocates always arriving with pre-packaged solutions, sometimes the most effective strategy is to help elected officials recognize their own role and responsibility in addressing these challenges.

"If we can't speak about serious issues affecting our community's health, what even is public health?" Warren challenged the audience. His pointed question particularly resonated with graduate students in attendance, who are preparing to enter a field where effective advocacy often requires confronting uncomfortable truths.

Environmental Factors and Local Health

The discussion then turned to environmental influences specific to the Houston/Galveston area. One Galveston native shared how living near industrial areas affected her family's health, noting the development of allergies and illnesses where none had existed before.

Another panelist highlighted how historical patterns in community development have left certain neighborhoods more vulnerable to flooding and environmental challenges.

The conversation examined the unequal distribution of tree cover–which provides protection from heat and improves air quality–noting how flood-prone areas often have fewer trees, creating compounding health effects.

These reflections encouraged attendees to consider the connection between local planning and long-term wellbeing.

The panelists advocated for forward-thinking approaches that prioritize community safety through infrastructure improvements, ensure economic stability, and build environmental sustainability to protect against future climate threats.

Patient-Provider Relationships

The final portion of the discussion addressed healthcare interactions and how to improve outcomes through better patient-provider relationships. The conversation emphasized the mutual responsibility of both providers and patients in building relationships grounded in trust, respect, and accountability.

Key points included:

• Community education to help people advocate for themselves in healthcare settings
• Recognizing that provider time constraints often affect care quality
• Training both patients and doctors to have more productive conversations
• Ensuring healthcare education includes tools to provide patient-centered care
• Building trust through meaningful community relationships.

"We need to train kids and parents to ask their doctors questions," suggested one panelist, while another emphasized the value of completing patient satisfaction surveys to drive system improvements.

The Power to Create Change

Among the most impactful messages shared during the event was Warren’s call to think critically about power, purpose, and public health.

Addressing the students directly, he emphasized the importance of courage in public health work: "When there's too much to lose, you're not going to achieve a lot of change. Be brave and be bold."