Stephanie Rich: Practitioner of My Choice
Stephanie Rich: Overview
In this report, I will analyze Stephanie Rich as the practitioner of my choice. She is a professional in the field of health promotion. Bunton and Macdonald (2002, p. 7) provide a working definition of health promotion. Bunton and Macdonald define this concept as an avenue through which the health of people is improved by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge. The need for social justice and health equality are what motivated Rich to take the said career path. The two are significant issues as far as public health is concerned.
The Roles Played by Rich
A career in health promotion involves interaction with members of the community in their natural environment (Bunton & Macdonald 2002, p. 7). Currently, Rich is involved in the promotion of oral health among refugees in Victoria, Australia. Her work revolves around the provision of services related to this type of health.
The Organisation that Rich Works for
Currently, Stephanie Rich is working with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (herein referred to as VFST). As a public health practitioner, one is expected to work with vulnerable individuals and communities (Bunton & Macdonald 2002, p. 13). Such groups include refugees, the elderly, and the girl child in some communities. Consequently, VFST is a suitable place for such a career. Since her time in school, Rich had a passion for working with vulnerable groups in society. The passion may explain her current position in the organization.
The Role of VFST in the Community
According to the Foundation House (n.d), VFST is a charitable organization working in Australia. VFST is non-partisan. Consequently, the organization carries out community health programs in regions characterized by cultural diversity. The foundation’s principal objective involves the provision of health-related services to refugees in the region. The refugees are mostly torture victims. In addition to community health, the organization is engaged in policy and research. It is also involved in service innovation and direct outreach health services.
Lessons Learnt
The text by Bunton and Macdonald (2002, p. 67) helps one to appreciate the work done by Rich. The most important lesson learned is that a career in health promotion requires adequate knowledge of communicable diseases. When I get to interview this practitioner, I would seek to find out her success rate in the programs she offers. I would also determine the most common ailments she encounters in the field, and the measures she takes to address them.
Personal Career in Health Promotion: A Reflection
Interesting Aspects with Regards to my Future Career
Upon the completion of my studies, I intend to align my career path with health promotion. Specifically, I intend to focus on health promotion in conflict zones. During conflicts, it is a fact that displaced persons have no access to basic social and health amenities. Such persons are usually affected by a myriad of diseases that pose a risk to their overall survival. Such diseases include, among others, polio and cholera (Bunton & Macdonald 2002, p. 34). In such instances, my major objective will be the promotion of preventive healthcare. According to Bunton and Macdonald (2002, p. 33), this form of healthcare is easier to handle and more affordable compared to a curative form of healthcare.
While working in a conflict zone, my key roles will be to train the displaced persons on proper hygiene. According to Bunton and Macdonald (2002, p. 56), proper hygiene is a fast and efficient way of minimizing the contraction and spread of diseases. It is an effective way of combating such communicable diseases as cholera and typhoid. Another preventive form of health service I would like to be involved in is the distribution of vaccines, especially among children and other groups that are vulnerable to contagious diseases.
Diseases like polio tend to spread fast when many people are enclosed in a small space, like in a refugee camp. The situation is made worse by poor sanitation under such conditions. By formulating and implementing vaccine programs, stakeholders in public health will be able to minimize the spread of such communicable diseases.
I find a career in health promotion fulfilling, hence my desire to take this path. Bunton and Macdonald (2002, p. 59) point out that outreach programs in health promotion help many people to access healthcare. The number of people who benefit from such programs is higher compared to that of people who access healthcare services from a conventional health facility. In addition, training on matters to do with hygiene reduces death cases.
My Future Career: Action Plan
The only way one can succeed in the field of health promotion is through the accumulation of knowledge and experience (Bunton & Macdonald 2002, p. 7). Consequently, I have a two-point action plan. While still in school, I will focus on courses that improve my social skills to enhance my interaction with new communities. Furthermore, I intend to engage in volunteer programs in cases of disaster. Such programs will help me gain more experience.
References
Bunton, R & Macdonald, G 2002, Health promotion disciplines, diversity, and developments, Routledge, London.
Foundation House n.d., Introducing Foundation House. Web.