My project is about avoidable blindness in rural areas of the United States and is analyzed through the lens of global health. The work was conducted with a mix of in-field work and academic work. My immersion experience involved spending 7 weeks immersed in rural Honduras. During this time I shadowed physicians and community health workers as they worked alongside rural communities. Afterwards, I conducted a literature review of available data. Avoidable blindness is a relevant topic in global health because it illustrates disparities in healthcare access. With easily curable and treatable eye diseases, the ones who still suffer from these illnesses are suffering because of their life circumstances. Community health programs not only have the ability to reduce these health inequities, but also provide a sustainable model for supporting low-income and rural communities. Going forward, I hope to work in underserved communities and this work has emphasized the importance of empowering communities and addressing root causes of health disparities.
Author(s): Hannah Newell, Chemistry and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s): Advisor(s): Joseph Carlin, Department of Microbiology
Paul Flaspohler, Department of Psychology
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