Seven COPH students receive proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners
Seven USF College of Public Health students received a proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). They were recognized in January for their work with Hillsborough County Health Care Services’ Healthy Living Program during the 2017 State of the Opioid Crisis in Hillsborough County Summit on September 26.
The daylong summit addressed this rising public health issue by featuring medical, mental health and law enforcement officials.
The COPH students receiving their proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners (Photo courtesy of Burke).
Somer Burke, COPH’s assistant director of experiential learning, coordinated an agreement between the College and Hillsborough County’s Department of Health Care Services. Last fall, the department welcomed its inaugural cohort of seven graduate students for a practice experience.
The cohort included masters students Thomas Agrusti, Bianca Anuforo, Janelle Ikan, Taylor Lasure, Michelle Lyman, Alexis Pullia and Jana Woodall.
The Healthy Living Program provides residents living at or below 110% of the poverty level who do not qualify for other coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid, access to health care through the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan.
As interns, the students researched various topics of interest to the county and provided various recommendations based on their individual areas of expertise on how the program could be improved to address the needs of the county. They also helped to organize and facilitate the functions of the opioid summit.
“The award demonstrates to us as students the commitment and appreciation that the BOCC has for students and the work they do to better their communities and improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable populations of people struggling with paramount issues like opioid addiction,” Agrusti said.
(From left to right) Michelle Lyman, Jana Woodall, Thomas Agrusti, Bianca Anuforo, Janelle Ikan, and Taylor Lasure; not pictured Alexis Pullia (Photo courtesy of Burke).
“Healthy Living Department Director Gene Early and his team saw a space where our talented COPH students could assist their organization while gaining invaluable experience in real-world public health practice,” Burke said. “The opportunity for students to give back to the community while completing their field experience requirement is one of the highlights of the program.”
Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health