Two years ago, Anschutz medical student Casey Weimer developed a health program for adolescent females living in an indigenous Mayan community in rural Guatemala.
"The average first age of pregnancy in that community is about 14 to 15 years old," Weimer said. "The health promoter in the community had expressed that she was concerned about the status of the young girls and their lack of access to education." Based on this need, Weimer implemented a program based on sexual health and behavior, which included nutrition, personal hygiene, and self-esteem.
The program was part of Weimer's participation in the Global Health track, which encourages students to conduct research projects. Last summer, Weimer and fellow classmate Sarah Lindsay completed their research, focusing on the outcomes of this intervention program.
They will present this research at the Global Health Symposium, which takes place on Oct. 1—3. A three-by-four-foot poster will show abstracts and outcomes, as well as the girls' artwork, which was part of the interactive methods utilized for self-esteem development. Weimer's poster, one of many at the keynote reception, will represent one piece of UCD's current involvement in global health,
"We do this mainly to pull people from the Denver community, to make them aware of what UCD is doing globally, and to get them involved," said Michele Shiver, Program Manager at the Center for Global Health.
This year marks the second annual symposium organized by the UCD Center for Global Health at the Colorado School of Public Health.
According to Lyndsey Crum, Director of Communications at the School of Public Health, they are collaborating with the Physician Assistants for Global Health as part of an effort to impart a broader medical approach to this year's event.
Anschutz campus will host the weekend's event, titled "Continuing the Global Conversation." The symposium aims to provide an opportunity for dialogue about worldwide health issues.
Practical workshops and breakout sessions will highlight diverse topics such as oral health, nutrition, water quality, and legal, ethical, and financial issues.
Another topic covered is public policy and its relationship with health, a matter that the keynote address will expand upon. Katherine Bliss, Ph.D., is the Deputy Director and senior fellow of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
An authority on Latin America and women's health, Bliss will speak on "Health Diplomacy in the Americas." The lecture will be held on Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m., and will focus on collaborations within the Americas that promote health.
This symposium and Weimer's project are just some examples of the many partnerships the Center for Global Health has strived to create in order to improve health overseas.
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