FVHD was fortunate to host two college interns and one high school intern for the summer.
Kassidy Gagnon of Providence College worked on an assessment of school wellness policies within the FVHD. This work aligns with the FVHD Community Health Improvement Plan’s Healthy Eating Active Living initiative. Megan Strzepa from the University of Saint Joseph completed an environmental risk assessment of restaurant inspections in the FVHD, which is critical in ensuring the safety of our food establishments. Ananya, a rising junior at Avon High School, helped develop a ‘Resilience Grows Here’ (RGH) podcast on Spotify, designed educational and promotional materials for the RGH program, created promotional materials for CredibleMind, and was trained in QPR/Narcan and Youth Mental Health First Aid. All of these students were a huge help to FVHD and our community.
Please read more about our interns below.
Kassidy Gagnon (left)
“I attended Plainville High School and chose Providence College for my undergraduate education. Initially, I was a Political Science and Global Studies double major with a minor in Public Administration but switched my secondary major to Health and Policy Management following a course in public health. This class sparked my interest through its discussions of the foundations of public health that shape our society in addition to our discussion of the types of insurance Americans hold, which opened the door to the subject of health equity and the social determinants of health. I have a strong passion for health equity and environmental health that drives my interest in the public health field.”
Megan Strzepa (right)
I am entering my senior year at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, majoring in Public Health. I am also a student athlete and a captain for the Blue Jays field hockey team. Service learning is a large focus at Saint Joseph and I enjoy volunteering for local organizations, such as food share and animal shelters. Helping communities and individuals lead active, healthy lives has always been a passion for me and that’s why I chose the field of public health. Through my studies and this internship I’ve discovered how important it is to also focus on the health and safety of the environment within our communities to ensure the wellbeing for all. After graduation, I am looking forward to working in public health to make a difference in the lives of those within my own community and beyond. I hope to also pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health at some point in the future.
“Interning at FVHD gave me many opportunities to connect with the community. My mentor, Justine Ginsberg, included me on a trip to Camp Sequassen for a QPR/Narcan suicide prevention training for the camp leaders. On this field trip, I was able to see firsthand the impact these educational programs have on people. Another task I completed during my internship at FVHD was making worksheets for the Resilience Grows Here program for elementary school kids. As a teenager, I think that this type of learning is extremely effective for young minds.…It was a very fulfilling experience. Not only were there ample opportunities for me to physically create media to support the RGH program, but there were also many times I got to interact directly with the community.”