Q. How did you become involved with the MCHC and how long have you been a member of the Coalition?

"I have always had an interest in community engagement and healthcare so naturally I wanted to take on projects related to this field. I was assigned as the administrative support lead and coordinator for MCHC based on my interests and I served as a liaison between MCHC and my department. I have been a member of MCHC since May 2023. I now participate in meetings as a member and I have taken up other projects in my department regarding lead safe practices in South Bend."

Q. What is your current role with the Lucy Family Institute with the University of Notre Dame and how has this work fulfilled you?

"In my current position as a Research Projects Associate at Lucy, I leverage my deep-seated interest in research, initially cultivated during my undergraduate studies in biology, and further developed in my career as a public health professional."

"I have been actively engaged in all aspects of research, including establishing partnerships, designing methodologies, implementing data collection, conducting focus groups, and performing data analysis and presentation. This comprehensive experience has honed my skills in project management, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. At Lucy, I have the opportunity to apply my expertise within an academic context, managing a diverse array of projects—both community-based and industry-focused—with the objective of making a meaningful societal impact through data-driven research."

 "The knowledge that my work can positively influence individuals’ lives motivates me to strive for excellence and inspires me to encourage others to pursue their own paths of contribution."

Q. What do you feel have been the most valuable parts of becoming a member with the MCHC?

"The most valuable part of being an MCHC member is being able to build relationships and connections with other professionals who are either active in the community or represent an organization that’s main goal is to improves the lives of those in most need. MCHC brings together all these people and provides a space where we can all share resources and inspire each other to keep doing what we do."

Q. What do you look forward to most when attending Michiana Coalition meetings?

"When attending the coalition meetings, I look forward to seeing new and old faces and also learn about what is going on in the community based on the topics and presentations. The meetings are held in different locations based on our partners in the Michiana area so it is good to be familiarized with these institutions within the community."

Q. If you can think back to being a student, with all of the possible paths, what is one piece of advice you can give to others on finding purpose?

"Looking back as a student, I always remember going for what I feel the most comfortable with which is the sciences and I always kept an open mind with a hunger for knowledge. When you are younger, classes are structured around a system to give you a general knowledge of things but as you aim for higher education, you get autonomy in what you want to dive deeper into."

"My advice is to soak in all in and take advantage of volunteering opportunities, internships, study abroad programs and basically anything that gives you practical experience because I believe that you need to have a healthy balance of theory and practical knowledge before you truly decide if something is a right fit for you. Gaining some work experience before graduate school also looks great on your resume so I would encourage that as well."

"Whatever the field you are in or decide to pursue, you will obtain fulfillment when you don’t consider your work as a box to check or a task to be completed but rather as a contribution to a cause that you care about finding a solution for."

Originally published by Lane McDonald at mchc.nd.edu on October 03, 2024.