Taneisha Christie

What inspired you to study public health?

Working in a diverse community and observing the negative effects of health disparity, especially on vulnerable people, motivated me to pursue a career in public health. My daily experience with the detrimental effects of social inequality on the physical and socioemotional health of American youth made me realize that, as a practicing nurse, I will need to do more than just treat the effects of social injustice; instead, I will need to determine its cause and take steps to prevent it, so as to safeguard those who are most at risk.

What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far?

The single most rewarding experience of my career so far is being able to help support the ambitions of the children and youths for whom I provide care. To collaborate with a team of educators and to hear from children as they describe, in their own words, my positive influence on their lives and their health behaviors.

Where did you do your practicum? What was it about?

Evanston/Skokie School District 65. My practicum involves collaborating with the district’s McKinney-Vento Liaison to connect students who are in transitional living situations and their families to community resources that will help them overcome homelessness, and ultimately obtain secure housing. As part of my final project, I am developing a program plan for an on-campus pantry that will provide supplemental nutrition to homeless students and those in need.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career?

As a public health professional, I hope to make vast changes within my community; to create and implement programs that will promote behaviors that will improve the public’s health.

Advice:

One piece of advice I wish someone had given me when I started in public health is that public health situations, unlike health care, go beyond an individual’s health status and necessitate a population health strategy. Therefore, developing public health solutions will require practitioners to adopt a multifaceted approach; collaborating with the individual, their community, and their environment to promote population health. A practitioner must therefore recognize the variables that influence individuals’ health and health behaviors and organize community efforts to address them.

Current Position June 2023:

Registered Nurse at Evanston/Skokie School District 65