Boulder, CO

PROGRAM: M.P.H., Epidemiology

This July I had the opportunity to attend the 50th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop, hosted by the Natural Hazards Center in Colorado. I was selected to present my poster titled Stigma versus safety: Can we address opioid treatment access barriers in disasters? This presentation identified four themes from key informant interviews, all which related to barriers in receiving opioid treatment and related services during disasters. I enjoyed seeing the wide range of research done by other professionals and students, which emphasized to me the importance of collaboration across multiple disciplines. One individual introduced me to ATLAS.ti, an AI based software used for qualitative research. This software is something that I hope to experiment with in the near future, especially with an extensive set of qualitative data.

I attended a film screening of One in Five Hundred: Lessons From the 2022 Yellowstone Floods. This was a film created by Hugo Sindelar from Montana State University and focused on the impacts of the floods on Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding rural communities. It was devastating to hear the community members speak on their individual losses and experiences from these floods.

During the workshop, there was a session in which every participant introduced themselves with their name and affiliation. This has been a tradition since the conference began in 1975 to help build connections. There were individuals from all different schools, jobs, and countries. Currently, I am a second year MPH Epidemiology student with a wide variety of interests in public health, but attending the Natural Hazards Workshop has greatly increased my interest in disaster epidemiology. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity that allowed me to learn from professionals and connect with peers.