Introducing Caroline Mende, SHERC\u2019s New Research Coordinator<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Caroline](\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/sherc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/392\/CM-Image-1-300x300.jpg\")
Caroline at her hooding ceremony. From left: Caroline\u2019s parents (Cathy and Chris Mende), Caroline, and Caroline\u2019s advisor Dr. Melissa Liebert.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCaroline Mende is a new Research Coordinator with SHERC\u2019s Community Engagement Core<\/a>. In this role, Caroline coordinates the Community-Campus Partnership Support Program<\/a> and the Fairness First Campaign<\/a>, and is using her background in anthropology to support a cultural consensus modeling project that will examine how people throughout Arizona think about healthy communities and needs.<\/p>\nCaroline recently completed her MA in socio-cultural anthropology with a focus on medical anthropology at NAU. For her thesis research, she looked at how people perceive menopause and how this influences symptoms and experiences of menopause. Prior to moving to Flagstaff in 2021, Caroline lived in Boulder, Colorado for seven years. She grew up in southern Maine and finished her BA in Anthropology in 2014 at St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland. She is excited to be joining SHERC!<\/p>\n
Q. <\/strong>Your educational background is in socio-cultural anthropology with a focus on medical anthropology. How do you see this overlapping with public health?<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>One of my favorite things about anthropology is how cross-disciplinary the field is. The anthropological perspective is insightful in a variety of fields. Medical anthropologists study how culture*<\/strong> influences health and how people understand the human body and illness. Anthropologists also look at culture holistically. This approach helps me think about how social determinants of health**<\/strong> in public health settings interact with each other. The anthropological perspective is particularly useful when thinking about health equity because many inequities \u2013 health and otherwise \u2013 are socially and culturally informed. I\u2019m also really thankful to my thesis committee at NAU for helping me frame how I think about anthropology and public health!<\/p>\n*In anthropology, culture <\/em>refers to shared beliefs, values, and ways of living.<\/strong><\/p>\n**Social determinants of health<\/em> are non-medical factors \u2013 like socioeconomic status, education access, living location \u2013 in a person\u2019s environment that influence health. <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Caroline](\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/sherc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/392\/CM-Image-2-2-300x300.jpg\")
Caroline cross country skiing in Flagstaff, Arizona.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQ. <\/strong>What does \u2018health equity\u2019 or \u2018health fairness\u2019 mean to you?<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>To me, health equity means that people have access to quality healthcare, regardless of who they are, where they live, or where they come from. Equitable healthcare includes opportunities for accessing different healthcare choices so that people can choose healthcare that meets their needs. And it\u2019s not just about healthcare. It\u2019s about healthy communities that provide opportunities for people to engage with each other, seek meaningful employment that pays well, and recreate safely \u2013 all of the things that help people live healthy lives on a daily basis, outside of needing medical care.<\/p>\nQ. <\/strong>In general, how do you want your work in public health to make a difference or change in this world?<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>This question is tied in with how I see the field of anthropology \u2013 as a field that can bridge the gap between traditional academic research and community engagement. I hope my work in public health can contribute to information sharing that helps people live healthier lives that are meaningful to them. As a graduate research assistant at NAU I was the editorial assistant for the journal Practicing Anthropology<\/em>. This journal focuses on applied research, and I really enjoyed working with authors to share their work \u2013 often in language that\u2019s more approachable than typical academic writing.<\/p>\nCommunicating health research to the right audiences outside of the academic world is an important step in the research process \u2013 particularly when community members are directly involved in or affected by research. There are so many ways to be healthy and I hope I can be a part of advocating for health equity by sharing information more broadly and in accessible ways.<\/p>\n
Q. <\/strong>What is one personal reflection you\u2019ve had regarding your journey in public health and health equity advocacy that you are willing to share?<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>After finishing my undergraduate degree, I started a job as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Spirit of the Sun (a Colorado-based organization that facilitates community and economic development work with Indigenous communities around the US). In this role, I worked on a community needs assessment. While this project wasn\u2019t focused on public health and health equity specifically, the biggest takeaway for me was the importance of engaging with community members and understanding needs (and<\/em> strengths!) from their perspectives. It\u2019s crucial to meet people where they are. I\u2019ve taken this lesson with me, and it is part of the reason I decided to go back to school. In the context of public health, engaging with communities is a key piece of creating programs that work for people.<\/p>\nQ. <\/strong>Tell us about a book you\u2019ve recently enjoyed reading.<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>I just finished reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet<\/em> by Becky Chambers. I don\u2019t typically like science fiction, but decided to give this book a try when my boyfriend suggested it. I\u2019m glad I did because I really enjoyed the characters. Typically, I like mysteries and enjoyed a long Agatha Christie phase during the pandemic.<\/p>\nQ. <\/strong>Self-care is a vital part of our collective work towards health fairness for all (or health equity). What is one thing you do to make sure you are caring for yourself \u2013 emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually.<\/strong><\/h4>\nA. <\/strong><\/span>It\u2019s probably clich\u00e9, but staying physically active is important for my physical, mental, and emotional health. My family hiked a lot when I was growing up, but I was definitely not an athletic kid. I didn\u2019t start running \u2013 and truly enjoying physical activity \u2013 until I went to college and I\u2019m so happy I\u2019ve kept up this habit. Running outdoors helps me enjoy my neighborhood and the trails and landscape around me. It also gives me time to myself. I always feel happier after spending time moving my body and spending time in the sun \u2013 although I love rainy and snowy runs (and cross-country skiing) too!<\/p>\n
Caroline Mende is a new Research Coordinator with SHERC\u2019s Community Engagement Core<\/a>. In this role, Caroline coordinates the Community-Campus Partnership Support Program<\/a> and the Fairness First Campaign<\/a>, and is using her background in anthropology to support a cultural consensus modeling project that will examine how people throughout Arizona think about healthy communities and needs.<\/p>\n Caroline recently completed her MA in socio-cultural anthropology with a focus on medical anthropology at NAU. For her thesis research, she looked at how people perceive menopause and how this influences symptoms and experiences of menopause. Prior to moving to Flagstaff in 2021, Caroline lived in Boulder, Colorado for seven years. She grew up in southern Maine and finished her BA in Anthropology in 2014 at St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland. She is excited to be joining SHERC!<\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>One of my favorite things about anthropology is how cross-disciplinary the field is. The anthropological perspective is insightful in a variety of fields. Medical anthropologists study how culture*<\/strong> influences health and how people understand the human body and illness. Anthropologists also look at culture holistically. This approach helps me think about how social determinants of health**<\/strong> in public health settings interact with each other. The anthropological perspective is particularly useful when thinking about health equity because many inequities \u2013 health and otherwise \u2013 are socially and culturally informed. I\u2019m also really thankful to my thesis committee at NAU for helping me frame how I think about anthropology and public health!<\/p>\n *In anthropology, culture <\/em>refers to shared beliefs, values, and ways of living.<\/strong><\/p>\n **Social determinants of health<\/em> are non-medical factors \u2013 like socioeconomic status, education access, living location \u2013 in a person\u2019s environment that influence health. <\/strong><\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>To me, health equity means that people have access to quality healthcare, regardless of who they are, where they live, or where they come from. Equitable healthcare includes opportunities for accessing different healthcare choices so that people can choose healthcare that meets their needs. And it\u2019s not just about healthcare. It\u2019s about healthy communities that provide opportunities for people to engage with each other, seek meaningful employment that pays well, and recreate safely \u2013 all of the things that help people live healthy lives on a daily basis, outside of needing medical care.<\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>This question is tied in with how I see the field of anthropology \u2013 as a field that can bridge the gap between traditional academic research and community engagement. I hope my work in public health can contribute to information sharing that helps people live healthier lives that are meaningful to them. As a graduate research assistant at NAU I was the editorial assistant for the journal Practicing Anthropology<\/em>. This journal focuses on applied research, and I really enjoyed working with authors to share their work \u2013 often in language that\u2019s more approachable than typical academic writing.<\/p>\n Communicating health research to the right audiences outside of the academic world is an important step in the research process \u2013 particularly when community members are directly involved in or affected by research. There are so many ways to be healthy and I hope I can be a part of advocating for health equity by sharing information more broadly and in accessible ways.<\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>After finishing my undergraduate degree, I started a job as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Spirit of the Sun (a Colorado-based organization that facilitates community and economic development work with Indigenous communities around the US). In this role, I worked on a community needs assessment. While this project wasn\u2019t focused on public health and health equity specifically, the biggest takeaway for me was the importance of engaging with community members and understanding needs (and<\/em> strengths!) from their perspectives. It\u2019s crucial to meet people where they are. I\u2019ve taken this lesson with me, and it is part of the reason I decided to go back to school. In the context of public health, engaging with communities is a key piece of creating programs that work for people.<\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>I just finished reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet<\/em> by Becky Chambers. I don\u2019t typically like science fiction, but decided to give this book a try when my boyfriend suggested it. I\u2019m glad I did because I really enjoyed the characters. Typically, I like mysteries and enjoyed a long Agatha Christie phase during the pandemic.<\/p>\n A. <\/strong><\/span>It\u2019s probably clich\u00e9, but staying physically active is important for my physical, mental, and emotional health. My family hiked a lot when I was growing up, but I was definitely not an athletic kid. I didn\u2019t start running \u2013 and truly enjoying physical activity \u2013 until I went to college and I\u2019m so happy I\u2019ve kept up this habit. Running outdoors helps me enjoy my neighborhood and the trails and landscape around me. It also gives me time to myself. I always feel happier after spending time moving my body and spending time in the sun \u2013 although I love rainy and snowy runs (and cross-country skiing) too!<\/p>\nQ. <\/strong>Your educational background is in socio-cultural anthropology with a focus on medical anthropology. How do you see this overlapping with public health?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Q. <\/strong>What does \u2018health equity\u2019 or \u2018health fairness\u2019 mean to you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Q. <\/strong>In general, how do you want your work in public health to make a difference or change in this world?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Q. <\/strong>What is one personal reflection you\u2019ve had regarding your journey in public health and health equity advocacy that you are willing to share?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Q. <\/strong>Tell us about a book you\u2019ve recently enjoyed reading.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Q. <\/strong>Self-care is a vital part of our collective work towards health fairness for all (or health equity). What is one thing you do to make sure you are caring for yourself \u2013 emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually.<\/strong><\/h4>\n