The Different Approaches to Promoting Health

I found it really interesting that both speakers we've had so far have touched upon the importance of addressing non-medical issues as a way of improving the health of communities. Dr. Wise emphasized the role of addressing social equality, poverty, and access to care as factors that affect health while Dr. Garcia discussed the different ways in which one can advocate for patients even without being a health care provider. I think this is important for a variety of reasons. First, it allows us, as undergraduates, to see that it is possible for us to do things to help make a difference even though we do not have any formal medical training. More importantly, such thinking forces us to look deeper into health issues so that we may attempt to solve the underlying problems that give rise to these issues.
I particularly liked the pie graph that Dr. Garcia showed us at the beginning of his talk, as this graph made me aware of the many factors that come into play to determine one's health. By realizing this, a person can begin to think more creatively about healthcare and can look at health from different perspectives, which in turn can lead to creative solutions that promote patient advocacy and health. This is especially important for those of us who may be interested in medicine/health but also in other areas such as politics, international development or eningeering. From the talks of the past 2 weeks alone, we have seen a few examples of how one can use the tools and knowledge of their field of interest/exxpertise to make their mark in affecting the health of hundreds or even thousands of individuals (by creating a new drug/device/treatment, helping pass a certain legislation, etc). By realizing that we can affect health in a number of ways, and not just by going to medical school, we can pursue our other interests without feeling like we are abandoning our goal of promoting healthcare.