CONCLUSION
The Department of Health Education and Behavior contributed to my personal and academic understanding of the concept of health. Health education is a critical aspect of health care. It is crucial for patients, health staff, and community members to understand how health definitions can vary drastically across populations. Effective health education includes consideration of biological, sociological, and cultural factors. Health communication falls in accordance with health education. Educational materials must be communicated properly to ensure patient understanding and retention of information. As a future health administrator, I plan to continue advocacy efforts toward patient-centered care. Treatment of an individual patient considers overall well-being, internal, and external elements. I want to emphasize this importance to future staff members and enhance the quality of all patient interactions in my future studies and career.
In the fall of 2022, I plan on attending the University of Florida's Masters of Health Administration program. I am ecstatic at the thought of this opportunity, as I begin to combine my educational experiences with developing leadership skills. During my time in the MHA program, I will continue to engage with community health efforts through my involvement in UF's health education honorary, Eta Sigma Gamma. After completion of the MHA program, I plan to travel and learn about variances in health administration practices across international health systems. My internship abroad sparked my passion to learn more about variations in health definitions across cultures. I hope to incorporate elements of international health systems, policies, and practices into United States practices. Within the next 5 years, I would like to work in a rural healthcare setting in the United States to learn about variations in healthcare delivery, resource access, and quality of care. Specifically, I am interested in maternal health departments. I hope to incorporate my cultural and academic understandings of health into my future career and promote the highest possible levels of patient health and wellbeing.