Formerly known as the BU Public Health Initiative, the Undergraduate Public Health Association (UPHA) at Boston University is a student group that:
- provides a community for undergraduates interested in public health from varying backgrounds (Biomedical sciences, International Relations, Anthropology, Pre-med, etc.) to discuss public health issues of interest
- helps undergraduates navigate the wealth of public health-related academic options at BU, from the Geneva internship program at the World Health Organization to the 5-year BS/MPH program.
- hosts public health lectures and discussions, and links students with the numerous public health events in and around Boston
- acts as a liason for students interested in public health to gain hands-on experience with other student groups such as Peer Health Exchange and Project HEALTH and non-profits in Boston such as Our Bodies Ourselves and DotWell
Our Projects:
Partners in Health Fundraiser
Over the course of two weeks in October 2008, UPHA raised $937 towards malaria nets for hurricane-stricken Haiti. We would like to acknowledge Alexander Bazazi, Sevan Chorluyan, Sean-Patrick Oehrle, Nicole Santomauro, Kathryn Rough, the ZBT Fraternity, and all others who helped out!
Partners in Health Symposium
UPHA gathered 21 members to trek over to Harvard to the 15th annual Thomas J. White Symposium. Many members were not yet familiar with PIH, and were introduced to Dr. Paul Farmer’s work for the first time. We also managed to snag a picture with Dr. Farmer:
Belaku Trust Fundraisers
The Belaku Trust works in villages in Southern India to promote individual and community involvement to bring about positive change, particularly among women and children. UPHA member Alexander Bazazi visited Belaku Trust on a study abroad trip through the International Honors Program, and brought back notebooks and writing accessories that members of the Belaku Trust had made. In two fundraisers in the 2007-08 academic year, UPHA sold about $1000 of Belaku Trust merchandise that all went back to Belaku Trust. In Fall 2008, UPHA sold $1024 of Belaku merchandise.
Phoenix Charter Academy
At the Phoenix Charter Academy in Chelsea, Massachusetts, UPHA designed a curriculum that provided comprehensive sexual health information to high school students age 14 to 21 in an underserved suburb of Boston.
Collaborations with Project HEALTH and the Bioethics Society at Boston University
UPHA helped recruit student volunteers for Project HEALTH, a student group that mobilizes undergraduates to improve health care at the Boston Medical Center. Project HEALTH volunteers help marginalized patients navigate the complex landscape of social services available to them, and act as big brothers and big sisters over the school year to pediatric outpatients at the BMC. In addition, UPHA collaborated with the Bioethics Society to welcome Judy Norsigian, Executive Director of Our Bodies, Ourselves, to deliver a lecture entitled “The Ethics of Egg Donation.”
Professor LaMorte named Advisor of the Year
Our club advisor, Dr. Wayne LaMorte, won an Advisor of the Year award from the Student Activities Organization for his work with us!
In addition, Maggie Francis, president for the academic year 2007-08, won the Centennial Award for Academic Leadership by Phi Beta Kappa, Epsilon of Massachusetts, also for her work with UPHA. Way to go guys!
