Name: Cameryn Koch
What other AHEC programs have you participated in? CHIP is my first AHEC program!
What’s your hometown? Green Bay, WI
What school are you attending? UW-La Crosse
What is your intended profession/what’s your major? Environmental/Global Epidemiology; Major: Public Health and Community Health Education
Why do you want to be a health professional? Why is it important to you? I want to be a health professional because I feel it is important for everyone to understand how their health and wellness is affected by our environment, community, and experiences.
Where is your Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) host site? La Crosse Area Family YMCA
What are you doing there? Promoting a culture of mental health by normalizing conversations about mental health and increasing mental health literacy
Why did you want to participate in CHIP? I wanted to participate in CHIP because it is a great way to give back to my community while working with them and a great organization
What's something you hope to learn/have learned that will impact your future work? Something I have learned that will impact my future work is understanding that everyone has mental health and is important for us to be compassionate and empathetic people
What are you most looking forward to/what has been your favorite part so far? My favorite part so far has been meeting and collaborating with Y leaders in my community as well as all over the nation. I also look forward to implementing our work into programs with youth.
What advice would you give to younger students who are interested in working in public health? If you are interested in working in public health know that you do not have to be the smartest in the room, you just have to care the most.