Alejandra Moncayo was drawn to the field of public health while volunteering in community clinics and health fairs as an AmeriCorp volunteer. Now, a second-year student in the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Alejandra, who ultimately wants to go to medical school, seeks to integrate population-based health and determinants into her approach to health care delivery.
This summer, Alejandra is interning with the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE). A program of the Yale School of Public Health, CARE partners with a number of community organizations to better the health of the City of New Haven’s residents. Alejandra works with New Haven Farms, running a 20-week wellness program for adults who are diabetic or at risk for other diet-related chronic diseases. The program now runs in Spanish and English. Referred by health clinics or friends, participants learn to grow food and how to harvest it. There are also chef-led cooking classes and coaching sessions to help evaluate their health habits and look for ways to work more fresh food into their diets. Participants, many of whom face food insecurity issues, have the opportunity take home produce every week and to maintain their own garden plots moving forward. In addition to the pre-program survey, Alejandra collects data weekly on food intake and weight. “I enjoy getting to know the people and seeing their attitudes toward vegetables on their plates slowly change,” she says. Alejandra is also partnering in a new six-week program at another garden site in New Haven helping with program logistics and children’s activities. As an added bonus, gardening is a new experience for Alejandra, too.
In addition to her course work, Alejandra serves as patient services director for the Haven Free Clinic, which offers no-cost care to people who are uninsured. Born in Ecuador, Alejandra is bilingual and often serves as an interpreter for the clinic’s Hispanic clients in addition to helping them make and attend appointments.