Carly LovalloBack to Member List

Hometown: Sarasota, FL

Educational background: B.S. Health Sciences – Public Health Education from James Madison University

What is your title and role at your host site? 

As a Care Coordinator at First Coast YMCA, I will assess the physical, mental and social health of senior YMCA members and recruit them to the “It Benefits to Belong” pilot program through one on one counseling. I will be responsible for increasing the emotional and social wellbeing and quality of life of senior participants who are at risk for loneliness and isolation by designing activities, classes and events that improve the health of all participants in the program. I will manage volunteers who will act as coaches for the participants, and instruct them on how they can support the program participants during activities at the YMCA. I will also be promoting the program to the community and working with Y’s across the Association, and with community partners to develop a toolkit that will be used to educate participants about resources that will help them connect with others and improve their mental and physical wellbeing. 

Why did you join the National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps program?

I wanted to serve in the National Health Corps because I believe the health education experience and leadership skills I will gain will allow me to achieve my future goals of working as a health professional to bring change in health and wellness and disease prevention at the individual, community, and national level. My future goals are to go to graduate school and become a public health professional eventually working for the CDC, but before I do, I wanted to experience as many pathways in public health as possible in order to discover which area of the field I am most passionate about. I believe serving with the National Health Corps would be a perfect fit for me at this point in my life. 

What are you hoping to gain from your year of service?

When I learned about the opportunity to serve with the National Health Corps, I knew that serving would be an amazing experience to not only improve the health status of a community but also help me determine which pathway in public health I want to travel on for my career. I am hoping to expand on and improve my overall leadership skills, to meet people with similar interests and attitudes towards public health, and to learn from first-hand experience on how the families and communities of Jacksonville are impacted by health policy and other social determinants of health. 

What are your plans after AmeriCorps service?

After completing my service term, I plan on going to graduate school or becoming an associate for the CDC’s Public Health Associate Program to further explore the public health field.

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years?

I hope to have completed graduate school and to be working as a public health professional for the CDC or a state health department.