Rachel MoatsBack to Member List

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Pronouns: (she/her/hers)                                                                                 

NHC Program:    Pittsburgh

Host Site: Allegheny County Health Department – Hosanna House 

Position Title: I am an outreach coordinator for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP) Program.

Where are you from? I am from Hagerstown, Maryland. 

Why did you decide to join NHC?

I decided to join AmeriCorps/National Health Corps because I wanted to participate in improving the health of my community – and this involved work that addresses barriers and the social determinants of health.  It is extremely important to address the social determinants of health as they contribute to widespread health disparities and inequities, and have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life.  I wanted to gain real-world public health skills and apply my knowledge during my gap year, and I knew AmeriCorps/National Health Corps would be a perfect opportunity. Additionally, I decided to join AmeriCorps/National Health Corps to meet likeminded individuals and to open my eyes to differing life perspectives - which I believe is important when working in public health as no-one has the same life experience. 

What are you hoping to gain or learn during your service term?

During this term, I hope to gain a deeper insight into what it means to work in public health. I hope to, through my duties in this program, gain more knowledge about the barriers and health disparities that continue to exist and affect communities throughout the U.S. I would also like to practice my skills in studying disease trends and become more knowledgeable of all the resources available that can improve an individual’s quality of life.

What are you most looking forward to during your service term? 

I’m looking forward to building friendships with the members of my cohort, continuing to volunteer with non-profits in my free time, and fostering meaningful relationships with those in the community that I serve.