AmeriCorps Service Reflection: Promoting Healthy Lungs

This post was written by CHC member Shena Patel.

Series: Reflections on AmeriCorps Service

Shena serves at the Respiratory Health Association as a Lung Health Educator.

After I graduated with my Masters in Public Health last year, I wanted to put my skills and knowledge into action. I decided to do this by committing to a year of service with Chicago Health Corps (CHC). I chose CHC because it is a well-established program that is focused on helping to reduce health disparities in underserved communities through health education.

I serve as a Lung Health Educator at Respiratory Health Association, a non-profit organization that promotes healthy lungs and fights lung disease through research, advocacy and education. As a Lung Health Educator, I facilitate smoking cessation behavioral counseling sessions through the 7-week Courage to Quit Program. One of the most rewarding experiences of this year has been using my motivational interviewing skills in helping individuals quit smoking. In one of my programs there was a man in his late 50's who was a smoker for about 35 years and he finally quit after the 7-week program. After the program, the man stated,'Thank you for all your support and thank you for showing me the positive health benefits of me quitting smoking rather than focusing on the negatives of if I continue to smoke."

Although I have had many rewarding experiences I have also realized that change involves a lot of struggles.  The smoking cessation process takes a lot of time and it is a different process for everyone. Not everyone quits right away - for most people it takes 5-7 quits attempts before they quit for good. Health behavior changes require teamwork. Individuals need the support of their friends and families, health care providers, behavioral counselors, and health educators.

My AmeriCorps experience has reinforced my passion for public health.  My position as a Lung Health Educator has provided insight into a variety of non-profit organizations and health systems throughout Chicago. There are many people who want to make a difference but I learned it takes a lot of hard work and patience. Overall, AmeriCorps has taught me the meaning of community service and has helped me realize how important it is to me. I want to continue working in the field of public health in the hopes of helping make the change I wish to see in the world.