Field Placement: Center for Health Policy Research
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Mr. Rudolph Rull
Student Name: Marlena Kane
Year: 2004

Asthma and Air Pollution/Obesity and the Built Environment

At the Center for Health Policy Research, I have worked on three projects during my internship: 1) Asthma and Air Pollution project; 2) Obesity and the Built Environment project; 3) Health and Wellness Committee. The Asthma and Air Pollution study assesses the relationship between control of asthma and exposure to air pollutants throughout California. In addition, this study builds and enhances the partnerships between public health and environmental agencies and local communities. The Obesity and the Built Environment project will address research gaps related to the relationship between obesity and aspects of the built environment, such as street connectivity, land use mix and population density. The Health and Wellness Committee aims to improve the health and well being of Center staff. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research is a leading national health policy research center and serves as a premier source of California health policy information. Various research teams comprise the Center and focus on different health related topics that inform policy related to disparities in health outcomes and access to health care.

Through the Asthma and Air Pollution Project, I was exposed to and involved with the technical and practical aspects of our research studies. I participated in the following activities: 1) I was responsible for writing the introduction to a publication we plan to submit in the next month; 2) I conducted a comprehensive literature review and entered relevant information into a Microsoft Access Database; 3) I developed a conceptual model and list of potential variables for our asthma and air pollution study; 4) I completed an abstract to submit to APHA; 5) I designed a poster in power point for a national conference; 6) I spent considerable time working on a mid-year report for the CDC; 7) I interpreted various data outputs and created matrices that highlight important study findings.

I participated in the following activities through the Obesity and the Built Environment study: 1) I conducted extensive literature reviews for physical activity and obesity; 2) I designed a conceptual model that highlights the relationship between physical activity and obesity; 3) I attended weekly RFA meetings and have been intimately involved with the planning and development of research ideas and writing of this RFA, which will be submitted to NIH in December; 4) I contacted various planning departments to determine what land-use data is available and the costs associated with utilizing these data.

In collaboration with other Center staff, I established a Health and Wellness committee. We plan to implement the following activities: 1) walking/jogging clubs; 2) health education materials; 3) fitness breaks; 4) bicycling clubs; 5) yoga. To date, the committee has met twice and has drafted a physical activity questionnaire to assess fitness needs and preferences, which will be administered to all Center staff.
Through this internship, I have developed a better understanding of what public health is and how it plays out in real life practice, since the work produced by the Center is often a catalyst for wide-ranging, macro-level change. I also had the opportunity to speak with public health professionals about my career goals and the types of jobs that public health graduates, like myself, are led to. I was able to realize, first hand, the relevance and necessity of funding and political support to sustain public health programs. Altogether, my fieldwork experience has helped me achieve a better understanding of the multiple aspects of public health and the various issues that public health professionals face.

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