In the words of Sir Winston Churchill, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
As a Tufts Med alumnus from the Masters in Health Communication program, I am very appreciative to be volunteering in the upcoming January trip to Mississippi, which affords me the opportunity to give of myself, like so many others have and will, who are devoted to improving the health and environment of people. It is a perfect chance to be socially responsible, help our fellow mankind, and be humble as we make a difference in the world. As a fourth-generation Oklahoman native with family in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, I am cognizant of the economic, environmental and health disparities between the North and South. Massachusetts ranks No. 5 as the healthiest state - which does not compare favorably to my state of Oklahoma (No. 45), Louisiana (No. 49), and Mississippi (No. 50) as reported by the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit, private foundation.
Massachusetts has the best record for fatal car accidents; Louisiana has the worst. North Dakota has the least amount of violent crime; Florida the most. Smoking is most prevalent in Oklahoma and Kentucky. Mississippi has the highest risk for heart disease.
For many from the North and abroad, this valuable opportunity will be a first to see the pervasive deplorable conditions facing many low-income Americans and possibly shape future career interests for some students. Certain parts of the South, including the Mississippi Delta, are akin to developing nations. Coming to the Northeast was analogous to visiting another country with a different culture, value and beliefs system in viewing the world. Connecting the two worlds, I pursued my graduate education on the East Coast at Tufts after attending Oklahoma State University, which both were very unique, yet invaluable experiences.
My own hometown of Oklahoma City ranks as one of the top 5 unhealthy cities in the United States (Tulsa, OK is on the least as well) by Self Magazine. With Louisiana ranking No. 4 and Mississippi No. 5 as the most uneducated states, attracting employers with strong wages come by harder than average. Consequently, service industry jobs and the few and last U.S.-based manufacturing plants are attracted to these locations where they can provide low wages and benefits. (But the General Motors Oklahoma City plant is slated to close by early 2006.) Though life maybe good for some in the South, for many Americans who may have low incomes, there is a strong connection linking poor, uneducated, unhealthy (including disability), environmental injustice, and minority in some situations (e.g. with 53 percent of African Americans living in the South).
What does this mean for Americans who are low-income and/or a minority in the South in particular? Many challenges lie ahead. This cries for the need to have informed, active citizens and responsive, accountable public officials and social responsible businesses and non-profits providing improved, forward-thinking policies for health, wealth, social, and education equity. With the current employer-based health care system, many employers find places including the South difficult to consider building business because of high health care premiums affecting their bottom line.
The University's planning efforts put forward in the wake of Hurricane Katrina only reinforces my belief that Tufts was a valuable choice for me. I am gratified to know that Tufts has taken initiative in creating opportunities for students and alumni to join together in rebuilding homes and building futures for many Americans in the South. With so much attention in the early phase of the hurricane aftermath, it is imperative that cyclical work prevails in a multi-phase approach to ensure consistent and committed efforts in aiding Americans.
Though I have painted a bleak future of the South and other parts of America, challenges brings opportunities and the beauty of human spirit still finds happiness and gratitude in the eye of the storm. Case in point, the Tufts Katrina program is a shining example of the golden rule, "Do unto others as you wish they do unto you."
And I am proud to share in the experience.
Tambra Stevenson is a 2004 graduate of the Tufts School of Medicine-Emerson College Joint Program in Health Communication.
