In 2012, I pursued an internship at Memorial Hospital after receiving guidance and support from Beacon Health System’s community outreach team. Now, my work with Beacon continues throughout the Michiana area as the director of community impact, overseeing outreach efforts for multiple hospitals in South Bend. While creating a healthy community may seem like an overwhelming task, in my years of experience I’ve come to understand that there are effective, equitable and sustainable approaches to preventing disease and promoting health within communities. In any approach, we must acknowledge that communities understand themselves best, and it is our job to offer them the tools they need to address their health concerns. Because of this, I oversee collaborative work with local nonprofit organizations that are committed to improving health outcomes throughout the South Bend region.
