Brianna Singleton, a first-year PhD student studying with Oi Saeng Hong, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAOHN, professor in the Department of Community Health Systems, represented the UCSF School of Nursing at the 2016 American Public Health Association (APHA) conference in Denver. This premier public health conference brings over 12,000 attendees who come from the US and many other countries. While few doctoral students are invited to present, Singleton was selected to share her work during the Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP): Thirteen years on – still shaping the future of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) session.
Starting the session was Marianne Sullivan, who presented on the mentorship relationship between the well-known occupational medicine physicians Alice Hamilton and Harriet Hardy. Former OHIP Intern Rebecca Reindel then set the stage for the following four presenters by discussing the next generation of health and safety professionals in the labor movement. As part of the OHIP panel presenters, Singleton shared her work on “Assessment of safety culture among transit workers.”
“Being able to work with public transportation workers in Washington D.C. was a tremendous honor. I’m still humbled that people would trust me enough with their stories and I was allowed to be part of a bigger effort in making their working conditions better. Attending the APHA conference reminded me that I am one of thousands of aspiring people who are doing their part in making the world a more just, and equitable, and healthy place for everyone”, says Singleton.
From thought-provoking sessions to building network connections in Occupational Health and Safety, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity for UCSF School of Nursing both to present our research as well as hear from others in the field. Watch the APHA 2016 dance—conference attendees had a great time “busting a public health move.”
