Klamath Falls Community Reflection Paper

My experiences with Primary Care in my hometown, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and the surrounding rural areas has provided me with an understanding of the differences and complexities of Primary Care in underserved populations. I have come to know that practicing Primary Care in rural, underserved communities is limited by finances, education, and recourses available. Obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Health will better prepare me to understand and treat not only the individual, but also communities as a whole. The addition of knowledge in Public Health will equip my career as a Physician Assistant with the skills in epidemiology, education, and policy.

Providing Primary Care through a Public Health lens will be extremely beneficial in the
As a Primary Care Provider I will have the unique ability to inform and educate my patients on a more personal level. The integration of Public Health and Primary Care will allow me to cater preventative health to patient’s individual needs creating a more effective system.

By better understanding the needs of the community I will have the ability to initiate policies and programs stemming from first hand knowledge. Integration of the Blue Zones Project, a project designed to help people lead longer, healthier, and happier lives, has made an in impact on the Klamath Falls Community. With a background in Public Health and desire to serve, I too, hope to be involved in the development and incorporation of such Public Health programs.

Though these are only a few of the challenges I will be able to address with a Masters in Public Health they are some of the most important to me. By bringing practitioners with a focus in both Primary Care and Public Health to underserved communities we can start to bridge the gap between patient and provider. Through the implementation of education and increased accessibility to care I hope to be involved in creating healthier