Email: janellakang@hsph.harvard.edu

Center of Excellence: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/mch-center-excellence/

JIWC-specific areas of expertise: Child Protection, Humanitarian Studies, Maternal and Child Health, GIS

Funding details: Maternal and Child Health Leadership Lab, Center of Excellence, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

What makes you passionate about your work?

“Being involved in child-protection employments analyzing and designing community-centered health care for women and children in low-resource settings as well as children experiencing child abuse and maltreatment.”

What community-engaged JIWC work are you currently doing?

“I had the chance to work with Makerere University, Iganga, Uganda, analyzing the social determinants of maternal and child health in a rural setting, where I contributed my recent studies in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Social determinants, such as quality of healthcare facilities, negligence of providers, and, especially, road conditions, are a key factor of maternal health and mortality rates. Also, working at First Church Shelter located in Cambridge, MA, primarily creating communication methods among shelter members to remind shelter residents of their doctor’s appointments, to address questions or concerns they may have, and to create a friendly and safe environment. Additionally, I monitor shelter residents who are in the need of medical attention and ensure proper post-treatment is being done and continued. I am also involved in a research project assessing the needs of social inclusion in communities experiencing homelessness.”