Ruby Macfarlane ’25 is one of 26 student fellows who completed research with a community-based organization in upstate New York this summer as a part of the Upstate Institute Summer Field School.
This summer, I completed my Field School Fellowship with the Madison County Department of Health (MCDOH). From communicable disease surveillance to addressing environmental concerns, MCDOH staff members work to improve the health and well-being of all Madison County residents. Some of the programs facilitated by MCDOH include vaccination clinics, awareness and treatment of harmful diseases like rabies, and lead poisoning prevention.
My project focused on the prevalence and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which is just one of the many important issues MCDOH works to address. STIs are a subset of communicable diseases, passed primarily from person to person via vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Due to the lack of healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals were unable to complete their routine STI screening. So, fewer STI cases were identified than before the pandemic.
Despite the decrease in reported cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there were 374 million new infections of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis in 2020. Undetected STI cases raise concerns around further spread of infections as well as potential long-term health effects when untreated. Health effects may include infertility, pregnancy complications, cancer, and increased risk for HIV infection. I collected and analyzed the data on the prevalence of STI cases in Madison County, and subsequently, developed recommendations based on evidence-based research.
In my research of best practices, I was able to identify four strategies to minimize STI transmission: 1) improve education on safe sex practices, 2) destigmatize STIs through education, 3) increase access to STI testing and treatment, and 4) encourage medical providers to use Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) to treat the partners of those with an STI. In order to effectively address this issue, MCDOH will continue to promote the prevention of STIs through education and will work closely with community organizations and medical providers on the implementation of above recommendations.
As a pre-med student with a global public and environmental health minor, I am very interested in the field of public health. The opportunity to work for MCDOH as a Field School Fellow this summer provided me with experiences that will be invaluable in my intended future career in the health sciences. The welcoming staff at MCDOH taught me a great deal about the inner workings of public health agencies. With their support, I worked to make a positive impact on Madison County residents through data analysis, policy recommendations, and clinical experience. I am tremendously grateful for all of the people I have met and the experiences I have had as a Field School Fellow.