Dual Session: "Women in STEM" & "Public Health" - #4 (2025) Civically Engaged Student Webinar Series скачать в хорошем качестве

Dual Session: "Women in STEM" & "Public Health" - #4 (2025) Civically Engaged Student Webinar Series

Featuring: Aynsley Szczesniak & Jailah Lytch, UNC-Chapel Hill ; Christopher Dietrich & Reagan Smith, Wake Forest University How Women in STEM Can Inspire and Educate Communities: Speak Out Sisterhood is a global nonprofit elevating young professional women in STEM to address the most pressing barriers to women’s career advancement. Their Generation YES Internship program empowers college women to develop, pitch, and prototype social impact projects that tackle systemic challenges in STEM alongside partner organizations. For example, the Science Policy Action Network has been an SOS partner since their first internship program cohort in February 2024. Intern teams have worked with SPAN to research prenatal and postnatal care in rural North Carolina, federal and state legislative policies to support women in the workplace, and stigmas and stereotypes still faced by women in STEM. This presentation will showcase how working directly with major organizations for civic engagement and community development has empowered the college women in this program to develop skills of self-advocacy, negotiation, public speaking, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking that are crucial for career success. Forming the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders: This presentation highlights the critical role of student engagement in public health philanthropy and its impact on shaping future healthcare leaders. Drawing from our experiences serving at various non-profits in our community, we will discuss how hands-on involvement deepens understanding of public health challenges and solutions. Programs like Public Health AmeriCorps help break socio-economic barriers to healthcare, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support beyond medical treatment. For students pursuing healthcare careers, these experiences provide a unique perspective on social determinants of health, transforming public health from a theoretical concept into actionable change. Attendees will learn about the importance of these programs in their own communities or universities, fostering a new generation of public health advocates. About the Speakers: Aynsley Szczesniak is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Biology, Mathematics and Entrepreneurship on the premedical track. As the Founder and CEO of Speak Out Sisterhood, she is passionate about bringing youth voices into critical conversations about women’s career advancement. She is also the youngest member of the Advisory Board of the Carolina Women’s Center at UNC Chapel Hill and the North Carolina State Lead of Million Women Mentors, and has spoken at conferences, webinars, and panels about the power of social entrepreneurship to build skills and strength for success in STEM. Jailah Lytch is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Biology with a minor in Health and Society. She is a dedicated community health volunteer with a strong passion for women’s health and societal well-being. Her interdisciplinary interests lie at the intersection of medicine and sociology, focusing on how people interact and how social structures influence health outcomes. As a young Black woman, she finds empowerment in connecting with others who share her experiences and working together to create meaningful change. Through her volunteer work and academic pursuits, she strives to advocate for equitable healthcare and foster a more inclusive society. Christopher Dietrich is a junior at Wake Forest University majoring in Health & Exercise Science. He is a dedicated student leader and Public Health AmeriCorps member with over 900 hours of service supporting public health initiatives at the Winston-Salem Community Care Center. Through his work, he helps address critical healthcare disparities while contributing to the training of future public health leaders. Beyond AmeriCorps, he volunteers at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, assisting patients with essential non-medical resources such as food, transportation, and financial aid. Recognized for his commitment to community engagement, he actively inspires fellow students to serve and uphold Wake Forest University’s Pro Humanitate motto. Reagan Smith is a junior at Wake Forest University, where she is pursuing a double major in Biochemistry and Spanish for Healthcare, with the goal of being a surgical oncologist. She has served over 900 hours with Public Health Americorps stationed at Cancer Services Inc, a local non-profit that provides resources to cancer patients and survivors. Reagan also tutors children in her community, helping elementary students gain valuable skills and confidence in school. Her volunteer work and experiences thus far have given her a passion to advocate for those in need of support, whether that’s in the hospital or classroom, to give everyone the best outcomes in life.