SPH alumna puts degrees to use with volunteer work in Haiti

Joanne Perodin, an alumna of the SPH has been using her free time to help prevent the spread of cholera in Haiti.

Perodin collaborated with the Medical Public Health Information Sharing Environment to put together a series of posters that provided information about how to prevent and identify cholera.

The posters included information on recognizing symptoms similar to those of cholera, an action plan until being seen by a medical doctor or trained health care provider, a homemade water filtration plan and oral rehydration solution and routine sanitation practices.

“I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in a developing world that is Haiti,” she said. “Being exposed to health disparities, environmental (in)justice, natural disasters, constant insecurity have led me to develop a passion for public health.”

Perodin’s volunteer work in Haiti to this point has primarily included work in secondary school settings. She volunteered with students, custodial staff, professors and administrators to discuss and teach about topics like climate change, first aid, garbage and recycling, integrated pest management, natural disaster responses and cholera prevention and action.

She currently works with the Children’s Environmental Health Network as a program coordinator. The CEHN is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect developing infants and children from environmental hazards, and to promote a healthy environment through education, research and policy.

“Outside of the Network, I continue to remain active in public health outreach, something many at the UMD SPH witnessed when I was a student over there,” she said.

Perodin graduated from the SPH with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health, and said she is grateful to have met such a great team at the SPH, especially within the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health.

“I have learned and been exposed to a lot from the school, and created a great network in the field of public health, a great portion of which started off by simply talking to faculty at the UMD SPH.”