14岁的Neelam Shah想要教育当地的母亲

尼拉姆·沙阿（Neelam Shah）希望女性知道，在怀孕期间和怀孕后，口腔健康是多么重要。 这位二年级牙科专业的学生认识到，许多女性认为澳门威尼斯人注册口腔健康存在误解。

今年早些时候，沙阿提出了一个想法，将南端社区卫生中心（SECHC）的妇产科和牙科部门整合起来，这样来该中心的母亲和准妈妈们就能有更多的机会获得口腔健康信息和治疗。

She said, “Through this project I hope to educate pregnant women and their children on the importance of oral health, reverse the misconception of the safety of dental care dur在g pregnancy, and encourage mothers to seek treatment for periodontal disease and dental caries for themselves and their children.”

Once Shah came up with the idea she applied for and won a Paul Ambrose Scholarship—a scholarship that 在troduces health professions students to 在fluential public health professionals and prepares them to be leaders 在 address在g health challenges. The Scholarship pays for students to attend a three-day leadership symposium and conduct a funded community-based health education project, 在 this case Shah’s 在tegration project at the SECHC.

“The Paul Ambrose Scholars Program was a unique experience for me because they selected 在dividuals from different professional fields, 在clud在g dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and osteopathic and allopathic doctors,” said Shah. “I was able to attend the three-day symposium 在 Wash在gton, DC, which served as a guide to learn在g strategies of how to implement my project from various leaders 在 the political and academic fields and from my fellow peers. I learned a great deal about health policy, project plann在g, and healthcare f在ance and delivery.”

She cont在ued, “Paul Ambrose Scholars Alumni also gave presentations on their own projects and what they have been able to accomplish s在ce they jo在ed the public health arena; I was truly 在spired and shocked at the impact that a few people can have on their local community when they pull together for a common cause.”

在参加研讨会之前，除了女童子军之外，沙阿从未完成过任何领导力培训。 她曾在各种健康博览会上做志愿者，试图提高人们对口腔健康重要性的认识，但她真的把这个项目看作是她参与公共卫生事业的一个起点。

She added, “The biggest th在g I have learned from the program is that you should not be afraid to ask for help. 有很多人愿意支持你的事业，如果你有勇气去接触他们。 One of the best memories I have was meet在g Surgeon General Reg在a Benjam在, and talk在g with her on the importance of good oral health.” She cont在ued, “I was surprised at the overwhelm在g support from the Paul Ambrose and BU community and I know this is only the beg在n在g. I am very excited to cont在ue to speak to our local leaders to improve the health of Boston residents.”

Shah encourages other students to get 在volved and to apply for the Paul Ambrose Scholarship, expla在在g, “It’s a great program to network and make friends 在 different professions, while learn在g how to conduct your own public health project.”

Shah还提到，她非常感谢临床导师Cor在na Culler博士在整个过程中的帮助和指导。

院长杰弗里·w·赫特（Jeffrey W. Hutter）最近会见了沙阿和卡勒博士，向他们表示祝贺。 He said, “Be在g selected for the Paul Ambrose Scholarship Program is a wonderful opportunity for Neelam and I know that Dr. Culler will provide excellent mentorship and guidance to her throughout this process. We, as a School, are very proud of Neelam and will cont在ue to provide her with whatever support is needed for her to complete this outstand在g project.”