Campus Ministry Spring Break Trip Brings New Perspectives to Public Health Education
March 2024 will be the third time that MPH student Kristin Beduhn spends her spring break in the small-mountain towns of West Virginia. Beduhn currently fulfills a role as a SLU Campus Ministry graduate assistant, but has previously attended the ‘Immersion Experience’ trip offered through the organization as an undergraduate student. She now supports other undergraduate students on the trip.
The Immersion Experience is just that – an experience. According to the SLU Campus Ministry website, ‘through engaging in the pillars of community, spirituality, justice and solidarity, Campus Ministry Spring Break Immersion Program will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone in order to accompany people on the margins and to critically engage with the social injustices facing those people — and to allow yourself to be radically transformed in the process.’
Students start preparing for the trip weeks in advance by discussing and reflecting on the purpose of immersion and how it aligns with the Jesuit values. Beduhn, a second year MPH student, emphasizes how important establishing respect among participants as well as respect for the community they are visiting is to attending. They also prepare by gaining background information and getting educated about the history and culture of the region.
“It is so important to understand the rich history of a community before trying to implement change because without that understanding there is a huge culture gap and an overall lack of trust between you and the community you are serving,” Beduhn said.
The experience takes students to visit a ‘Mine War Museum,’ which reviews one of the most historically significant events in the region and introduces students to community members who share about the economic significance of the decline of the coal industry. The trip also touches on the impact the ‘Opioid Crisis’ has had on the community’s health status as well as the destruction of the abundant natural resources that belong to the region due to mountain-top removal practices brought on by the coal industry.
Now in her last year being a part of this trip, Beduhn reflects on how the leadership experience has complimented her graduate education.
“As a leader, I love being able to build relationships with community stakeholders in West Virginia and see how each of them work in a unique way to help build community capacity. I also have really been able to improve my mentoring skills and I have a great admiration for the effort the students put in to prepare for the trip and who trust me to provide them with a great experience.”
To learn more about the West Virginia Campus Immersion Experience and the experiences offered at several other locations around the United States, visit the SLU Campus Ministry website.
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.