Inequality and Health: San Antonio as a Classroom
Hosen Arman
1st Year Environmental Health Sciences Candidate
As I'm packing up to leave our hotel, I find myself thinking back on everything we've
seen and learned this past week. From the historic Missions and tranquil Japanese
Tea
Garden to the lively River Walk and local art scene, my journey through San Antonio
has been a sensory delight and a deep dive into the city's riches . I'm studying how
our
environment impacts our health, and this trip really brought those lessons to life.
We came to San Antonio's East Side because we wanted to really understand how
much people here know about asthma and how it affects them. We talked to groups of
local folks and community health workers, and we also just chatted with people living
in
the community. It was amazing to hear from them directly and to learn so much about
their experiences.
The East Side is full of life and culture, but it's clear that socioeconomic factors
cast a
long shadow over health outcomes. Asthma is a big problem around here. For a lot of
people, they don't learn about asthma until they or someone they love ends up in the
hospital for the first time. When we took a tour of the neighborhood, we saw that
it's
hard for people to get the health care they need right where they live. The only health
center in the area doesn't have urgent care, which makes it tough when asthma gets
really bad.
Even though there are some truly dedicated doctors, nurses, and teachers trying to
help
out, it's obvious that bigger changes need to happen to make a real difference.
Looking back on everything, I can see that San Antonio has taught us lessons that
you
just can't get from books alone. We learned from real stories of real people facing
everyday challenges, but also about how things can get better with the right kind
of help
and support.
Wrapping up this blog, I'm not just packing my bags; but meaningful connections and
a
renewed commitment to public health advocacy. I hope our research contributes
positively to the ongoing conversation about health equity and that our experiences
in
San Antonio inspire others to take action, whether in their personal communities or
on a
broader scale.
So, it's goodbye for now, San Antonio, but really, it’s more than that. It's a promise
from
us to not forget what we've learned here. We're going to take that knowledge and do
something good with it, wherever we end up. Thank you for being such a welcoming
and eye-opening place to learn.