http://www.nova.edu/~danshaw/jitp/archive/JITP_V18_2012_v10.pdf

Applying Self Efficacy Theory to Increase Interpersonal Effectiveness in Teamwork

MLK Jr. or Gandhi won't be back: You are the heroes now

It is said that great people are made, not born. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi are such people. Heroes in their own right, they grew up in different worlds and experienced hardships and sorrows which transformed them from ordinary men into heroes who fought for equality and freedom in their countries.

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Given the prevalence of violence and suffering in the world today, the need for modern-day heroes who can save this world from inequality and injustice has never been more apparent.  These heroes are ordinary people who aspire to make a difference, just like what Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi achieved. 

Modern-day heroes are open-minded people who live with their morals and ethics intact.  They campaign against violence and poverty, and lend a helping hand to the less-fortunate without any hesitation.  Most importantly, they fight for what they believe in to achieve their goals.

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Many people have already started paving the way for change. These include A-list celebrities, like Angelina Jolie and George Clooney, business moguls, like Warren Buffett, and even ordinary individuals, like Linda Shoemaker and Sharon Younkin.

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People don’t need to be wealthy or educated to become modern-day heroes.  All they need is the drive to succeed in improving the lives of others.

Visit this Twitter page for links to articles about philanthropic efforts by modern-day heroes around the world.

Teach them right, teach them early: Benefits of involving kids in community service

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 Education integrates community service in its list of extracurricular activities for one important reason: it is vital in character building. If children are taught to volunteer at an early age, helping out may just become permanently ingrained in their characters—probably so much that it eventually becomes central to their being. If this will carry on, it can instigate a domino effect, hopefully resulting to a society where all individuals freely pay forward to achieve that utopian pipedream that remains to be ever elusive.

Because the road toward this goal is no walk in the park, schools have taken it upon themselves to help out in this mission. In recent years, they have adopted methods by which they can introduce the art of community service to students. Community service directors like Sharon Younkin and Noreen Wiedenfeld realize that by teaching students how to give back to the community at an early age, the following benefits may be reaped in the long haul:

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 • Children develop a sense of responsibility. When kids volunteer, they are able to learn what it means to make and maintain commitments. Because they are also held against certain rules in the conduct of volunteering, they can also learn to be on time for an activity, gun for the best results, and take pride in their achievements. Above all, however, children learn to recognize an individual’s role and worth in the overall well-being of communities.

• Children discover the benefits of sacrifice. Because doing volunteer work is not all roses, children get to realize that sacrifice is part and parcel in any endeavor to achieve a desired goal. Reducing play time to accommodate community service teaches them that there are more significant things besides themselves and their immediate needs.

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 • Children develop tolerance. By immersing themselves into working with different people, they learn to get along with others regardless of creed, race, and orientation. At some point, they will realize that even the most dissimilar individuals may be united by common values.

• Children acquire requisite job skills. Exposure into the real world can give children an idea of prospective career opportunities, and by being able to work within their niche of interest, they are able to acquaint themselves to the responsibilities and skills required of those interested to pursue them.

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 • Children use idle time wisely. Instead of slacking around and engaging in unproductive activities, community service can be an exciting, if not totally wonderful, alternative.

Paying back to the community is not an easy task, but with the guidance of the right people, it may actually succeed in bringing about the desired changes.

The following Facebook page provides more information on Sharon Younkin’s community service advocacies.

Sharon Younkin awarded the Partnership Award from Public Health of Madison/Dane County, Wisconsin

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Sharon Younkin, Community Service Program Director, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, was awarded the Partnership Award from Public Health of Madison/Dane County Wisconsin for her work with community partners in creatively developing health outreach programs that result in meaningful community learning experiences for UW Medical School students, providing health and dental care to homeless and uninsured individuals, and offering preventative health information and mentoring support for underserved and at-risk populations in our community.

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Sharon has creatively initiated a number health related programs that impact the health of our community and benefit the underserved and at-risk populations. Through her role as Community Service Director at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, she has partnered with a number of community organizations to create and match UW Medical School Students with six community service programs. Programs include the Medic Clinic offering free medical, dental and psychiatric care for acute health issues; health promotion programs for residents of the Allied Drive neighborhood; a program focused on health-related discussion with young people to help them with lifestyle choices; a mentoring program for middle school students; a service learning program that promotes equity and social justice in community and population health; and a mentoring, advocacy and support program for at-risk pregnant women.

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In her personal time, Sharon is also thinking about community service. She has served on the Board for the AIDS network and is currently the Board president of the Allied Wellness Center. Sharon's work moves forward the public health agenda of prevention and access to care.

Budding physicians, budding community servants

Without a doubt, community service is part and parcel in the myriad of existing physician responsibilities. For what else do physicians work for than the benefit of the immediate community wherein they are presently based? The services rendered by physicians are but basic services to individuals and to the community. The quality of such would eventually reflect on one’s public relations, such as the history of medicine so attests.

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Throughout the years, however, there has been a disturbing deterioration in physician-community public relations. Coincidentally, this was in the time of an unprecedented rise in the scientific achievements in the field. This paradigm shift toward a more scientific understanding and practice of medicine has, perhaps, caused the all-important personal relationship with the community to be overshadowed.

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This is where the importance of integrating community service into the medical school curriculum helps. For example, Sharon Younkin, the director of the Community Service Programs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, coordinates community service activities for medical students and provides them opportunities to practice the knowledge they learned in school to serve those who are underprivileged. This kind of opportunity helps to bring the students closer to the people they are supposed to be working for.

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Even with all the medical advancements happening all around us, at the end of the day, the doctor who thinks of patients as a person with a disease rather than a mere example of a disease builds better rapport with his patients. If the doctor isn’t built to be for the community, then what is his purpose?

Nil. Nada. Nothing.

Sharon Younkin is helping in the formation of future physicians by veering them toward a more community-based practice. Learn more about her work by following this Twitter account.

Education and individual action: Solutions to today's health problems

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As the former Director for Community Service Programs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Sharon Younkin helped create and provide support service and civic engagement opportunities for and by medical students.

This article tackles the roles of medical education and individuals in addressing today’s health problems.

According to this NCBI article, the most significant of today’s health problems are the chronic diseases that are disabling both the patients and the general economy as a whole.
These include the following:

• Cancer
• Dental problems
• Mental and neurological disturbances
• Obesity
• Accidents
• Age-related illnesses

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The role of medical education and health educators

Medical institutions and health educators can do their part in reducing the negative impact of these health issues. Through medical education, medical institutions help their students help others prevent and recover from such health problems.
However, despite all efforts, health educators face difficulties and challenges, including the age-group that must be influenced, the number of agencies that are involved, and the modification of behavioral patterns and value systems.

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The role of individuals

With the insidious nature of today’s diseases, individuals have to take action. This requires solid knowledge about how to prevent such diseases. This may not be as easy, but individual action is important to make room for a variety of disease prevention measures such as immunization, safe water and food supplies, sanitary sewage disposal, and bacteria control.

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Addressing children’s health concerns

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Healthcare professionals also involved in community service, such as Sharon Younkin, help address concerns on health problems, including those of the youth.

A C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health indicates that obesity is the top health hazard among children. This is followed by drug abuse and smoking.

Helping children cope

To give children a head start on lifelong health, community service professionals for public health like Sharon Younkin emphasize the importance of sports and other physical activities. With an adult’s encouragement, such activities will spark children’s interest in being active and will turn their attention from unhealthy food and habits.

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Since obesity is the number one concern among children, they have to be taught early on the value of having a healthy diet and sticking to portion control. This is a way of making them aware of what types of food to eat, in what amounts, and how these practices can help them lead healthy lives. Other disease prevention measures matter, too. These may come through vaccinations, child safety and school health, and regular doctor visitation.

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Parents can begin education their children on nutrition by talking about medical topics in a way that’s age-appropriate. For example, they may discuss why children take medications, share tidbits about chronic conditions, or teach them methods of caring for their medical tools and equipment. Children’s health experts also push adults to set good examples for kids to follow.

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