Reflecting on my experience with the practice labs, I can confidently say that they have been instrumental in achieving some of the vital competencies in my MPH program. Two of the most significant competencies I accomplished through the practice lab projects were identifying cultural values and practices relevant to the design of public health programs (MPH 8) and selecting communication strategies for different audiences and sectors (MPH 18).

In the MPH 613 practice lab, I had to design a community lead poisoning education and prevention program while incorporating various components of public health, including risk communication, inclusiveness, and cultural competence. Through this assignment, I identified potential lead sources in a mock community, discussed factors that could affect people’s risk of lead poisoning, and recommended risk communication strategies for different audiences and sectors in the community. This assignment helped me achieve the competency of identifying cultural values and practices relevant to the design of public health programs (MPH 8), selecting communication strategies for different audiences and sectors (MPH 18), and recognizing the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content (MPH 20).

Similarly, the MPH 632 practice lab allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills to a real-world public health scenario involving risk management and communication strategies for environmental health hazards. This exercise fulfilled CEPH Competency #2 and CEPH Competency #5, which involved evaluating risks posed by environmental health hazards and developing a plan for communicating complex, environmental risk information in a high-stress situation. The exercise allowed me to enhance my risk management and communication skills, both of which are essential in the field of public health.

Overall, the practice labs have had a cumulative impact on my learning by providing me with hands-on opportunities to apply my knowledge and skills to real-world public health scenarios. They have helped me integrate various components of public health and apply them to the design of effective prevention programs. These experiences have prepared me for future public health practice by equipping me with the necessary skills and competencies to design and implement effective public health prevention programs that consider the cultural traditions and beliefs of the target population.