This semester, I had the opportunity to work on a research abstract in collaboration with the Lamm Lab and I presented the abstract at the University of Georgia’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) Symposium. The symposium was held on April 3, 2023, in the Classic Center in Athens, GA.
My research was a part of a larger study focused on exploring future directions for the Healthier Together project. My project focused specifically on analyzing a community needs assessment of rural Georgia residents to determine what community health resources should be utilized in the target counties.
The study found that respondents were interested in coupons and other forms of subsidization and increased availability for healthy foods. Respondents were not as interested in free educational programming. The study revealed the importance of policy changes within the public health and agricultural spaces that implement coupons and subsidies in order to create effective differences in the community. This research project gave me valuable insight into the research process and different areas of health communication. Being able to present my research during the CURO Symposium gave me the confidence to further explore research and learn more about what can be done to improve rural health outcomes. I had amazing mentorship from Dr. Alexa Lamm, Kristin Gibson, and Katie Sanders. I am so grateful to have had such an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in this research project and cannot wait to see what else research has in store for me.
Authors: Rose Tran, Alexa Lamm, Kristin Gibson, Catherine Sanders
