Bridging the Gap on Albany Street.

Tae-In Lee Life on Albany Activist Fellow

Breakfast: Coffee, Vanilla Almond Milk, NPR Up First

Hometown: A suburb outside of Atlanta, GA

Extracurricular: Hiking, Reading, and Pod Save America

Tae is an MPH candidate studying Health Policy and Management at BUSPH and is the newly-appointed Activist Fellow to the Life on Albany Committee. We sat down with Tae to learn more about his Fellowship and his experience working with the Life on Albany project so far.

Why did you apply for the Life on Albany Activist Fellowship?

When I read about the Life on Albany Committee, I instantly knew that I had to apply for the Activist Fellowship! Becoming their fellow signifies a transition from formal education to the real-world application of my public health knowledge. While the curriculum at BUSPH equips students with powerful evidence-based tools, being a fellow allows me to apply these tools and present innovations to help the committee grow and meet its objectives in the local neighborhood.

I was thrilled to learn that one objective of the Life on Albany Committee is to close the gap between the institution and its neighbors. During my undergraduate at the University of Georgia, I was disheartened by the seclusion of the university from its neighborhoods. The disconnect between students and community residents kept the students unaware of the poverty that prevailed in the neighborhoods. As a fellow, I want to break that barrier between BUMC and its neighborhood. I aspire to become the bridge that connects folks at BUMC to be more involved and proactive with the community. 

Why are you passionate about working with populations struggling with homelessness and substance use disorder?

My passion comes from my year-long volunteer experience with the Winnebago County Health Department Needle Exchange Program. There, in addition to providing clean syringes, I listened to personal stories shared by individuals struggling with substance use disorder and homelessness. Their stories revealed the socioeconomic burden and barriers that contribute to the marginalization, fragmented treatment programs, and incarceration of this vulnerable population. 

Listening to their stories uncovered a side of their humanity that was lost by the media; the media continues to stigmatize drug users as “addicts”, instead of people with complicated, powerful life stories worth sharing and hearing. The intersection of Albany Street and Massachusetts Avenue is characterized as the “Methadone Mile” when the conversation shifts to substance use. That narrative dehumanizes individuals struggling with substance use disorder and marginalizes them as dangerous criminals and environmental hazards.  Several studies have indicated an association between interpersonal discrimination of drug users and adverse health outcomes, such as heart problems, but the media continues to perpetuate the narrative that focuses on the “ism” instead of the person. 

As a fellow, I hope to create a platform where folks at BUMC can connect with our neighbors, redefine the narrative surrounding substance use disorder and homelessness, and collectively advocate for equitable evidence-based treatment. Issues surrounding homelessness and substance use disorder don’t have to be controversial; there just needs to be a push to address the misconceptions about addiction and change the narrative. 

What are you working on with the Committee now?

We are partnering with St. Francis House to support their foot clinic. I will be coordinating volunteer opportunities for students at BUMC to engage with patients at St. Francis House. Through this process, we hope to learn more about what it means to provide this service. There is a long-term plan in the works in which the Engagement Center will receive a new, permanent building. We are excited about this opportunity because there may then be an opportunity for the Life on Albany Committee to start our own foot clinic for our neighbors. 

I am also working with the Student Life on Albany Committee to present a detailed Resource Guide to the public. It includes information about the services offered by providers in our neighborhood. This living document will help direct individuals struggling with substance use disorder and homelessness to the appropriate facility. We hope to have the resource packet available on the BUSPH website soon!

Moreover, the Life on Albany Committee is hoping to assess students’ perceptions of safety at BUMC through an internal survey. The results will help us determine ways to engage the students with our neighbors to reduce the stigma surrounding homelessness and substance use disorder. 

Any suggestions for how your colleagues on the Medical Campus should get involved?

BUSPH has incredibly supportive faculty and staff who are happy to meet and learn more about your passion.  Take advantage of this! They have a large network that can enhance your public health experience by getting you involved with the community and develop your professional abilities. Also, the Activist Lab provides engaging opportunities for students to take action on public health issues. If you are interested in working on issues of homelessness and substance use disorder, I strongly encourage you to become involved with the Activist Lab’s Life on Albany Committee! 

— Emily Barbo & Tae-In Lee