Students

Global Health Storytelling Class Projects Offer New Perspectives in Exploring Public Health

Cross-disciplinary teams of SPH and COM students pooled their talents to examine an innovative program that enables neighborhood restaurants to accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payments, and music therapy approaches to help children overcome the lingering effects of trauma.

At the close of the spring semester, students in Jennifer Beard’s Global Health Storytelling class completed multimedia reporting projects that examined some of the thorniest issues in public health.

Beard is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Global Health who co-founded the BU Program for Global Health Storytelling—a collaboration between BUSPH, the BU College of Communication, and the Pulitzer Center. The class is co-taught by John Baynard, a master lecturer in COM with more than 40 years of experience in print, television, and documentary journalism.

The students worked in cross-disciplinary teams of SPH and COM students to combine strengths and interests while learning from each other.  This fall, we are featuring two of their stories.

Mass. Pilot Restaurant Meal Program Provides Vital Community Connection

This article was written by Bella Ramirez (COM’25), Ava Ordog (SPH’26), and Soohyun Jung (COM’25) and examines a program that helps combat food insecurity in Massachusetts by enabling Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users who meet certain eligibility criteria to buy local restaurant meals with their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

Rhythm and Regulation: A Song for the Children

Written by Yahni Lapa (SPH’26) and Harry Gustafson (COM’25), this story looks at the benefits of various types of music therapy in helping children overcome the lingering effects of trauma.