Desayuno con Diamantes (Breakfast with Diamonds)

By Juanita Mora, Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Universidad de Granada

Juanita Mora is a former research assistant on the AIRP-VABE project. Our team is proud to see Juanita carry and share the work she did on AIRP-VABE with her peers at the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, where Juanita is continuing her studies. She recently presented this work at an event called "Desayuno con Diamantes”.  Below, we asked Juanita to expand on this presentation:

What inspired you to share this work?

The concept of “Desayuno con Diamantes” is something quite new to me and drew me in as a great opportunity to reflect and discuss the work the AIRP team has done thus far in its trajectory.

My name is Juanita, and I had the pleasure of being part of the AIRP team from February 2021 to August 2022 before embarking on a new adventure in Granada, Spain to complete a master’s in public health.

“Desayuno con Diamantes” translates to “Breakfast with Diamonds” and was implemented by Ariane Bauernfeind, the master’s program coordinator, to facilitate critical thinking, reflexiveness, and of course, a way to encourage public speaking on behalf of the students.

Bright and early, before regularly scheduled classes begin, and with breakfast-like snacks included, students and professors alike come together to discuss certain topics an article brings forward, that perhaps are topics that cannot be covered in our regular programming. This is a great opportunity for young researchers to present their previous research experience and showcase their academic and professional backgrounds of which they come from, prior to joining the master’s program.

The topic of "aging in the right place" is quite novel in Spain, yet very applicable given the growing aging population and demographic shift many European countries are experiencing, similarly to what is being seen in the Canadian context. Additionally, the topic of urban design and how the built environment has impacts on our health and wellbeing is also growing in interest and concern among public health experts in Spain. Therefore, being able to present the work the AIRP team has been doing, was of great value to not only my fellow classmates, but for professors interested in the area.

I hope to keep finding opportunities to advocate for research regarding housing security for older persons experiencing homelessness, and to use my role as a future researcher and public health professional in this field to promote evidence-based improvements in the health and wellbeing of this population.

What have you been up to since leaving the AIRP project? 

I have since been in Granada, Spain where I am completing my first year in the EuroPubHealth+ program at the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública along with 11 other students with diverse academic and professional backgrounds from 10 different nationalities, and with 12 other Spanish medical students completing their residency program in Preventative Medicine and Public Health. Needless to say, in-class discussions are always fruitful and it is such a reward to be able to hear different perspectives and experiences from my classmates. After the end of this academic year, I will be moving to Paris, France to specialize in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at École des hautes études de santé publique where I will complete an internship and thesis prior to graduation.

Do you find yourself applying any of the knowledge/skills you learned on the AIRP project in your current academic, professional, or social life? If so, how?

I definitely have been able to speak to my experiences as a research assistant on the AIRP project during class discussions. My experience with qualitative research came in especially useful when discussing how qualitative research is beneficial in public health. Photovoice as a qualitative research method is innovative and not quite well known. Therefore being able to bring this method and experience into the classroom was of great use to the discussion. In addition, my perspective on how the built environment has a strong impact on one’s health and wellbeing was greatly welcomed and valued in our discussions regarding social determinants of health. Another valuable skill I took from my time with the AIRP project was being able to work in a team setting, composed of members from several different disciplines, such as Psychology, Gerontology, and Health Sciences. I have practiced this teamworking skill extensively, as the foundation of my master’s program is based on teamwork, for projects and presentations. In addition, the nature of the public health profession is multidisciplinary and therefore having been able to work alongside members from different disciplines during my time with AIRP was of great advantage for my professional development.

What is your greatest takeaway from working on the AIRP project?

From my time with the AIRP project I gained a sense of appreciation for research in its ability to bring awareness to a current social problem, and how it can bring about real change for the population impacted using community-based research and can reflect the lived experience of this population of interest. I learned that this work is truly valuable to create the evidence needed to support potential social and political movements for the benefit of this population. Although at times research may feel like a slow process, the work that is done with the AIRP project demonstrates how eventually this slow process will bring about positive change.