Practicum Highlight: Carleigh Drill, MPH'25

The Importance of Health Literacy: Carleigh Drill’s Practicum on Improving Outcomes for Displaced Communities

Carleigh Drill is a Clinical Research Coordinator in Oncology at UCHealth and a Master of Public Health (MPH) candidate in Dartmouth’s Online/Hybrid MPH program. She recently completed her practicum project as part of Dartmouth’s practicum intensive.

Carleigh’s project, Evaluating and Addressing Women’s Health Needs and Health Literacy in Manchester-Based Refugee Populations, focuses on improving health outcomes for displaced women, particularly refugees, by enhancing their health literacy. This project was completed in collaboration with the International Institute of New England (IINE) in Manchester, New Hampshire, an organization that supports refugees from the Congo, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, and other regions.

“The central goal of the project was to address the health disparities faced by refugee women, who encounter significant barriers such as language challenges, limited education, and restricted access to healthcare,” explains Carleigh. The initiative aimed to empower these women to make informed decisions about their health by focusing on health literacy—the ability to understand, access, and use health information effectively.

Through her work with IINE, Carleigh identified a critical link between health literacy and health outcomes. Refugee women, especially those with limited English proficiency, face heightened risks due to language barriers and challenges in navigating the healthcare system. To address these issues, Carleigh and her team organized focus groups and planned educational workshops in partnership with IINE. These workshops were designed to improve participants' understanding of various health topics and equip them with practical skills for interacting effectively with healthcare providers. Preliminary results suggest that the workshops foster a sense of community, increase participants' confidence, and enhance their ability to advocate for their health needs. Moving forward, Carleigh plans to continue these workshops and assess their impact through pre- and post-surveys measuring improvements in health literacy and healthcare interactions.

“I had the privilege of conducting this project alongside two Dartmouth Medical Students, one of whom served as our team lead,” says Carleigh. “Collaborating across disciplines was both fascinating and incredibly effective, as it allowed us to leverage each other's unique perspectives and expertise. This experience deepened my appreciation for work outside of my own field and laid a strong foundation for my future career in public health, where collaboration is critical.”

Carleigh’s practicum experience highlights the importance of addressing health literacy in underserved populations and underscores the need for ongoing educational initiatives to overcome language barriers and improve healthcare access. Her long-term goal is to contribute to better health outcomes for displaced women and create a sustainable model for supporting refugee communities in their health journeys.

“My experience at Dartmouth has been truly transformative,” Carleigh shares. “I've had the privilege of connecting with incredible people, immersing myself in a wide range of courses that have broadened my perspective, and gaining invaluable skills that have prepared me to hit the ground running in my public health career after graduation. The opportunities for growth, both academically and personally, have set a strong foundation for my future, and I have Dartmouth to thank for that.”

POSTED 3/20/2025 AT 09:55 AM IN #practicum #mph