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BCMS ALLIANCE

Tell us a little about your background. tient is asked the same information in an attempt to gain informa-
I am originally from a small farm town in the middle of Illinois tion about the disease itself (symptoms) as well as the places visited
but was educated at Indiana University. I hold a master’s degree in and people the patient may have been in contact with while poten-
Audiology and practiced in both private pediatric settings and mil- tially infectious. We try to gain information from 2 days before the
itary hospitals. I met my husband John, also a Midwesterner, on the symptoms began to 10 days after diagnosis. While every call is dif-
first day of internship for both of us at Beaumont Army Medical ferent, I was really lucky to have people very willing to help and re-
Center when we were stuck in a broken elevator together. I got off ally rack their brains to come up with information on where they
the elevator and declared, “That’s the man I’m going to marry.” We might have been. Sometimes it’s a tough task. Before shelter in place
celebrate 32 years this summer. went into effect, I’m not sure I could tell you all the places I’d been
and people I’d encountered!
What prompted you to return to school?
Why public health? Did most people realize they were sick before
My role at Texas Medical Association Alliance as Vice President they self-quarantined?
of Legislative Affairs has allowed me to become involved with, and Before COVID-19 was the hot topic on everyone’s mind, I don’t
understand, how important advocacy and policy formation is for think most people immediately jumped to the conclusion they were
medicine and public health. I found that with each new issue that sick. Spring allergies were the most common thought. Of course,
TMA tackled I wanted to take a look at the issues more in depth; that’s where the danger lies: in someone not realizing they’re sick
eventually I decided to head back to school for a Master’s in Public and continuing with their daily life, unfortunately spreading the dis-
Health at UT Health School of Public Health. I really feel called to ease. I think that’s something really important to keep in mind as
give back to our community and public health is an area where I we begin resuming our life in our new normal.
think can make a huge impact.
Common questions you’re asked?
Has your master’s program changed since Most people want to know how to keep other people safe! To me
COVID-19 hit? that’s really heartening given the huge political divide we have going
The School of Public Health at UT is an interesting program: on in our country right now over…well, everything, but in particular
while it is based out of UT Health Science Center at Houston, it how to deal with the virus, whether to wear a mask, is the virus se-
operates satellite campuses around the state in most major cities. rious…the list goes on.
They offer on-site teaching, ITV from other campuses and online
work. Since COVID-19 hit everything transitioned to online. While Any funny or poignant stories you can share?
I prefer more interaction, it is pretty nice to get up for an 8 am lec- I think the funniest thing has been how some people really were
ture and still be in my pajamas! just so happy to talk to someone new! For extroverts or people who
live alone, quarantine can be tough! The most poignant things...The
What exactly is COVID-19 tracing? saddest is the fear some people express of being alone in the face
Through the school I’ve had an opportunity to volunteer with San of all this. It makes me ever so grateful for my friends and my family.
Antonio Metro Health as a COVID-19 contact tracer. It’s not only On the opposite end of the spectrum there are tales of friends,
interesting and a valuable experience but a great way to help San An- neighbors and strangers coming to the rescue in ways people could
tonio! Contact tracing has been used in public health for decades as never have imagined. It makes me thankful to live in a community
a way to control the outbreak of communicable diseases. It’s a little where there are such great people.
like being a detective. You search for clues to find all contacts of a
confirmed case in order to help stop the spread of disease. When Jenny Shepard is not being a public health detective, studying for her
2nd graduate degree, advising the Alliance President or in Austin or DC ad-
Could you run us through a case? vocating for medicine, Jenny Shepherd busts sod with husband John (pediatric
When a positive test result is received the health department is anesthesiology) on their Stockdale ranch.
notified and then a tracer attempts to contact the patient. Every pa-
10 San Antonio Medicine • July 2020