Blog 2- Veronica Fernandez

Our Second Presentations-  Blog 2: Veronica Fernandez

Coming into these Presentations, I wasn't as nervous as the first presentation as I already got the hang of it. We were split into four groups of 5-6 people. Each group chose two topics. The Topics were:

1. Healthcare

2. Our Environment and the Safety of People

3. Education

4. Economy

5. Immigration

6. Families
Group 1 chose the the Environment and the Safety of People & Healthcare. Group 2 chose Healthcare & Families, Group 3 chose Immigration & Economy. Group 4 chose Education & Economy. My group chose to correlate Education and Economy. Unlike the other presentations where Group1went first and then onward, Group 4 (my group) began first. Our project consisted of College Education's role in the Economy. I began the presentation by talking about the main differences in Public v. Private Education on a college level. I gave extra insight into the history and differences in other countries. The first ever colleges were Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, which all still remain private institutions today. Public education emerged much later but grew very rapidly since it became more accessible for students. I also discussed about the Source of Funding, Government Control, and the comparison between the United States, Norway, Finland, and Japan. Through the project, my team members also discussed Student Debt and Challenges for Students. An interview was also done on a recent University of Miami graduate and what they overcame. 

Group 3: Immigration and Economy. They began talking about the Local & National Associations that support immigrants. Many immigrant-owned businesses have many organizations that give help like; Local Chambers of Commerce, USHCC, and Asian/Pacific-American Chamber. It's key point that immigrants in the U.S. play a crucial role in the workforce. As they contribute to a diverse range of skills. Immigrants are very high entrepreneurs that establish many known businesses. Research and evidence showed that immigrants do not take jobs from native-Americans, in fact they increase the demand for goods and services. Interview questions were shown;
1. What are the biggest challenges immigrant's families face when adapting to a new country?
2. What kinds of community programs or resources have helped families the most?
3. What kind of support do families need from schools, churches, or community organizations?
4. How do enforcement actions, such as border control or visa regulation, affect businesses that rely on immigrant labor.
They also talk about some effects that happen to immigrant families, and the constant fear they live in because the current situation. They ended up talking about the beginnings of immigration and its work on the economy. In summary, they did a really good job on their presentation and discussing the important roles of immigrants and the economy.

Group 2: Healthcare and Families. They discuss how the healthcare system and families connect together. United States healthcare includes private insurance and programs like Medicare and Medicaid (made accessible). Most Americans get insurance through their jobs, where both the employer and employee share the cost of the plan. People in rural areas or small towns may not have as many doctors or hospitals nearby (limited access). Many families cannot afford premiums or deductibles leading to skipped treatments or delayed care which is caused by high cost of insurance in the United States. With the current government shutdown, it causes delay in benefit processing and reduced access to health services for low-income families. Comparing health to other countries like Canada, they offer universal or low-cost coverage for medical expenses. It helps families avoid major medical debt. While in the U.S. the cost is much higher, creating stress for many families. National Organization: American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, and March of Dimes. They interviewed a pharmacist asking;
1. What are some of the biggest challenges you face working in healthcare
2. What makes your job feel rewarding or meaningful to you, personally?
They also interviewed a nurse
1. What are some common struggles families face when trying to access healthcare?
2. Have you noticed how financial stability affects families when it comes to healthcare.
In summary, they explained very well how U.S. families face significant challenges coming to healthcare.

Group 1: Environment/Safety of the People and Healthcare. They discuss how the environment and healthcare correlate. Healthcare is more than hospitals, its prevention, environment and access. Some examples of correlation would be air pollution, unsafe housing, and community health programs. Studies show that 1 in every 10 premature deaths worldwide is linked to poor air quality. Comparing it from the U.S. to Canada and Japan.
- United States: Life Expectancy- 78 years old
- Canada: Life Expectancy- 81 years old
- Japan: Life Expectancy- 85 years old
Disease prevention and population health are dependent on healthcare, including availability, accessibility cost, and acceptability of services. The United States has the highest cost of healthcare in the world, with $12,000 per person each year, in which most Americans are not covered by health insurance so it is made more difficult for them. Comparing to Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden; the United States is the only non-universal coverage. There is limited access to nutritious food, safe housing, and healthcare which can lead to higher stress levels and chronic disease prevalence. They interviewed Samir M. Elmir; the Division Director of the Environmental Public Health and Engineering. 
1. How does the physical and social environment affect community health in Miami-Dade?
In summary, this was a good presentation; everyone did a good job on their part of the project.

In conclusion, all four presentations were able to overlook some topics that maybe are not seen or talked about daily. Since it was the send presentation of the semester; it was much less nervous because everyone knew how to prepare beforehand in order to have a smooth presentation. I was also able to learn new interesting facts about each individual group and their topic. Incorporating the interviews was amazing as asking questions that I know many were looking for an answer. Overall, I think everyone did a really good job of presenting.