Pre-Med Junior Fieldwork Reflection Writing:  

 
Name​: 
Marja Luis Ortiz 
 
A/B Day:  
A-Day 
 
Advisory Teacher:  
Vinson 
 
Fieldwork Location:  
Healdsburg Senior Living 
 
 
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT:  
Complete this section ​before​ you go on your fieldwork trip. If you do not know about the 
organization, please research and include your research findings below. 
 
 
1. What do you know of the location you will be visiting? What services does the 
organization provide?  
The Healdsburg Living Center is a place where elders live and are taken care of. They 
provide resources like, animals and music to help the elders and entertain them.  
 
2. If you are visiting a specific department within the agency, what is that department's 
primary focus?  
 
When we visit the Healdsburg Living Center, we are going to be assigned a senior and we 
are going to talk to them and listen to music in order to stimulate the memory of the 
elders. 
 
3. What is the public health function the organization/agency addresses?  
(Assessment, Policy Development, Assurance) 
The function of this senior center is to provide assistance for seniors in our community. 
They have many activities and make it feel like home for them. 
 
 4. What preconceived ideas (personal bias) do you have about the location you will be 
visiting? 
 
I feel like it’s going to be quiet and we are going to have a hard time talking to the elders 
since their hearing is not as good as when they were younger. 
  
 
 
 
​ URING YOUR VISIT - OBSERVATION: 
D
Review the prompts i​ n advance​ and take a small notebook on your fieldwork visit. You should 
be taking notes on each of these topics so you will be able to add your observations ​after you 
return.  
Close Read your Surroundings:  
Observe the physical space and "read" them as if close reading a text. Pay attention to: 
● sensory details 
● signs posted 
● languages you hear 
● colors of the offices and uniforms.  
● does the location have a certain smell? 
● what sounds do you hear?  
Observations: 
- Most elders are in wheelchairs 
- They make it feel like home by having a living room area with a t.v and couches 
- There is a garden area outside 
- There are goats and many animals  
- It’s fairly quiet, but not as quiet as a library 
 
 
 
 
Observe your Emotional Response: ​Take notice of your reactions (emotional and physical) 
to different things and reflect on why you might be reacting this way.  
 
Observations: : When I saw all the movie we watched on our first day. I felt sad because I 
don’t want to get old and suffer from hearing loss or dementia. When I got my elder I was 
actually excited to hear stories about her youth and what kind of things she’s interested in. 
 
Ask questions of the person you’re shadowing and/or the industry people you encounter:  
- general questions of interest 
- relating to your potential career choices 
- public health related issues and challenges they see as important to consider.  
 
Record your questions and answers here. 
 
Observations:  
- Where are you from 
- Do you have any kids 
- What was the best time of your life thus far 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summary Reflection   
After your return from your fieldwork experience address each prompt below to capture your 
thoughts on your experience.  
 
Reflect on specific highlights or observations from the day. What was a lesson (big or small) 
you took away from your experience? . Consider lessons that presented themselves in both 
positive and negative ways.  
Reflection  
Once I got my elder buddy, I was excited to ask them questions and listen to their 
stories;however, my person could not talk, so I had to ask yes or no questions, which 
was hard. She did like to touch a lot, which at first it was uncomfortable  
 
How did the experience meet, exceed, or fall short of your expectations? Explain and 
include specific details from your fieldwork notes to help support your answer 
Reflection:: My experience met my expectations. I talked to an elder and helped them 
remember their past. Even though my elder didn’t talk, I still made sure to ask her yes 
or no questions.  
 
What connection can be made between what you ​saw​ on your fieldwork experience and 
the functions of Public Health?  
Some suggestions 
- the role of public health within this career path 
- public health needs or challenges within the field you observed 
- thoughts on how to address these needs 
 
Reflection: One challenge that is faced in public health is the fact that people in public 
 health will encounter different individuals and accommodate their needs. Some 
people will not be prepared for that, so I feel like this aspect should be addressed 
more.