August 10, 2006 Issue                                       

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

G’town public health grad working to keep us healthy

Germantown resident Jessica Klausmeier, a recent graduate of Drexel’s School of Public Health, works in public health studying addiction treatment for dually-diagnosed women.

In a society faced with threats of terrorism and violence on one hand and widespread epidemics like infectious diseases, obesity and diabetes on the other, it’s reassuring to know that some people in our community are working to keep us safe and healthy.

Germantown resident Jessica Klausmeier is one of them. Klausmeier is a recent graduate of Drexel’s School of Public Health, where she began her work in public health studying addiction treatment for dually-diagnosed women.

Drexel’s School of Public Health requires its students to become involved in the surrounding neighborhoods as an integral part of their degree programs. Klausmeier’s required Community-Based Master’s Project investigated the drug treatment for women who have mental disorders. She interviewed patients and staff at Caring Together, an outpatient drug treatment center for women at the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital.

“My project investigated the qualitative side of drug treatment programs,” said Klausmeier. “I interviewed a population that is generally very hard to reach and found out their opinions and perspectives on the treatment program.”

According to Klausmeier, prior to her research the staff at Caring Together thought that patients with court-mandated treatment were not as motivated as people there by choice. Klausmeier determined this was not true.

However, patients were influenced by other factors. For example, they were more likely to trust staff members with open-door policies. They also thrived in an informal art program in which they expressed themselves and were proud of what they created.

Using the patients’ input, Klausmeier made a number of recommendations, which are currently being considered by Caring Together. She recommended formalizing art classes and initiating an arts therapy group. Klausmeier also suggested that the clinic implement policies to support the relaxed atmosphere that gave the patients confidence to open up to the staff.

Klausmeier recently presented her findings to public health professionals and advocates from throughout the region at Drexel’s School of Public Health’s awards dinner.

The mission of the Drexel University School of Public Health (SPH) is to promote the health of communities through an integrated program of education, research, service and practice. The Drexel University SPH is committed to identifying societal conditions required for people to be healthy, and to advancing practices that improve the health of vulnerable populations.

For more information, call 215-762-4110 or visit www.drexel.edu/pubhealth/.