SARAH JANE SMITH
Email: sarahjanesm1983@gmail.com
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles
M.P.H. Community Health Sciences, In Progress
M.A. Latin American Studies, In Progress
Expected graduation: June 2017
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010
B.A. Feminist Studies
Undergraduate Emphasis: Science, Technology, and Medicine
Senior Seminar Paper: “Human Rights, Maternal Mortality, and Comadronas in
the Western Highlands of Guatemala”
B.A. Community Studies
Undergraduate Emphasis: Reproductive Health & Justice
Student Directed Seminar: “The Radical Politics of Childbirth and Midwifery”
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The Social Determinants of Health; Reproductive Health, Intersection of Medical
Anthropology & Public Health; Immigrant & Refugee Health; The Social Production of
Disease and Distress; Structural Vulnerability to Poor Reproductive Health Outcomes;
Adolescent Maternal Mortality in Latin America; Harm Reduction & Pregnancy Coercion
AWARDS AND HONORS
2014-2015
Latin American Studies Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles, $17,000
2014-2015
Fielding School of Public Opportunity Award, University of California,
Los Angeles, $10,000
2010
University of California, Santa Cruz: University Honors Cum Laude, Honors in
both Community Studies and Feminist Studies Majors
2010
Lee & Emily Duffus Scholarship of dedication and commitment to academic
excellence
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
California Certified Medical Assistant, licensed through the California Board of Medical
Assistants. Trained and proficient in venipuncture and injections.
EMPLOYMENT
Bilingual English/Spanish Reproductive Health Specialist III, Planned Parenthood
NorCal, El Cerrito & Richmond Health Centers.
01/2011 – Present
Reproductive Health Specialist III
General front office duties including booking appointments, assisting clients with forms
and insurance, answering phone calls and medical questions.
Accurately take client vital signs, perform blood draws, run in-house labs with specimens
as needed. Take medical histories, prepare clients for examinations, explain treatment
procedures, and assist clinicians during examinations. Proficiency in Electronic Health
Records (EHR).
Education and counseling regarding medical services: birth control, safer sex, prevention
of sexually transmitted infections, and treatment. Provide pregnancy options, HIV/AIDS
testing and counseling, give clients test results and do follow up as needed with the
Department of Public Health. Screen all clients for intimate partner violence, provide
referrals, and file CPS reports when indicated.
Clinic Coordinator
Supervise staff in establishing priorities and resolving issues in clinic setting. Manage
patients, faculty, and staff teams to maintain clinic flow ensuring client services are
delivered in a timely, professional manner.
Abortion Counselor & Assistant: Medication and Surgical Abortions
Provide counseling and education to clients before and after abortion procedures, assist
clients and clinicians with abortion procedure, assess support system, and advocate for
clients, their partners and families.
Colposcopy Counselor & Assistant
Provide counseling and education to clients before colposcopy procedures, discuss
abnormal pap smear results and follow up plans when indicated. Assist clients and
clinicians with colposcopy procedures and after care.
FIELD WORK
06/2009
As part of a six-month field study project for Community Studies, I conducted
ethnographic research with two different Non-Profit Organizations
that are funded in the Global North and implemented in the Global South. Both
organizations maintain health centers and share the goal of reducing infant and
maternal mortality rates of births attended by indigenous Mam midwives in the
Western Highlands of Guatemala. Their methodological approaches in reducing
overall rates varied greatly and were informed by their positionality within the
community being studied. My initial research focused on high infant and maternal
mortality rates as a result of ineffective health policies aimed at training midwives
who attend the majority of births in rural Guatemala. With time, however, my
experiences in the field lead me to understand the significance of the social
determinants of health, specifically for the most vulnerable and marginalized
populations.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Spring 2010
Lecturer, Community Studies, Student Directed Seminar: The Radical Politics of
Childbirth and Midwifery, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Winter 2010 Teaching Assistant, Community Studies: Women’s Health Activism, University
of California, Santa Cruz.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Winter 2013 Guest Lecturer, “The Intersectional Framework of Reproductive Justice,” Women’s
Health Activism, Community Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Winter 2010 Guest Lecturer, “Problematizing the Liberatory Ideology of ‘Choice’ in Abortion and
Childbirth,” Women’s Health Activism, Community Studies, University of
California, Santa Cruz.
CONFERENCES ORGANIZED
Fall 2012
Healthcare & Social Justice Praxis. University of California, Santa Cruz.
Spring 2008 California Association of Midwives Panel Discussion and Film Screening,
Santa Cruz, CA.
CONFERENCES ATTENDENDED
Summer 2014 Liberation Medicine, Rise Up In Solidarity. Doctors for Global Health General
Assembly. University de la Tierra, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
Fall 2013
Partnering for Collective Liberation-Intersections for Health, Art, and Political
Change. Doctor’s for Global Health General Assembly. Berkeley, CA.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
01/2014Present
Undocumented Client Task Force. Planned Parenthood, Shasta Pacific.
07/2013
Clinic Volunteer. Clínica ACAM. Concepción, Chiquirichapa, Guatemala.
09/2011
Planned Parenthood Volunteer Clinic Escort. Planned Parenthood Shasta-Pacific.
Napa, CA.
06/2008 –
06/2010
Consent Collective. Founder/Workshop Facilitator.
A Grassroots Collective that developed and hosted a 10-week series of workshops
on Consent, Sexual Violence, Race, Class, and Gender. Invited to host workshops
at UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, and Santa Cruz Bookfair. Santa Cruz, CA.
06/2009 –
12/2009
06/2009 –
12/2009
Clinic Assistant. Xela Aid Community Clinic. San Martin, Guatemala.
03/2009 –
06/2009
Santa Cruz Birth Network Internship. Santa Cruz, CA.
06/2008
Co-Action Anti-Racist Ally 3-Day Training. Santa Cruz, CA.
Midwife Assistant. Clinica ACAM. Concepción, Chiquirichapa,
Guatemala.
01/2008 –
06/2008
AIDS Life/Cycle. Ride participant and fund-raiser. San Francisco, CA
and Los Angeles, CA.
01/2005 –
06/2005
Highland Hospital, Volunteer Doula. Oakland, CA
LANGUAGES
Spanish: fluent.
English: fluent; native.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Doctor’s for Global Health, Health and Human Rights Advocacy Committee and voting member.