Academics University of Florida
	MEREDITH MARIE KEPPEL
	University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance Department of Health Education and Behavior			3^rd Year Senior Major: Health Education and Behavior Specialization : Health Studies
	Home Academic Resume Activity Project Video		Professional Philosophy: First of all, I believe that it is my obligation as a health educator and physician assistant, to not only promote optimal health for my patients and students, but also for myself. I strive to be a professional that my patients and students look up to and thus need to be a positive role model and engage in healthy behaviors such as engaging in regular exercise and eating a balanced diet, as well as refrain from harmful behaviors such as excessive drinking and smoking. I believe that optimal health is achieving one’s greatest potential in every aspect of well-being, including physical health, mental health, and social health, not simply the absence of sickness. As someone who strives to be a reputable health educator and physician assistant, I desire to bridge the gap between prevention and treatment. I plan to use positive behavior modification as my first line of defense for patient treatment as often as possible. I strongly believe in primary prevention as a health educator and aim to be a physician that encourages such a philosophy onto my patients and implement proper prevention programs in order to curtail more invasive treatment.			3 Year Career Plan: As an undergraduate at the University of Florida, I majored in Health Education and Behavior and specialized in Health Studies and would now like to pursue a career in medicine. I would eventually like to become a physician assistant and specialize in women’s health or internal medicine. Therefore, I believe that I would excel as a physician assistant hospitalist or in a rural clinic providing healthcare to underprivileged individuals. I have chosen as my future career to be a certified health educator and physician assistant because of my love for science, nutrition, exercise, and helping others. I also have a huge heart for mission work and have am considering joining AmeriCorps if I do not get into PA school immediately after graduating and hope to also volunteer my time and skills with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone once I have graduated with my masters degree in physician assistant studies. I hope to use the skills and knowledge that I have gained and take it with me to a third-world country where I can do my part in improving their health care system, health education, and treatment procedures.
	contact Meredith Keppel- Email: mkleppek@ufl.edu	Academic Interest My academic interests include preventive treatment, minority health and reducing the healthcare disparities present with the United States. I am not only interested in preventing disease, but also have an immense fascination with the anatomy and physiology of the body, pharmacology and nutritional sciences. I aspire to gain a well-rounded basis of knowledge involving medicine, nutrition, and physical activity and then be the vessel that treats and educates the human population about living the healthiest life possible. Finally I desire to reduce morbidity and mortality related to lifestyle and chronic diseases for every individual.			Professional Ethics Commitment I commit to the professional ethics by the American Association for Health Education and Society for Health Education Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Educators by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
	Last Updated: April 10, 2010