'What really draws me to health policy is the fact that it can have an impact on more than just one person. It can have a state-wide, or a nation-wide impact'
Deborah Kyerematen '25 (CAHNR) in front of the Capitol (Contributed photo)
Deborah Kyerematen '25 (CAHNR) isn't spending her summer on Horsebarn Hill. Instead, she's on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where she is interning for U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut.
Kyerematen, an allied health sciences major, was inspired by the courses she took in her program to move into the policy world.
Through classes on health and food policy in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Kyerematen became interested in applying her knowledge on the kind of broad scale rather than with individual patients.
"In health care, a lot of what is discussed relates to the patient care side, the face-to-face interactions on the individual level," Kyerematen says. "But what really draws me to health policy is the fact that it can have an impact on more than just one person. It can have a state-wide, or a nation-wide impact."
As an intern for Rep. Hayes, Kyerematen responds to constituent questions and relays their concerns to Hayes. She also helps research new bills that Hayes may be interested in sponsoring and attends committee meetings.
"It's been very enlightening," Kyerematen says. "We learn about the government in school, but to see it in action is something different."
Rep. Hayes, inspired by her time as a teacher, has her interns complete capstone projects at the end of the summer.
Kyerematen's project is a newsletter for constituents and healthcare advocacy groups about Hayes' work on reproductive rights. This aligns with Kyerematen's interests in maternal health and health disparities for Black mothers, as well as food policy through programs like SNAP.
"I'm very invested in maternal health," Kyerematen says. "I'm also passionate about food policy in general. I think it's so interesting [how] a lot of agriculture and education policies intertwine with these elements of our health and how important it is."
Kyerematen is on the fast-track program to receive her master's degree in public health from UConn Health after completing her bachelor's degree. Then, Kyerematen says she plans to return to the Hill and work in health policy.
Her internship was organized through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The program has a total of 67 interns this summer.
"It's nice to see other people from different backgrounds connecting and going to receptions and networking on the Hill," Kyerematen says. "I think it's been a very rewarding experience."
This work relates to CAHNR's Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.
