Jenna Mullen, ‘22, studies Cell and Molecular Biology with a particular interest in global health and the social determinants of health. During her time at Brown, Jenna has worked with the Refugee Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital to coordinate the translation of preventative care handouts with culturally appropriate graphic design for the clinic’s patients. She also works as a Connect for Health Desk advocate, helping clients access basic resources such as housing, food and clothing. More recently, she has worked with Big Train Farm to develop a resource to educate SNAP recipients on ways to access discounted fresh foods in Providence. Since March 2020, Jenna has worked as a COVID-19 Emergency Response Coordinator for non-profit Health and Education for All (HAEFA). HAEFA has provided free healthcare to over 100’000 Rohingya refugees in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh, Kutupalong refugee camp. Jenna will be carrying out her Royce project in partnership with HAEFA over the summer. 
 
22.8% of the 860’000 refugees living in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh are at high-risk for serious COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and mortality. Jenna’s project aims to evaluate the initial burden of non-communicable disease in the Rohingya camps and to determine how this burden will contribute to Rohingya’s risk of COVID-19 serious infection. Jenna will also analyze data from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the camps to determine how this can be used to inform and refocus care for the Rohingya community during the pandemic. She aims to develop practical guidelines for HAEFA, and other groups working in the camps, in an effort to improve high-risk COVID-19 patient outcomes within the refugee camp setting and its local health care infrastructure.