Tanya addressed the lack of access to feminine hygiene products in Alabama middle schools by providing sanitary pad dispensers and refills to Girls Inc and middle schools. She designed and implemented an educational seminar series for young girls about menstrual care and hygiene. This included having OB/GYNs as guest speakers and providing additional resources for the girls, their families, and schools. The sessions were interactive, so the girls actively participated and asked any questions they had, both verbally if they felt comfortable or through anonymous notes. She conducted hands-on menstrual kit sessions where she provided materials and guided the girls on making their own kits, including different sizes of pads, hand sanitizer, and deodorant.

As a result of the program:

• Provided 2 feminine hygiene dispensers and 6 boxes of pad refills with 250 pads per box, among Girls Inc, Jones Valley middle school and Huffman middle school.
• Taught 64 girls about menstrual care 
• Provided 31 menstrual care kits
• Provided printed handouts and list of resources for girls and their families
• Compiled and provided the menstrual care curriculum to Girls Inc staff, and counselors at Jones Valley, and Huffman middle schools so they can continue using it for future classes.

“The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship allowed me the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. I greatly appreciate my mentors Dr. Kim Hoover and Dr. Connie Hill, who provided me with invaluable guidance and support. I learned that persistence and patience pay off in the long run. As a result of the experience I gained, I will continue to identify and assess needs in my community and approach complex issues with a problem-solving mindset. As a future healthcare professional, I plan to always put patients’ specific needs first to ensure I provide the best possible care.”