Where Public Health Meets Storytelling
- So Fare Films
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Written by Madison Puetz, Summer 2026 So Fare Films Intern in Social Science Communication
What happens when public health research meets documentary storytelling? So Fare Films intern Madison Puetz reflects on translating research about trauma, mental health, and embodied healing into educational materials for Minding Shadows—and discovering that creativity is essential to effective health communication.
From Research to Real-World Communication
This summer, I was given the wonderful opportunity to intern abroad in Rome, Italy, with So Fare Films, working on educational material for the new and upcoming documentary Minding Shadows. As a graduate student studying public health, I’ve found this opportunity refreshing because it allowed me creative freedom and expression while still focusing on issues related to public health and health promotion, specifically in the realm of mental health.
A majority of my tasks throughout the summer centered on translating research into public health communication. This is something I was fairly familiar with simply through my experience and education in undergrad, and is now something I’m exploring deeper in grad school. However, in this context at So Fare Films, I’ve found it particularly rewarding to know that the research I’m conveying into public health communication material will be applicable in a real-world setting.
Exploring Trauma and Embodied Healing
Working as a social science intern also allowed me to learn more about healing, storytelling, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Healing, health promotion, and physical and emotional well-being have always been topics I’ve found very interesting. I’ve done a lot of casual research on my own about these subjects, as well as research for academic purposes.
This summer, my work as an intern allowed me to dive into that research on a deeper level. I learned much more about trauma recovery, mental health, and embodied healing practices such as Dance-Movement Therapy, CrossFit, trauma-informed yoga, tai chi, and qigong. I learned about the psychological and physical benefits these practices can offer people recovering from trauma and why somatic practices are fundamental to the path
toward healing.
Discovering Storytelling as a Public Health Tool
Interning for a documentary film company also allowed me to learn about the art of storytelling. I found this aspect of the internship particularly noteworthy because I’ve always thought of myself as a storyteller or creative person in one way or another.
In my mind, however, I had always separated my academic interests from my creative ones, convincing myself that health science and public health weren’t appropriate settings for art or for my creative ideas to flourish. I can see more clearly now that I was wrong in that assumption, which is one piece of wisdom I will take away from this internship.
Where Art and Health Communication Meet
As a public health student, you may not think of storytelling as directly related to my field of study, but I have learned that it is not only relevant—it is essential. Film, music, art, and storytelling are all ways of conveying important and emotional messages. Public health, health communication, and health promotion all have a place in the arts, as does every other professional field with a message that needs to be conveyed.
Learning Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Along with all the knowledge I gained about healing and storytelling, I also learned a great deal about interdisciplinary collaboration. I had always understood the importance of bringing together professionals, researchers, and students from different fields to integrate their perspectives, ideas, and methodologies, drive innovation, and solve problems. This internship, however, was my first hands-on experience being part of that process.
I found it meaningful and eye-opening to learn from people working in fields different from my own, including marketing, film, and psychology. I also believe this experience will benefit me moving forward because public health professionals are required to collaborate with people across a variety of sectors, including government, education, nonprofit organizations, and private companies.
Public health professionals work with a wide range of people, from politicians and healthcare providers to educators and social workers. It is therefore important to learn how to communicate with and learn from people whose professional roles and academic backgrounds differ from my own.
Growth Beyond My Comfort Zone
Overall, interning abroad this summer with So Fare Films was an incredible and unique experience. It served as a vessel for both personal and professional insight and growth. I was able to stretch myself and develop new skills in an environment that was completely new to me.
By stepping outside my comfort zone—environmentally, professionally, and internally—I learned more about trauma, healing, storytelling, and collaboration while contributing to a project that was meaningful to me. I was also able to explore a new city and culture while continuing to advance along my academic path.
Creating Work That Can Make an Impact
Most importantly, I am grateful that I was able to use my creative skills to help develop a project with real-world implications and the potential to foster meaningful change. Making an impact on others has always been a core value of mine, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to do so through my work with So Fare Films this summer.
About the Author
Madison Puetz is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Missouri, specializing in Health Promotion and Policy, where she also earned her Bachelor of Health Science with an emphasis in Leadership and Policy and a minor in Public Health. Her professional experience includes healthcare administration at Mercy Hospital, developing online health and safety trainings for Central Missouri Community Action’s Head Start program, and serving nutritious meals to community members through Harvest Table. Her interests center on health communication, education, community well-being, and translating research into accessible resources that can make a practical difference.
An Invitation to Watch and to Listen
We hope you enjoyed this taste of the So Fare Films educational mission to provide a quality professional formation for emerging storytellers from all backgrounds! Whether you can pledge financial backing or not, we want you to be part of this project. Please watch the video linked below to explore the Minding Shadows project that Madison contributed to!
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