National Public Health Week starts April 3. In recognition, a northwest Louisiana school of allied health is taking time to nurture its community.

This year the American Public Health Association has marked this week as a time for people in public health to celebrate cultures in health. On the National Public Health Week website, the association said, "we learn from the communities we're born in and that we build together."

"Public health embraces so many areas of health," said LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions assistant professor Dr. Deborah Gurgel Smith.

Smith serves in many capacities at LSU Health Shreveport, but her passion is to serve the community. So, when the American Public Association announced this year's National Public Health Week, she said she knew exactly what to do.

Smith said that culture is something that she is very passionate about because it goes hand and hand with public health. Public health focuses on improving and protecting the health and well-being of communities.

Smith said that one of the biggest goals right now for the CDC is to reach out to communities that don't have access to healthcare. "The challenge in reaching out to minority groups in Louisiana is understanding their culture, if you don't understand the culture and their needs, you cannot reach out to them," she said.

For this National Public Health Week, Dr. Smith has organized a whole week of activities that teaches LSUHS students the importance of health in their school community as well as their outside community in Northwest Louisiana.

Read: LSU Health Shreveport is working around the clock to help your heart

What does National Public Health Week look like at LSUHS?

On Monday, students will celebrate mental health awareness and will wear green in solidarity. A therapy dog will also come to campus that day and while students sit with the dog, they can do puzzles and color.

"We are behind the public health efforts to improve mental health," said Smith.

On Tuesday, LSUHS will have a walk with the whole day revolving around health and nutrition. "It's going to be more like a food day," said Smith.

Women's health will be Wednesday's focus. Students will be able to participate in a wellness fair that will test students' blood pressure and BMI.

Thursday and the final day of LSUHS Public Health Awareness Week will involve the community of Northwest Louisiana through a partnership with the Providence House. These two partners will host a blood drive.

LSUHS has a goal to end the cycle of homelessness. "We treat communities," said Smith. "Our goal is prevention, promotion and treatment for our communities."

More: Teacher reunites with Ochsner LSU Health doctors who saved his life

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LSU Health Shreveport offers public health outreach to community, school