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Rucha Patel has a diverse work experience in the field of social work and public health. Rucha recently worked as a Behavioral Health Therapist at DuPage County Health Department. Prior to that, they served as an Outpatient Mental Health Student Intern at Pillars Community Health. Rucha also worked as a Home Care Aide at Metropolitan Asian Family Services and as a Community Services Support Specialist Temp at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet. Rucha also gained experience as a Contact Tracer for the UIC Contact Tracing Project at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Additionally, they interned as an Emergency Services Intern at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet. Rucha has previous experience as an ATLAS Programming Committee Intern, Security Desk Worker, Resident Advisor, and Research Assistant at Saint Louis University. Rucha also worked as a Day Camp Counselor at Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana, an Intern at Pehchan, and an After School Volunteer at City Garden Montessori School.

Rucha Patel, LSW, MPH has a diverse educational background in public health and social work. Rucha completed their Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Community Health Sciences/Global Health at the University of Illinois Chicago from 2020 to 2022. During this time, their focus was on community health and global health issues.

Prior to their MPH degree, Rucha earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Illinois Chicago from 2019 to 2022. Rucha'sfield of study within social work was mental health. This further equipped their with the necessary skills and knowledge to address mental health issues in their future career.

Rucha's undergraduate education took place at Saint Louis University from 2015 to 2019. Rucha obtained their Bachelor's degree with a major in Sociology and International Studies. This academic foundation provided their with a broader understanding of society and international perspectives.

Before their college years, Rucha Patel received their High School Diploma from Comm High School Dist 99 - South High School, completing their secondary education from 2011 to 2015.

In addition to their formal education, Rucha has also pursued various certifications to further enhance their professional skills. Rucha completed the "Avoiding Burnout" certification from LinkedIn in June 2020, which focused on preventing professional burnout. Rucha also obtained a certification in "COVID-19 Contact Tracing" from Coursera in the same month, equipping their with the knowledge to assist in contact tracing efforts during the pandemic. Furthermore, they completed the "Making Contact: A Training for COVID 19 Contact Tracers" certification from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Rucha Patel also holds the designation of a Licensed Social Worker, which they obtained from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in December 2022. Finally, they obtained the IM+CAN certification from the John Praed Foundation in August 2022, further showcasing their expertise in working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges.