12PLUS

 

Assisting Underserved High School Graduates in Attaining Post-Secondary Aspirations (click to view poster)

 

Student Interns:

Zagros Asadi, Drexel University College of Medicine

Kieran Mullins, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Zach Kassutto, MD, FAAP, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Harry Levant, 12Plus

 

Community Site:

12Plus is a nonprofit organization that provides support during and after high school to help students and alumni reach their academic and career goals.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted the 12Plus alumni team with outreach to help alumni pursue their desired future careers or educational pathways. The interns reached out to recent graduates to check in about life after high school and worked to help them achieve their stated goals or pursue new paths. Many alumni were interested in either two-year or four-year colleges, so interns worked to guide them through enrollment steps and financial aid issues. Other alumni sought pathways such as joining the workforce or attending trade school, and the interns worked on a case-by-case basis with these alumni to help them achieve their goals. The interns also updated the 12Plus alumni tracker with all relevant information so that the organization can remain in touch with recent graduates and continue to help them into the fall and beyond.

 

Intern Reflections:

Zagros Asadi: “Working at 12Plus this summer was an incredibly rewarding experience for me, as I was able to see the direct impacts of my work on an alumnus’s future career or educational plans. Furthermore, my work really opened my eyes to the challenges that many first-generation and lower-income high school graduates face, either due to familial commitments or due to an environment that may not support them in reaching their goals. This lack of support in the environment was reflected in the extensive gratitude and thankfulness conveyed to us by our alumni, and truly made me feel privileged to be able to work with such a great team and organization.”

 

Kieran Mullins: “Representing 12Plus as an alumni team member this summer has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. This opportunity has widened my perspective on the challenges students face to break societal barriers, particularly those from underrepresented and under-resourced backgrounds. This experience has strengthened my dedication to advocating for inclusivity and providing equitable opportunities for all. I am grateful that 12Plus allowed me the opportunity to positively impact graduating high school students within the Philadelphia and Camden communities.”

 

 

Broad Street Ministry

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Radical Hospitality at Broad Street Ministry: A Compassionate Approach to Offering Restorative Services (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Rayce Newswanger, Drexel University College of Medicine

John Sauerland, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Annette B. Gadegbeku, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptors:

Nikki Brown, MSW, Broad Street Ministry

Geremi James, LSW, MSW, Broad Street Ministry

 

Community Site:

Broad Street Ministry is an organization in Philadelphia that employs a practice of radical hospitality in its approach to offering services, including its meal program, kitchen takeover series, mail and ID service, concierge program (case management), reentry services, personal care and hygiene truck, and the Broad Street Ministry Boutique. Radical hospitality is a means of creating a welcoming community and communicating dignity by treating each person walking through the doors as a host would treat a guest at home. Moreover, staff and volunteers here emphasize trauma-aware and person-centered care.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns rotated through several of the services offered at Broad Street Ministry and performed various research and outreach activities. The interns worked primarily as concierges (case management officers) and assisted with the mail and ID procurement service. Through the concierge program, interns helped guests obtain identity documents, fill out welfare applications, access documents, navigate and advocate for shelter and housing, find employment, access healthcare, obtain a mailing address, obtain a path to citizenship for migrant families, and more. These resources and services were delivered in a person-centered, trauma-aware manner to best support Broad Street Ministry guests.

 

Intern Reflections:

Rayce Newswanger: “My goal is to humanize, destigmatize, and be an advocate for the population that Broad Street Ministry serves. With one of my main interests being emergency medicine, I know that I will continue to interact with this population because their health is drastically affected by their situations and lack of access to maintenance healthcare, which leads to more life-threatening complications. Sometimes it’s also the only place they may feel they can turn. Unfortunately, many times healthcare workers dismiss a lot of their complaints due to bias and stigma. I want to change the culture wherever I work in the future by informing my colleagues of the insight I have gained by working directly with this population. Many do not understand how hard it is to succeed in the situations that many of our guests are in. Many think that they are there by choice, but do not know a single thing about their life or story. We need to as a society stop treating this population as the ‘other’ and start treating them as we would our family if they were homeless or experiencing substance use disorders. They are trying to better their lives, but due to the system they need the help of others to get back on their feet.”

 

John Sauerland: “On my first day at Broad Street Ministry, I noticed several things that made this organization stand out from others. I was impressed by how this site had so many services under one roof, how all of the staff are committed to delivering services consistent with the mission of radical hospitality, and how the organization is well-run. Much of this speaks to the people who work and volunteer at Broad Street Ministry. While I am sure that many organizations have a goal of being welcoming and respectful, the staff at Broad Street Ministry takes this to heart and makes sure that every guest is treated with dignity and integrity. It is unfortunate that outside of this organization guests, who are a marginalized group of individuals experiencing deep poverty and homelessness, are often not treated with respect in other places. In many cases, they are sometimes treated as less than human. It is so important to treat guests (or anyone for that matter) with dignity and respect. How guests are treated determines whether they will return to seek services and makes a profound impact on their quality of life. Having staff that is committed to the mission and not ‘going through the motions’ for a paycheck allows the mission to be fulfilled and, in turn, makes for a tremendous guest experience that should be replicated elsewhere.”

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Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)

 

Advocating for an Increase to the Personal Needs Allowance in PA (click to view poster)

 

Student Interns:

Rory Milsark, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

Anjali Pradhan, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptors:

James Buehler, MD, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

 

Community Preceptors:

Lori Walsh, MPPM, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders

 

Community Site:

The Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE) is a Philadelphia-based group whose work includes education on elders’ rights, efforts to change local and state legislation to better serve elders, and the dissemination of free information pertaining to difficulties elders experience. In addition to advocacy work, CARIE also maintains a free hotline for anyone who has questions or concerns about elder rights and social issues. CARIE’s long-term care (LTC) ombudsman is responsible for compliance management and advocacy on behalf of long-term care residents who have experienced a violation of their rights.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked on an advocacy project focused on increasing the personal needs allowance (PNA) for adults living in nursing homes in Pennsylvania. This work included research to understand the legislative process as well as legal terms associated with the PNA. The interns also conducted interviews in nursing homes in Philadelphia and Montgomery County to understand the views of residents on the need for an increased personal needs allowance. These interviews will be used for a CARIE social media campaign with the goal of educating legislators and advocates about the PNA. The interns also pulled together additional resources such as a call-to-action pamphlet and brief background paper for CARIE to use in the future.

 

Intern Reflections:

Rory Milsark: “My experience at CARIE has been eye-opening to a world of issues and logistics I knew little of. There are so many issues that people are advocating for, and it happens in every state. It has been interesting to learn about the connection between advocacy groups like CARIE and the state government. CARIE has a lot more authority than I knew. The government relies on CARIE’s opinion and data before they make decisions, and CARIE and other groups have serious sway in terms of legislative support. CARIE has the power to introduce new bills through political champions, and that is exactly what they were initially hoping to do before being blindsided by HB 1606.”

 

Anjali Pradhan: “I found my experience at CARIE to be extremely insightful. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the personal needs allowance and how it impacts individuals living in nursing homes. Additionally, I enjoyed learning about the legislative process and the work and research that goes into advocating for an issue like this one. However, my favorite part of this experience has been speaking with older adults in nursing homes. Hearing their stories and how the PNA impacts them was eye-opening. I hope that the work that we did at CARIE this summer can contribute to improving the lives of nursing home residents in some way.”

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CCIU Migrant Education Program

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Together, We Are Stronger (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Eduardo Moreno, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy

Kavya Viswanathan, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy

 

Academic Preceptor:

Jeremiah Goldstein, MD, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

 

Community Preceptor:

Karisa Barlow, CCIU Migrant Education Program

 

Community Site:

The CCIU (Chester County Intermediate Unit) Migrant Education Program works closely with various migrant communities in the Philadelphia area to provide a full-time summer education program where children from pre-K to high school are encouraged to develop fluency in the English language through literacy, STEM, music, and dance classes, as well as through multiple field trips to various sites in the greater Philadelphia area.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked together, applying their different levels of artistic knowledge to create music and dance spaces that would encourage children to explore different ways of self-expression. They worked closely with all age groups from pre-K to high school, promoting socialization and giving the students the opportunity to explore different forms of expression and music genres; this sparked conversations that enhanced the ultimate goal of promoting the development of literacy and English fluency. Dance, movement, playing music with various instruments, and music appreciation of all genres were the focus.

 

Intern Reflections:

Eduardo Moreno and Kavya Viswanathan: “Our time together as BTG interns has been incredibly valuable. Having the opportunity to work closely with CCIU at the John H. Taggart School in South Philadelphia not only allowed the children to learn music and dance as a way of self-expression; it also promoted self-reflection in both of us thinking ahead at our professional future as healthcare practitioners within our field of creative art therapies. The kids’ lack of fluency in English did not stop them from trying to communicate their opinions and ideas regarding our space together and how they wanted to use it. Therefore, it was up to us to use their energy to create a space of joy, exploration, and freedom to fully express ourselves.

 Considering the perspectives of the children, from the very young to the older ones, was incredibly impactful when defining ways to connect with them. Allowing them to play their music and explain why they feel driven to listen to it. Exploring different instruments, regardless of whether they knew how to play them, promotes autonomy and self-esteem when accomplishing a musical goal. Promoting dances and movements to explore ways to release stress and tension using our body in a healthy way. Our time together was marked by the notion of learning together instead of them only learning from us.

 We take these lessons, and we are confident we will find ways to translate them into our fields, always focusing on the well-being of our patients just like we have focused on the well-being of our students during these past couple of weeks.

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Depaul USA

 

Homelessness Has No Place (click to view poster)

 

Student Interns:

Brianna Cattelino, Drexel University College of Medicine

Colin Moran, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Steven Peitzman, MD, FACP, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Brendan Sculley, MSW, Depaul USA

 

Community Site:

Depaul USA, Philadelphia, opened in April 2009 and manages six programs, including a social enterprise that provides employment for previously housing-insecure individuals, transitional housing for young adults in the foster care system, long-term housing for disabled individuals, supportive housing for college students, and a six-month live-in recovery program. Depaul provides extensive services including housing, financial assistance, case management, and employment assistance. The organization strives to cultivate support networks for residents so that they can meet their individual goals of quality of life and stability.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked at three sites run by Depaul USA, Philadelphia: Depaul House, St. Raymond’s, and St. Joseph’s. Depaul House focuses on men in recovery, St. Raymond’s provides long-term housing to individuals who were previously unhoused, and St. Joseph’s provides housing for college students experiencing housing insecurity. Due to the unique needs of each site, the interns surveyed the needs of each location separately before scheduling programs. The interns provided one-on-one assistance with résumé-building and job-seeking skills for residents in the Depaul House recovery program. They helped residents at St. Raymond’s apply for housing and disability services, led conversations about smoking cessation and general health, and assisted with scheduling medical appointments. At St. Joseph’s, the interns focused on practical life skills, such as mapping out educational goals and milestones and career planning. They also encouraged residents to join in gardening and, at St. Raymond’s, in landscaping the front courtyard The interns also supported Depaul House administration with planning the fall fundraiser and research to support a new medical respite program proposal.

 

Intern Reflections:

Brianna Cattelino: “This internship has provided a no-frills look at the intersection of homelessness, mental health, substance use, and recovery. It seems almost obvious to say, but throughout the summer I have seen how there really is no single path to homelessness or addiction. Additionally, there are innumerable aspects of our society that make those experiences harder to work through. Navigating social services, affordable housing, managing healthcare, etc. feels like an uphill battle most of the time. In getting to know residents at each of the houses, I have also begun to think about my role as a medical provider in a new light, especially when taking care of individuals experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, or in recovery. I have seen how difficult continuity of care can be for these populations and witnessed the confusion that can arise while trying to interpret medical instructions. I think this is one of the most valuable insights from this summer, and I hope to use this knowledge to make me a more aware, intentional, and considerate physician in the future.”

 

Colin Moran: “This experience will benefit me professionally in many different ways. At the most basic level I now have a better understanding of the logistics of homeless services and how to navigate the infrastructure of available resources. While this undoubtedly will be very helpful knowledge to have in the future, I feel that my time spent getting to know the residents of these great communities will be where the real benefits lie. Building trust with the residents and hearing their stories has grown my sense of empathy, and I look forward to continuing to work with similar populations in the future.” 

 

 

Drexel Food Lab

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The Intersectionality of Food & Medicine: Creating a Healthy Sustainable Diet (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Rodaina Ahmed, Drexel University College of Medicine

Cynthia Huang, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Emily Spengler, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

 

Community Preceptors:

Jonathan Deutsch, PhD, CRC, CHE, Drexel University, Departments of Food and Hospitality Management and Nutrition Sciences

Rachel Sherman, Drexel University, Department of Food and Hospitality Management

 

Community Site:

With the motto “Do good. Feed better. Keep going,” the Drexel Food Lab is a faculty-mentored interdisciplinary food product design and culinary innovation research lab solving real-world problems in sustainability and health promotion and access. It applies culinary arts and science to improve the health of people, the planet, and economies. In doing so, Drexel Food Lab not only develops new food products and menu items with entrepreneurs, and industry, nonprofit, and government partners, but also develops flagship products graduates across disciplines who are poised to improve the food system.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted with all the various activities of the Food Lab, including community lunches, product development, client meetings, research, and presentations on healthy eating, among others. The main project focused on sustainability through teaching home cooks how to reduce food waste. Another major project was centered on the concept that food plays a critical role in healing chronic diseases. The interns also volunteered with various community food organizations, such as MANNA, Philabundance, and Broad Street Ministry, in order to gain a better understanding of the food resources available in the community.

 

Intern Reflections:

Rodaina Ahmed: “Being a part of the Food Lab this summer has been nothing short of exceptional. I purposely chose this site to step outside of my comfort zone and get more experience in the culinary realm. We followed the daily activities of the lab from meeting clients to following recipes in the kitchen. I thoroughly enjoyed the spontaneity of each day and was always looking forward to the next. Our preceptors welcomed us with open arms and gave us various options of projects to work on each day. To get more firsthand involvement in the community volunteering at MANNA, Broad Street Ministry, and Philabundance were such fulfilling experiences and great resources to take into the future. My experience this summer has further emphasized the importance of how food is medicine and how both topics should be integrated more in medical education. Interning here has widened my scope on nutrition and taught me numerous valuable skills transferable to the medical field that will assist me as I become a physician.”

 

Cynthia Huang: “Working in the Food Lab this summer was an absolutely amazing experience. I chose this site because nutrition is something I’m very passionate about, and I learned so much working at this site. Every day was different and exciting, and that spontaneity is part of what made the Food Lab so fun to work in. The community preceptors were also very supportive and let us have a very big input in our activities for the internship. For example, because we were interested in community food resources, they let us spend every Monday with a different organization, such as MANNA, Philabundance, and Broad Street Ministry. This site really emphasized to me the concept that food is so much more than just sustenance: It is community, innovation, collaboration, culture — and perhaps most relevant to me as a future physician, food is health and food is medicine. It is definitely not the most conventional community health site, but I think it is an invaluable opportunity for future health professionals to get a unique and deeper understanding of how food has huge impacts on health and on communities.”

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Einstein Immunodeficiency Center (IDC)

 

Cervical Cancer Screening Project (click to view poster)

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Student Intern:

Tessa Palisoc, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Kristen Ryczak, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Nicola D’Souza, MPH, LSW, Einstein Immunodeficiency Center

 

Community Site:

Founded in 1994, the Einstein Immunodeficiency Center (IDC) is housed within the Community Practice Center at Einstein Medical Center, which is part of Jefferson Health System. Funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the IDC provides numerous services to adults living with HIV, including primary care, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, and social work.

 

Project:

People living with HIV have an increased risk of cervical cancer, and it is recommended that they have a Pap test once per year. Unfortunately, the majority of this patient population is overdue for this screening. The Bridging the Gaps intern worked with the IDC’s quality improvement team to identify and provide outreach to patients who were due for cervical cancer screenings. This project involved compiling data on individual patients, correcting database errors, and making outreach phone calls to patients. Outside of this project, the intern had the opportunity to attend webinars on HIV care and quality improvement.

 

Intern Reflections:

Tessa Palisoc: “This summer was a fantastic, educational experience exploring the intersection between community medicine, public health, and social work. As someone who is interested in infectious diseases, I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn about the needs and realities of people living with HIV in this community. I had the honor of observing how a clinic serves its patients, even when resources are limited or patients face substantial barriers to care. I came away from this internship feeling that I have made a small but important impact, and I am so grateful to have participated in this project.”

 

 

Einstein Pride Program

 

Bridging the Gaps to Affirming Care: Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ+ Patients in Philadelphia (click to view poster)

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Student Intern:

Lorenzo Guani, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Kristen Ryczak, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Amos Koffa, MSW, Einstein Pride Program

 

Community Site:

The Einstein Pride Program offers the LGBTQ+ community a professional, safe, and caring home for their healthcare needs. The Pride Program offers a wide variety of services for patients, including primary care, OB/GYN care, a free letter of support for gender-affirming surgeries, and much more. The Pride Program also strives to remove barriers to care by advocating for patients’ needs across the Einstein Healthcare Network and attempting to interrupt systemic and institutionalized oppression, racism, homophobia, and transphobia in the field of healthcare.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked closely with the Pride Program team to help meet the needs of patients within the program. The intern worked with patients to schedule them with primary care physicians, OB/GYN providers, and mental health professionals. The intern also connected patients to social supports, such as housing support, and assisted patients with gathering resources for gender-affirming surgeries. In addition, the intern had the opportunity to help update consent forms for pediatric patients beginning gender-affirming hormone therapies.

 

Intern Reflections:

Lorenzo Guani: “Working at the Pride Program this summer has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had thus far. I witnessed the experiences of LGBTQ+ patients in Philadelphia and how many providers in the area are not entirely affirming or inclusive of patients who fall outside of the binary. Importantly, too, it felt really gratifying knowing that I was helping connect patients to providers who would be affirming and inclusive of their identities. After working at the Einstein Pride Program, I know that I want to integrate gender-affirming care into my future career and will advocate and ensure that all patients are provided the safe, inclusive medical care they deserve. I hope to also use this experience to help educate my fellow peers and colleagues on the experiences of trans and gender-diverse patients, and how they can make their future medical practice more responsive to this population.”

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Frankie's World foundation 

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Frankie’s World Summer Day Camp (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Reilly Callahan, Drexel University College of Medicine

Mark Cameron, Drexel University College of Medicine

Irene Schaible, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Kelley White, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Conny Lockwood, Frankie’s World

 

Community Site:

Frankie’s World is a nonprofit medical day-care center and preschool for children with special and medical needs in the Philadelphia area. At Frankie’s, the staff of skilled nurses and teachers provides comprehensive care and early-childhood education to encourage physical, social, and educational development. As a safe, accepting place for children from all walks of life, Frankie’s World serves its community as a place to play, learn, and grow together.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted Frankie’s World in planning, organizing, and leading a summer camp for current Frankie’s members and graduated students. Each day, the interns planned and led educational lessons, craft activities, and group games for children aged 5 to 10. The interns incorporated a range of activities to help the students practice both gross and fine motor skills and to encourage their social and emotional development. For one-on-one and group activities, the interns used fun, kid-friendly techniques to promote comprehensive physical and mental wellness within the community. The interns also created a resource guide full of additional activities and lessons for Frankie’s staff to use in the remaining month of summer camp after the BTG program ended.

 

Intern Reflections:

Reilly Callahan: “Frankie’s World seamlessly integrates all aspects of care for children. Care here goes beyond merely providing healthcare, as it merges educational, physical, and emotional learning for patients. At Frankie’s, staff intentionally bridge gaps between patients’ healthcare providers and their families. Seeing the impact of this organization has underscored the importance of delivering comprehensive and easily understandable patient education that melds within the lives of my patients and their families.”

 

Mark Cameron: “Frankie’s World allows for all children to have a chance to play and, in the words of Frankie herself, have a friend. Here it does not matter if you have trouble seeing, wear a backpack with a G-tube and feed, or have to take breaks from activity to monitor your blood sugar. There is space for everyone, and staff with the expertise to handle it. The children here offer a unique window into their world. While they can have trouble communicating their ideas, they are brutally honest — except when they don’t want to admit breaking a rule. They speak about their families, their challenges, and how they interact with the world using their own forms of communication. I am grateful for the time I spent with the children here, the lessons they taught me on how they see the world through their eyes, and the insight into care from all the staff here.”

 

Irene Schaible: “Frankie’s World is a place where all kids get to be just a kid. It’s a place where sick kids who otherwise would spend their days with a home-care nurse get to interact with other kids, develop social skills, learn, and play. Frankie’s World provides experienced nurses who ensure the kids receive great medical care while still allowing them to run and play. Working with these kids over the past several weeks and seeing how they adapt the activities to their own abilities has been both fun and educational. The impact that Frankie’s World has on these kids, their physical and mental health, and their families is tremendous, and I am grateful to have played a small part in contributing to it.”

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Gaudenzia - Philly House Women's Program

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It’s Never Too Late: What Life Looks Like After Incarceration (click to view poster)

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Student Intern:

Rachel Quinn, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Charlene Chen, MD, Esperanza Health Center

 

Community Preceptor:

Rayn Phillips, MSW, LSW, Gaudenzia Inc.

 

Community Site:

Gaudenzia aspires to connect individuals and families to addiction and mental health treatment so they can attain long-term recovery and achieve a fulfilling life embraced by a broad community of mutual support. The Gaudenzia Philly House Women’s Program is a halfway house that has a contract with the Department of Corrections and aims to provide a successful transition from prison back into society.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern at Gaudenzia Philly House Women’s Program worked with individuals who are reentering society from prison. The intern supported these individuals by actively listening to their stories and providing them with access to resources. The intern helped connect residents to medical care and accompanied them to medical appointments to help advocate for their healthcare needs. The intern also led group discussions on cardiovascular health, oral health, and emotional well-being.

 

Intern Reflections:

Rachel Quinn: “My experience at the Gaudenzia Philly House Women’s Program opened my eyes to the inequities individuals face when reintegrating into society from prison. Through BTG, I was able to work with a population that does not receive care, support, or attention from our society. Despite serving their time, these women are given permanent labels that affect their ability to receive proper healthcare, employment, and housing needs. After working with these women and listening to their life stories, I learned how systemic inequities and challenging life circumstances often contributed to the mistakes they made, which ultimately resulted in their incarceration. My main takeaway is that no matter what someone did in the past, they are deserving of support and a chance for growth.”

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Gaudenzia - Together House Men's Program

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Supporting Individuals With Substance Use Disorder and Co-Existing Conditions (click to view poster)

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Student Intern:

Benjamin Berman, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Charlene Chen, MD, Esperanza Health Center

 

Community Preceptor:

Rayn Phillips, MSW, LSW, Gaudenzia Inc.

 

Community Site:

The Gaudenzia Together House Men’s Program provides addiction treatment services for adult men with a history of criminal justice involvement, including high-intensity residential substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring disorders treatment, individual and group counseling, trauma-informed care, culture-informed care, and gender-responsive care.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern at Gaudenzia Together House Men’s Program learned the full process of the Gaudenzia recovery pipeline for substance use disorders, from detox to intake and programming to discharge. The intern learned to take clinical notes during group sessions, conduct biopsychosocial interviews and other intake processes, and was exposed to the different functions of the full clinical team of an addiction services center. In addition, the intern shadowed the medical staff, assisted with physical assessments, and co-facilitated group sessions focusing on coping strategies.

 

Intern Reflections:

Benjamin Berman: “Working at Gaudenzia was an eye-opening experience. Every day was a new challenge and a new chance to learn. What stood out most to me was speaking with the clients on the floor. The clients all have a story behind their addiction, and it truly exposed me to the co-existing determinants of health. I learned a lot from the clinical and medical staff and was able to the see the process at Gaudenzia, start to finish. Gaudenzia has impacted my patience and awareness of trauma-informed care and exposed me to the field of addiction medicine. The skills and perspectives I have learned at Gaudenzia will stick with me, and I know they will benefit me as a future healthcare professional.”

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Heights Philadelphia

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Reaching New Heights: Nurturing Adolescents in Urban Environments (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Tiffany Holmes, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy

Tahiyya Khan, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

Milan Patel, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Renee Kottenhahn, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

 

Community Preceptor:

Daniel Ceva, Heights Philadelphia

 

Community Site:

Heights Philadelphia (a merger of Philadelphia Futures and Steppingstone Scholars) is committed to transforming the pathways to college and career for Philadelphia’s students. Heights’ vision is to create a place where Black, brown, and first-generation scholars find support to reach their full potential. When all students graduate high school and achieve economic mobility, this community thrives.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted with two sessions in academic classrooms each day and led an hour-long elective class titled Arts, Crafts, and Expression. The elective focused on one-time lessons similar to home economics, encompassing nutritional food choices, sewing, sustainability, debating, storytelling, and movement styles. The end of each academic day consisted of a one-hour lesson on skills needed for high school, college, and beyond (study skills, healthy habits, leadership styles, etc.). The interns also acted as additional chaperones for field trips.

 

Intern Reflections:

Tiffany Holmes: “This experience has given me a lot of information on what it takes to help adolescents I’m meeting for the first time feel safe enough to share difficult information with an adult. Since I plan to work with adolescents (from early to late adolescence) in my career, this summer experience has been vital to cultivating my approach. While much of the information I used or was shared with me over the summer specific to adolescents is information I have already learned through academic and life experiences, the confirmation in a new setting helped to solidify my desire to work with this age group. These kids are smart, tuned in to their environment (both positively and negatively), and at a pivotal point in their development. This is where they start to make choices for themselves to either continue the path they have been on so far in their lives or to change the direction they are headed. It has also been a great experience to witness in real time other adults come to the same realizations about the abilities and the importance of this age group that I have. I feel like it’s easy to see resistant behavior as disrespect instead of a vying for control in a world/life where these kids may have little to none. Since we are working with (primarily) minority kids in an urban setting where a lot of spaces decide these kids won’t be successful before they even graduate, I feel like this is the time and the age group where they need adults with the most understanding. In my experience, some adults keep that adolescent mentality of seeking control in a world where they have so little. This is especially true in oppressed and downtrodden environments. The work this summer has reinforced for me the values I learned at 11th Street Family Health Services and the sanctuary model. It is a reminder to look at the ‘why’ behind so-called bad behaviors and habits, not just the ‘what.’ My time spent at Heights Philadelphia has solidified for me the need for adults who specialize in the adolescent age group for support, for understanding, and to believe in what they can accomplish.”

 

Tahiyya Khan: “The Heights community welcomed me with open arms to become a role model for students during one of their more difficult and vulnerable areas of being an adolescent. Having no prior experience working with this age group, I felt very unprepared at first. With the help of the wonderful staff, I was able to become more confident and share the appreciation and commitment that they had regarding the students and their passion to see them succeed. Being with the students during my time here has been very enlightening, as they have shown that learning and growth are gifts that should not be taken for granted. Their awareness of the knowledge they have gained so far has allowed me to support students in growing their confidence and recognize that self-expression plays an important role in all aspects of life. Throughout my time, I was able to watch the students make meaningful relationships with others and engage in thoughtful discussions that they felt would be important to them in the near future.

I saw how the concept of learning became a continuous loop among the students and staff, and how open-minded the community was in receiving help and support from each other. They additionally gave me the ability to think outside of the box to mentor students in mental health using creative strategies as a stress outlet. Being part of an environment that encouraged different opportunities for minority students to enter higher education despite the present barriers made me feel proud, and that the power of a few can create an impact of many benefits. This experience has given me the aim to continue empowering others through education with the same ambition that I saw throughout the students as a public health professional.”

 

Milan Patel: “Heights Philadelphia provided a unique experience where I was able to mentor students directly at an age where mentorship and good habits create long-lasting lifestyle interpretations and changes. Being able to interact with the students at first was nerve-racking, yet it quickly became an extremely impactful and fulfilling experience. Heights was not my first interaction with students in this age group (as I have worked with second-year high school students at Drexel), but it was the first time I was working with students during a time period where they did not really know what to expect for high school and life beyond. My interactions were both informative and playful, and they showed me how students in the present era are extremely intelligent and hyper-aware of the circumstances that are going on in the world. Though they gave this impression, they also showed me that they still are children first and foremost, and though they understood such complex topics such as sociocultural intersectionality and political activism, they knew that they could only do so much as students and that they had big aspirations in order to change the world for the better. It was an idea that was written between the lines of my interactions with them. It was quite eye-opening hearing them understand the complexity of the world at such a young age, but if anything, this experience has shown me that students know so much more than we knew at their age and that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to a student that knows what they want and is prepared to attain that when they are older. My interactions with the staff were just as fruitful as my interactions with the students. Everyone was very welcoming, warm, supportive, joyful, understanding, and optimistic, and the list keeps going on. They showed how powerful and efficient a team can be when communication and empathy are outwardly expressed between other individuals on the team. They also helped me realize how important it is to ask for support when you realize your own limitations. There were plenty of times during the beginning of the program when I was not sure how to go about a situation with a student, but I was always able to rely and lean on my fellow staff members to assist me in de-escalating a situation while also learning how to de-escalate in a situation where I would not be able to get explicit support. Overall, working with everyone at Heights was pleasant and enjoyable, and I really hope I will be able to see everyone again in a future program or experience where we can help nurture and enrich the lives of adolescents.”

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HMS School, School for Children with Cerebral Palsy 

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Summer Fun at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy (click to view poster)

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Student Interns:

Adeayo Adenusi, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

Kayla Buchanan, Drexel University College of Medicine

Franklin King, Drexel University College of Medicine

Dylan Maskell, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

 

Academic Preceptors:

Stacy Ellen, DO, Drexel University College of Medicine

Joan I. Gluch, PhD, RDH, PHDHP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine

 

Community Preceptors:

Julie Conway, SLP, HMS School

Teresa Giardina, MSEd, HMS School

 

Community Site:

HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy is in the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia. The school serves students aged 5 to 21 who have cerebral palsy or other complex disabilities. HMS School’s mission focuses on enabling all students to reach their maximum potential in an academic context, but also helping them thrive outside of the HMS setting. They do this by promoting independence and improving the quality of life for their students in a safe and secure environment, so that each student can lead a fulfilling, stimulating life, now and as an adult.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns were assigned to different classrooms and assisted with the daily activities of the students throughout the school day. The interns were also invited to shadow students’ sessions in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy throughout the summer. During weekly meetings with community preceptors, the interns had the chance to learn about and discuss various aspects of care for individuals with cerebral palsy, such as specialized dental care and feeding challenges.

 

Intern Reflections:

Adeayo Adenusi: “My summer with HMS has been unlike anything that I have experienced before. Prior to beginning my journey at HMS, I was very nervous and was not quite sure what to expect. As the summer progressed, however, I began to feel much more comfortable and confident interacting with children with cerebral palsy. In addition to this, I was able to uncover new ways of becoming a better advocate for the special-needs population. After going through my experience with Bridging the Gaps, combined with the bonds I have formed while working with the students, I can confidently say that I am going to miss each and every one of them. Reflecting on their personal stories and witnessing how far they have come has motivated me to continue in my pursuits for more accessible healthcare across all disciplines.”

 

Kayla Buchanan: “Spending time at HMS was unlike any experience I’ve had; although I was a bit intimidated at first to enter this space out of fear that I wouldn’t know how to be helpful, it became clear that the most natural thing to do was just connect with the kids. The students at HMS are sweet, hilarious, and full of life, and I am so thankful to have had the chance to get to know them. I also learned a great deal from interacting with the teachers, administrators, nurses, and therapists at HMS and how these disciplines all come together to form the greater HMS community.”

 

Franklin King: “The time I spent at HMS this summer has been an invaluable experience that I hope to carry many lessons from into my future career in medicine. Working with a complete care team demonstrated the necessity of a variety of interventions such as OT, PT, and speech therapy in ensuring children with cerebral palsy have the tools to succeed in life. In my interactions with the kids at HMS I learned so much about the unique communication strategies they each used and came to know them for the beautiful people they are. It was a privilege to learn and grow alongside the people I came into contact with during my internship, and I would recommend this experience to anyone entering into a healthcare field.”

 

Dylan Maskell: “Nothing can prepare you for the transformative experience you will gain from being able to work at HMS. Throughout the summer I had the pleasure of forming meaningful relationships with both the staff and students at the school. This experience reaffirmed the passion I have for working with this population and has prepared me for the interactions I will have with patients. I can’t wait to carry this experience with me throughout my career and life.”

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