The Beckett Life Center

 

TEACH Summer Camp at Beckett Life Center (click to view Poster)

 

Student Interns: 

Rohan Brebion, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Fabliha Khurshan, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptors:

Whitney V. Cabey, MD, MSHP, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor: 

Rashaun Williams, TEACH Program Director, Beckett Life Center

 

Community Site: 

The Beckett Life Center is a community center in North Philadelphia that serves about 35 children with academic enrichment programs.

https://beckettlifecenter.org/

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked as coaches at the seven-week TEACH summer enrichment camp hosted by the Beckett Life Center. The goal was to create more meaningful relationships and ways for middle and elementary school students to manage inter-student conflict using restorative practices. The interns were tasked to a group of students with whom they conducted daily activities such as the letter/food of the day and community/restorative circles, which promoted affective statements and reinforced core camp values. Additionally, interns attended all staff debriefing meetings to examine daily interactions and challenges, including how to promote mindfulness and active learning through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

 

Intern Statements:

Rohan Brebion: “Working with the community at the Beckett Life Center reinforced the fact that all children no matter their background or race can succeed if they are loved and supported, especially when using a trauma-informed lens and a restorative practice framework.”

 

Fabliha Khurshan: “At the TEACH summer camp, I learned that trauma-informed and restorative practices together help promote equity and inclusion in vulnerable populations, such as those served by the Beckett Life Center. Initially, I kept reverting to practices I remembered my teachers/adults doing for me, but eventually, I learned to have more patience and flexibility to become fully aware of situations to avoid any triggers for the children to create a safe space.”

 

 

Farm to Families

 

Farm to Families: A Picture Says a Thousand Words (click to view Poster)

 

Student Interns: 

Nausheen Baksh, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Julia Carp, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Matthew Dickson, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Erin Russell, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Shreya Thakur, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Site:

The Farm to Families program is a partnership between St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children and area healthcare providers, including Temple University Hospital. Farm to Families distributes fresh, affordable produce boxes to families throughout Philadelphia. Much of the produce is organically grown and picked fresh, making it some of the healthiest food available. The program works to address chronic health conditions related to poor diet by increasing the affordability and availability of fresh produce in underserved Philadelphia communities.
https://scfchildren.org/farm-to-families-initiative/

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns contributed to several projects this summer: interviewing clients to better understand the impacts of the program, collecting recipes from clients to create an online recipe book, assisting with taking clients’ weekly food orders, and creating a REDCap database to make the process of taking weekly food orders more efficient. The interns also provided Farm to Families clients with disposable cameras and asked them to take pictures of the food they received and prepared. The interns conducted interviews with these clients and plan to culminate the project with a focus group of participants in the fall.

 

Intern Statements:

Nausheen Baksh: “By participating in the BTG CHIP program, I was able to spend my summer learning more about the ways in which healthcare can impact individuals and communities. Working with Farm to Families, I saw firsthand how physicians were able to help break down barriers to accessing healthy food, thereby enabling individuals to work towards or maintain healthy lifestyles. This summer has taught me the importance of learning and understanding community needs as the first step in becoming an advocate for patients.”

 

Julia Carp: “BTG CHIP provided me with the opportunity to further explore my interests in community health work and research. Through the BTG CHIP program, I was able to partner with Farm to Families and conduct semistructured qualitative interviews with their clients. What I have come to realize this summer is providing subsidized fresh produce boxes to Philadelphia community members is just one piece of the puzzle to helping create food access. Being able to better understand the impacts of the Farm to Families program is extremely valuable, and I am grateful that BTG CHIP supported me in doing that this summer.”

 

Matthew Dickson: “Participating in BTG this summer has taught me, among many things, that eliminating barriers to healthy living has the potential to leave lasting impacts. While working with Farm to Families, I learned firsthand how much social determinants of health, including access to high-quality food, impact an individual’s ability to live a healthy life. Many of our clients told us how fortunate they felt to have joined Farm to Families because of the program’s positive impact on their health. After my work this summer, I now realize how important it is to listen to an individual’s entire story to fully understand how various aspects of their life impact their health. I look forward to using the knowledge I gained this summer to better care for my future patients.”

 

Erin Russell: “Through BTG, I learned the importance of not just listening, but hearing. No textbook or lecture can ever replace the knowledge gained from sitting across from a person living an experience firsthand. As a physician, just as it is imperative to learn the science, it is equally — if not more — important to listen to patients with an open heart and an open mind in order to better understand their world.”

 

Shreya Thakur: “Through BTG and Farm to Families, I learned how important it is to address the social determinants of health, particularly food insecurity, as they play a major role in patients’ health and quality of life. I also learned through talking with Farm to Families clients how hard people work to be healthy and eat fresh produce, even if they need to go out of their way to do so. Although we were taught both those things in class, it was very impactful (and very necessary) to hear the experiences of the clients directly from them.”

 

 

PHA CARES

 

PHA CARES: Empowering Communities During a Global Pandemic (click to view Poster)

 

Student Interns: 

Nana Kwesi Acheampong, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Glenn Adesoji, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine 

Nausheen Baksh, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Margaret Carter, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Matthew Dickson, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Christopher Koilor, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Kyra Sloane, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Alejandra Castano, Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative

 

Community Site:

PHA CARES is a partnership between the Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative and the Philadelphia Housing Authority. Health professions students assist PHA community health workers in developing and implementing events and programing focused on health-related topics. Students develop educational materials focused on monthly topics and meet with community health workers to share information that is passed along to residents in PHA communities. Students also work with the community health workers to host health fairs and other events in PHA communities.

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted the Philadelphia Housing Authority by developing educational materials regarding back-to-school immunizations, physical exams and COVID-19 vaccine information for children. Materials included a variety of custom flyers, infographics and videos addressing common questions and available resources (such as free clinics for physical exams) as families prepare for the upcoming school year and the safety of their children returning to school in person. Interns assisted community health workers with hosting community events to connect with the larger community by running backpack giveaways, gathering data on community needs, and providing blood pressure screenings for adults and children. 

 

Intern Statements: 

Nana Acheampong: “The BTC CHIP experiences enabled me to immerse myself, even if for a few hours, into some parts of the daily lives of our target population. I was able to hear and see, firsthand, some of the sociological factors and barriers that shape the lives of PHA members, particularly with regards to COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In addition, I was able to experience the importance of incentives, diversity and listening to the target population when it comes to community events, particularly in underserved communities. These relationships and lessons that I gathered will forever guide my career in medicine.”

 

Glenn Adesoji: “‘Part of being a person is about helping others.’ – Regis Murayi. This quote stands out to me because BTG reinforced my belief of helping others whenever you can. I believe that is a basic human quality that everyone should have. If you are able to give or help someone out even in the smallest of ways, they will always remember and appreciate you for a long time. That is a motto that I always live by because people remember more about how you treat them.”

Nausheen Baksh: “BTG CHIP gave me the opportunity to engage with community and understand some of the barriers that PHA residents face in accessing care and other services. Working alongside community health workers, conducting needs assessments and talking to the residents themselves allowed me to learn more about the ways in which COVID-19 specifically has impacted this community. This experience highlighted the importance of truly getting to know a community to provide adequate and necessary resources. Most importantly, it’s highlighted the need for connection to become a successful advocate. This knowledge and these experiences will hopefully enable me to become an advocate for future patients and communities.”

 

Margaret Carter: “BTG CHIP deepened my connection with the community. In a year where we were unable to interact with the community in person and missed out on opportunities to grow in in-person engagement, BTG CHIP allowed me to talk to and hear from individuals about what health concerns affect them day to day. This direct connection allowed me to learn from our clients’ experiences in public housing and how COVID-19 has affected them specifically. I am thankful to have had the chance to connect with a group that I otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn from.”

 

Matthew Dickson: “Working with PHA CARES this summer opened my eyes to the many challenges and health disparities present in underserved communities of Philadelphia. I am grateful for the opportunities I had to get out into the community, interact with PHA residents, learn about their experiences and connect them with resources to improve their health. Getting to know the community you are serving is important for any healthcare professional, and participating in BTG CHIP gave me the opportunity to do just that. I am confident that my experiences with BTG will help me to better care for my future patients.”

 

Chris Koilor: “BTG CHIP allowed me to immerse myself into the underserved communities of Philadelphia to gain an understanding of their hardships and how lives have been impacted by COVID-19. I am appreciative of the opportunity to engage in service for these communities while addressing concerns about vaccination efforts and building trust through community events and health assessments. I hope to continue building these relationships and use my platform as a future healthcare professional to advocate for the well-being and safety of underserved communities as I continue my medical education.”

 

Kyra Sloane: “During my BTG CHIP summer experience, I was able to learn from Philadelphia Housing Authority residents, provide health education, and form connections after a year void of much human contact. COVID-19 disproportionally impacted communities of color. As a medical student team, we worked hand-in-hand with Community Health Workers who are PHA residents to assess the needs of the community, establish trust, share health resources and information and address wellness concerns. BTG CHIP solidified my desire to be a physician-advocate and provide service in a culturally competent manner.”

 

 

Red Shield Family Residence at the Salvation Army 

 

Family Health Nights at Red Shield Family Residence  (click to view Poster)

 

Student Intern:

Margaret Carter, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine 

 

Academic Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Katie Barnhart, MSW, Assistance Director, Red Shield Family Residence

 

Community Site:

The Salvation Army Red Shield Family Residence is an emergency homeless shelter for Philadelphia families. All family structures are accepted, including families with teenage children, single mothers with infants and school-age children, and single men with children. The Family Residence provides a safe, welcoming community where families can work toward their goals of stability and self-sufficiency. Programs include parenting courses, trauma-informed educational programs and intensive case management.

 

Project: 

The Bridging the Gaps student intern planned two events for children and families living at the Red Shield Family Residence. The on-site events were the first in-person events at the facility since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first event focused on smoking avoidance and cardiovascular health, with a specific focus on healthy eating and joyful exercise. The children taste-tested a variety of fruits and veggies, danced and learned about smoking through a trauma-informed lens. The second event focused on oral and dental health and sun safety. The children received free dental resources through Penn Dental and learned about healthy ways to limit sun exposure while protecting their skin and eyes during the summer.

 

Intern Statement: 

Margaret Carter: “Planning and hosting the events for the residents of the Red Shield Family Residence was a gratifying and fulfilling experience. Families living in shelters face unique challenges; this BTG CHIP internship allowed me to work with a community group that I previously had no experience with. Working with an unstably housed population made me reflect upon the importance of early skill building and healthy behavior development. By teaching the children skills, I focused on how to make healthy decisions no matter where they are living. This experience strengthened my commitment to working with underserved communities, particularly those who may slip through the cracks of conventional safety net programs.”

 

 

Temple University Hospital

 

Equitability and Accessibility of Advance Directives at Temple University Hospital and in the Philadelphia Community (click to view Poster)

 

Student Interns:

Jennifer Deasy, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Matthew Dickson, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Katrina Juntereal, Temple University, College of Public Health

Andrea Quartey, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine 

 

Academic Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Preceptor:

Providenza Loera, JD, MSW, MBE, HEC-C, Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine

 

Community Site:

Temple University Hospital in conjunction with the Maple Village Senior Living Center and Unitarian Universalist House.

https://www.templehealth.org/patients-visitors/patient-visitor-information/advance-directives

http://uuhoutreach.org/

 

Project:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns conducted literature searches and spoke with healthcare professionals at Temple University Hospital (TUH) to compile reference knowledge about barriers patients face in the creation of advance directives in the nation as well as at TUH specifically. They found that patients are often misinformed about the topic and unable to understand the information conveyed in the advance directive forms. The interns created educational materials that explain in easier-to-understand language the purpose of advance directives, address common areas of misinformation regarding their creation, and provide a medical and legal jargon-free annotated version of the advance directive form. The interns received personalized feedback about the accessibility of the form to community members and potential patients as they aided residents of the Maple Village Senior Living Center in the completion of these forms through a presentation, provision of educational materials and one-on-one discussions.

​

Intern Statements:

Jennifer Deasy: “Bridging the Gaps was a unique opportunity to work with an organization that plays a very vital role in the Philadelphia community by bringing attention to inequities faced by community members with regard to healthcare and then encouraging students to develop solutions. I was very fortunate to immerse myself in the Philadelphia community through the creation of this project, and this brought many topics to my attention regarding healthcare inequities, especially about the accessibility of language in medical materials provided to patients. I desire to practice medicine in an urban area like Temple University Hospital, and this experience with the local Philadelphia community has reinforced this desire. As a future physician I will be aware of the literacy of patients and the advanced language used in all kinds of materials provided to patients (not just advance directive forms) and will be conscious to make sure patients understand the information in the forms; perhaps I will create additional flyers and annotated forms based on forms I routinely give to patientsand incorporate these into my future medical practice.”

 

Katrina Juntereal: “As a rising second-year nursing student, I had no idea what to expect this summer. Through our project, I learned the importance of advance directives and why they are often overlooked in healthcare. There is a stigma to advance directives that needs to be broken. An ongoing theme I have noticed from healthcare providers and patients who do have advance directives is that it is better to be safe and prepared before it’s too late. During our weekly didactic sessions, I was both challenged and inspired by my peers. Together we had tough conversations about racism, police brutality, mental health, etc. that were never talked about when I was in high school. I love that the world is starting to normalize this. Overall, I feel very fortunate to have had this experience and will take what I have learned with me in my future career.”

 

Andrea Quartey: “My experience this summer was one of constant learning. Being virtual was an adjustment; however, our project of advance directives lent well to remote work. In the end, we were able to meet with older patients to teach and discuss with them their options with end-of-life care, which was incredibly important to me for us to be able to do, and put our work into actual practice. I’m excited to be able to take what I’ve learned this summer into the rest of my education.”