Derexel University 2022 Summaries​
12Plus
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Helping Underserved Students Achieve Post-Secondary Education Goals
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Student Intern:
Jeffrey Zhou, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Kristen Ryczak, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Community Preceptor:
AJ Ballard, 12Plus
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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.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked with the 12Plus alumni team to assist with outreach and to help alumni take steps to pursue designated pathways. The intern reached out to recent graduates to check in about life after high school and worked with them to ensure that they would be able to achieve their stated goals. Most alumni were interested in enrolling in the Community College of Philadelphia. The intern worked with these individuals to help create action plans and to guide them through financial aid applications and class enrollment. The intern also updated the 12Plus alumni tracker so that the organization can remain in touch with recent graduates.
Intern Statement:
Jeffrey Zhou: “My time at 12Plus was one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had. Interacting with underserved alumni opened my eyes to the challenges that they face as first-generation high school graduates and also revealed a lot of issues of accessibility in the college application process. It also showed me the impact that organizations such as 12Plus have on the community and the importance of building trust and rapport in order to have a true effect on the people you serve. I truly believe that investing in education is integral for progress as a nation, and I’m privileged to have had an opportunity to work with people who believe the same.”
Broad Street Ministry
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Opening Doors to the Community: Practicing Radical Hospitality at Broad Street Ministry
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Student Interns:
Anthony Balolong-Reyes, Drexel University College of Medicine
Andrea Makowski, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Annette B. Gadegbeku, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Community Preceptor:
Crossley Simmons, MSW, MFA, Broad Street Ministry
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Community Site:
Broad Street Ministry employs a radical hospitality model that is trauma aware, holistic, and guarantees that there is enough for all who are in need. Broad Street has recognized the needs within the community in developing mail, lunch, clothing, hygiene, and concierge (social work) services in addition to forming partnerships with local health clinics and schools to provide drop-in clinical services and haircuts. In the words of Broad Street itself, “To those who have more than they need, we invite partnership and contribution. For those who are turned away elsewhere, our doors are wide and welcoming.” https://www.broadstreetministry.org/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns rotated through the various services offered, particularly concierge and mail, while filling in for the other departments in times of need. As concierges, the student interns primarily welcomed guests into the building, helped fill out SNAP and Medicare benefit applications, assisted with phone calls, and connected guests to outside resources, when available. Within the mail services, the interns helped organize and distribute mail, aided in the application of PA identification cards, and signed guests up for their own mailboxes. The interns often supported multiple positions throughout the day, rotating from meals to mail to concierge.
Intern Statement:
Anthony Balolong-Reyes: “Hundreds of our guests would rush through our doors and line up to pick up their mail every day at 11:30 a.m. on the dot. Some celebrated with excitement and joy as they finally received their much-needed food stamps, while others panicked with rage and confusion when they found out their social security check had not come in yet. How would they eat? How would they survive until that check came in? A mailbox, something that can be easily overlooked, was a lifeline for our guests to food, benefits, and loved ones. BSM has opened my eyes to the inequity, injustice, and health disparities that plague Philadelphia. Homelessness is not a singular struggle but comes with numerous other problems that can leave someone feeling as if they have been forgotten by society. I saw hope still remains in some as one guest told me, “I am homeless, not helpless.” It has been humbling working with a team that has been so caring, kind, and welcoming to all those that come through our door. Broad Street Ministry has instilled in me a new hope and positivity that we can make a difference in others’ lives, if not with services, then with simple kindness and hospitality, an ideal I will hold with me as I progress with my studies in medicine.”
Andrea Makowski: “Working with the team and guests at Broad Street Ministry has allowed me to feel closer to Philadelphia as a city, as I continue to learn how our community can come together in support of those who are in need and observe opportunities for growth. In what feels like such a short amount of time, I have been reminded how boundaries, understanding, and partnership can come together for the common goal of benefiting those that we serve. After the violence ensued at the Fourth of July fireworks, a guest came in that usually asks to be connected to mental health resources via the concierge team. This time, he seemed to be in particular distress, dazed and in need of someone to speak with. I offered to take him back to the stage office where we could talk but was upfront about the fact that I am not a social worker but can speak with him if all he needs is for me to lend an ear. As we spoke, the guest divulged to me that he has a history of PTSD and, after being told to go towards the location of the shooter and then quickly corralled away as police realized what was happening, his mind had been left reeling with no relief. Together we walked through a few grounding exercises, taking care to write down and solidify the things that he could hear, see, touch, etc., until he felt that he was in a safe mental place to meet his friend at a nearby park. At the end of our discussion the guest shook my hand and told me not to discredit myself because I had been present and kind. Taking just a few minutes to be there for someone, even when I walked into the stage office having no idea what I was about to say without formal training, was exemplary of how Broad Street Ministry can transform the minutiae of daily life into support that can allow guests to continue with their days. While I do not regularly speak with guests who have been present for a publicized shooting, violence — be it mental, emotional, social, or gun-related — can be happening in any one of our guests’ lives at any given time. True care must be holistic and trauma-informed to ensure that each individual feels welcomed, listened to, and seen. I am certain that my time spent at Broad Street Ministry will help to shape how I approach future relationships, both within my personal life and my clinical practice.”
CCIU - Migrant Education Program
Learning Across Language Barriers
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Student Intern:
Ashley Mathew, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Zach Kassutto, MD, FAAP, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptor:
Karisa Barlow, CCIU - Migrant Education Program
Community Site:
The CCIU - Migrant Education Program provides resources for migrant families and their children such as transportation support and directing families to healthcare and food resources. The program also provides academic support through tutoring, after-school programs, home visits, community workshops, and a full-time summer education program that includes literacy, STEM, and field trips.
https://drexel.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=118881
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern adapted educational resources to a digital format for online learning sessions and helped lead virtual math, literacy, and science education sessions with students from first through third grade and from fifth through 11th grade. The intern instructed STEM classes for grades K through 11 for MEP’s summer education program at Taggart School, provided translational and resource assistance for other instructors, and led oral health presentations. Additionally, the intern helped lead community literacy workshops at the public library.
Intern Statements:
Ashley Mathew: “Working at [CCIU] MEP helped me to recognize the impacts of communication barriers in our community. Many of the students and families I worked with spoke languages different from my own. Some individuals spoke Spanish, but even then, many individuals spoke Spanish only as their second language. I learned to incorporate different methods of communication to help break through language barriers. For example, I tried including using visuals, written communication to reinforce verbal communication, and actions or gestures to help students make connections between my words and things they already know. I also learned more about barriers to education, including family immigration status, and how different factors such as being separated from families at a young age, needing to work at a young age to survive, language barriers, and navigating a new culture can have significant impacts on children’s mental health. With a stronger awareness of these issues and more knowledge about local resources, I will be able to better understand individual’s needs and help direct them to or access resources.
Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE)
Understanding and Overcoming Bias
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Student Interns:
Samik Patel, Drexel University College of Medicine
Kyle Rich, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
James Buehler, MD, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Community Preceptor:
Lori Walsh, Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly
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 made available to 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.
Team’s Experience:
Recently, the ombudsman has received complaints regarding instances of racial and LGBT-biased actions as well as concerns about insensitivity among LTC residents. In response to these difficulties, the Bridging the Gaps student interns created an event plan to be used by CARIE during outreach to these living facilities. Components of the event included group activities and educational resources discussing the recognition of biases and the negative impact they have within long-term care facilities.
Intern Statements:
Samik Patel: “The BTG experience with CARIE has illustrated the ways in which nursing home and long-term care facility residents struggle [with] various forms of bias. This population, having survived the trauma of the pandemic within these settings, experiences bias from staff as well as residents. Overall, the experience showed ways to better combat these biases, and going forward I will be more aware of the realities of bias and racism that exist within these residential settings for this specific population, as I will likely see patients living similar experiences.
Kyle Rich: “Though I’ve had experience working with elders, my work with CARIE was a unique opportunity to address social issues in a vulnerable population. I had not attempted this sort of work before, and it proved to be an exceptional learning opportunity for me. The firsthand accounts from the seniors inspired me to consider the social determinants of health more carefully. After working on this project and meeting incredible forward-thinking individuals, I know my approach toward future patients will be more well-rounded and holistic.”
Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Student Interns:
Sydney Churchill, Drexel University College of Medicine
Danielle Ireland Ertz, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Emily Spengler, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptors:
Renee Turchi, MD, MPH, FAAP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Site:
The Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs is located within St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. It provides complete, coordinated, family-centered care in a single place. https://towerhealth.org/services/center-children-and-youth-special-healthcare-needs
Team’s Experience:
Each year, the Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs holds a Back-to-School Carnival to provide families in the Philadelphia community with health resources and the children with backpacks filled with school supplies to help prepare them for the new academic year. In 2022, to keep the families safe, the carnival was held virtually, but included a drive-through backpack giveaway two weeks prior. To prepare for the backpack drive and carnival, the Bridging the Gaps student interns aided in fundraising, planning, and ordering the school supplies. The interns’ main project was coordinating the stuffing and distribution of 10,000 backpacks. In addition, the interns were tasked with creating oral health education, which included experiments demonstrating the importance of proper oral care and instructional videos on how to properly brush and floss.
Intern Statements:
Sydney Churchill and Danielle Ireland Ertz: “Being a part of the Back-to-School Carnival has impacted our personal and professional development in a number of ways. First, it has shown us the importance of having basic school supplies and the impact of not having these resources available. Second, we’ve been able to see and experience the many ways that medical professionals can get involved in their communities outside of the clinical setting. Through this event, we’ve been inspired to look for unmet needs in the communities we will serve as future physicians and find ways to meet these needs. Finally, we were also struck by the amount of work and collaboration that goes into planning and holding an event like this. Throughout the summer, we worked with staff from administration, marketing, volunteer services, and janitorial services. It definitely gave us an appreciation of all of the work that is done to put on community events like this.”
Center for the Urban Child, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Pediatric Navigation – Bridging the Gaps in Pediatric Primary Care & Patient Education
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Student Interns:
Hannah Lee, Drexel University College of Medicine
Joshua Neal, Drexel University College of Medicine
Meghan Schilken, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Stacy Ellen, DO, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Kelly Courts, MPH, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Renee Kottenhahn, MD, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Kathryn Stroup, MD, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Site:
The Center for the Urban Child (CUC) is an expansive outpatient facility on the St. Christopher’s campus. There, a multidisciplinary team cares for a large number of families who face complex challenges due to financial, social, educational, and cultural barriers to care.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked as pediatric navigators in the CUC, where they connected patients and families with resources, provided essential developmental screenings to assist physicians’ diagnoses and workflows, and counseled families on the importance of reading and oral health. The interns also worked on developing educational materials regarding the use of screening tools, follow-up phone calls, and translation services to provide context and confidence to future medical student navigators. Additionally, the interns developed educational material for health professionals about gun violence and how to have conversations about gun safety with families.
Intern Statement:
Hannah Lee: “This summer I learned a lot about the multifaceted nature of the gun violence epidemic in the US, and how there are different approaches to promoting gun safety and reducing violence. This was a stressful topic for me, especially during the Fourth of July weekend, when there were multiple reported shootings in different parts of the country, including the city of Philadelphia, itself. Being aware of these horrible tragedies in the midst of this project allowed me to better understand the importance of continued advocacy and involvement beyond the scope of BTG. During my time at St. Christopher’s, I also improved my communication skills. Interacting with families in helping them to sign up for the portal, go through development screenings, and/or learn about oral health and reading training helped me be cognizant of people’s preferred languages while still practicing compassion and empathy. I learned to engage in more active listening and how to explain concepts in a simplified way to ensure that the parents understood the information given to them.”
Joshua Neal: “In addition to promoting oral health, gun safety, and connecting families with socioeconomic resources, a large portion of my summer was spent looking at data gathered from a poverty simulation that took place at DUCOM prior to COVID-19. That, paired with my experience interacting with families, taught me about the difficulties of everyday life experienced by individuals with few financial resources. I now have greater appreciation of the socioeconomic barriers to health experienced by families living in this community and in similar communities throughout the world. I also learned about language barriers, particularly when the patient/family in question had several social issues on top of the medical issues that brought them to clinic in the first place. Using a translator for questions and explanations, while effective, was very inefficient. I found myself often forgetting to ask some additional questions just because so much effort was spent making sure immediate needs were addressed. I have been humbled by this experience and I look forward to my future role as a physician when I am able to more effectively meet the needs of the people I serve.”
Meghan Schilken: “Having the opportunity to continue my work as a pediatric navigator during the summer as a BTG intern was rewarding both personally and professionally and provided me with experiences I will take with me as I move forward in my medical career. While many facets of this internship will be remembered fondly, I truly believe that the mentorship and support provided by all the staff we worked with at St. Christopher’s will be the most lasting. I’m confident that the projects we worked on this summer will provide value to those served by St. Christopher's. I also believe that the educational materials we created for future pediatric navigators will positively shape the students who follow in our footsteps. The process of producing these materials taught me a great deal beyond basic video editing as I also gained a valuable professional lesson on working collaboratively to create meaningful and useful resources that hold lasting value.”
Centro Hispano (Hispanic Center) of Reading and Berks County, PA
Medical Interpreting and Information and Referral Services
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Student Intern:
Priscilla Lozano, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Holly Metzgar, DO, FACOG, NCMP, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
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Community Preceptor:
Michael Toledo, Centro Hispano
Ineavelle Ruizm, Centro Hispano
Virgen (Jeannie) Rubero, Centro Hispano
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Community Site:
Centro Hispano (Hispanic Center) of Reading and Berks County, PA, works to support the Latino community through collaborative initiatives such as the Senior Center, Casa De La Amistad, Abriendo Puertas, and Information and Referral Services. At the Senior Center, Centro provides health screenings, partnered with the Department of Aging, and medical interpreting. Food insecurity is addressed by providing food to low-income seniors, children in after-school care and summer camps, and delivering meals to families. Centro Hispano is also an Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) national partner, a program that educates parents and family members on the importance of their role as their child’s first teacher. The Information and Referral Services Department helps clients complete public housing applications; apply for public benefits, SSI, disability, and legal services; find employment; and more.
https://www.centrohispano.org/home
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern was able to float through various departments within Centro Hispano, such as the Senior Center, Casa De La Amistad, Medical Interpreting, and Information and Referral Services. The intern principally assisted clients with Medicaid and SNAP applications, public housing applications, obtaining social security benefits, background checks, and employment applications. In addition, the intern administered blood pressure screenings to the seniors who regularly visited the Senior Center, provided information regarding local food pantries and farmers’ markets, and aided staff in recording visitors picking up daily meals from Casa de la Amistad. With the seniors at the center, the intern discussed the importance of managing their blood pressure and diabetes and the consequences of elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled blood glucose levels. The intern also discussed with individual members the importance of cardiovascular health and smoking cessation. Part of the internship included assisting with medical interpreting for any patients aged 60 and older, during their doctor’s appointment.
Intern Statement:
Priscilla Lozano: “During my time at Centro Hispano, I was exposed to so many aspects of social services that impact health and address areas such as food insecurity, access to healthcare, homelessness, transportation, and language barriers. Seeing firsthand how needs such as food insecurity and language barriers can take precedence over the need to fill a prescription or go to a doctor’s appointment gave me further insight of how I, as a future medical provider, can better understand how to care for this population, addressing their most basic needs to then provide the best quality healthcare.”
Centro Nueva Creación
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Student Interns:
Amanda Benfante, Drexel University College of Medicine
Makayla Brown, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Jeremiah Goldstein, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Maribel Lozada Arzuaga, Centro Nueva Creación
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Community Site:
Centro Nueva Creación provides an after-school program and summer camp in the Fairhill neighborhood of Philadelphia where over 60% of the population live below the poverty level. Centro’s mission is to “promote resilience in young people through educational enrichment and engagement with the arts and Latino cultures.” Centro provides children with a safe environment to play and learn. Children are exposed to activities like art, photography, dance, water activities, nutrition, and health class. Children who go through the Centro program are provided with a community of supporters whose goal is to help them become educated, productive members of society.
https://www.goodlands.org/.
Team’s Experience:
The partnership between Centro Nueva Creación and Bridging the Gaps is a longstanding one, having a positive impact on Fairhill’s youth. The Bridging the Gaps student interns served as health teachers for the summer camp, working with children from kindergarten through fifth grade. During health sessions, interns facilitated lesson plans they created, which covered many topics, including What is Health, Cardiovascular Health, Oral Hygiene, and Mental Health and Mindfulness. For the oral hygiene lesson, a bag of dental supplies was given to each camper to use at home. Aside from health education, the interns immersed themselves in the Fairhill community, forming meaningful connections with the campers and providing examples of what positive and healthy relationships look like. The interns at this site also assisted in setting up a community garden to create a safe green space for Fairhill youth.
Intern Statements:
Amanda Benfante: “Spending this summer working at the Centro Nueva Creación Summer Camp has been an amazing experience. It has exposed me to a neighborhood unlike anything I have been a part of. During the first year of medical school, I had learned a lot about problems in low socioeconomic neighborhoods like food deserts and lack of green spaces, but this was the first time I had seen it. I also was able to form relationships with both the Centro staff and the campers. I believe that this experience will be beneficial in my future career. I am interested in pursuing pediatrics and working at Centro has given me a new perspective on the different life experiences of children. This is a perspective I will keep in mind when treating patients in the future.”
Makayla Brown: “Based on my experience with Centro Nueva Creación, I believe it was meant for me to be assigned to this community site. I’ve worked in many impoverished communities before this summer, but through this internship, I was still able to gain much insight on the strengths and weaknesses of Fairhill and its people. I’ve grown to admire the Centro staff and community members who are passionate about uplifting Fairhill’s youth, while learning a great deal about how my perspective and skills can be used to educate and serve people. An important skill that I will carry with me from this experience is how to combine my previous knowledge with an individual’s personal reality to meet that individual where they are and partner with them to ensure positive outcomes. Although I do not plan on practicing in pediatrics, working with Fairhill’s youth has left me with a better understanding of the stressors that low-income groups experience, which I will be able to extrapolate to my future patient population.”
Children’s Health Watch, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Center for the Urban Child
Addressing Children’s Health Inequities
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Student Interns:
Austin Iglesias, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Angela Kim, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptors:
Kelly Courts, MPH, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Site:
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children has been a leader in pediatric care since 1875. It offers nationally recognized programs and pediatric specialists who provide exceptional care to the greater Philadelphia community. The mission of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is to provide quality services in a caring, progressive environment. Following its mission, St. Christopher works with Children’s HealthWatch, a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public researchers, and children’s health and policy experts. Children’s HealthWatch is committed to improving children’s health in America.
https://childrenshealthwatch.org/
https://towerhealth.org/locations/st-christophers-hospital-children
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gap student intern’s main priority was to help conduct surveys for a multisite study that assesses how public policies and economic insecurity affect the health and development of very young children. The goal of the surveys is to help policy makers and the public better understand the social and economic factors that affect children’s health so they can make well-informed policy decisions that give all children equal opportunities for healthy, successful lives. Additionally, interns helped with the Summer Meal Program, which distributes food to children and teenagers at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
Intern Statements:
Austin Iglesias: “My time this summer has been filled with learning and service. As a Children’s Health Watch (CHW) intern, I intimately discussed with families the impact that health inequities have on their livelihoods. The insight I gained from conducting the surveys and learning about the resources available for families in need will help me in my professional career to be an informed provider and better patient advocate. Interning with CHW not only focused on data collection, but also on health inequity alleviation through providing grocery store gift cards and meal distribution.”
Collaborative Primary Care Clinic, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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A Summer of Growth and Development
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Student Interns:
Grace Pindzola, Drexel University College of Medicine
Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Angela Kim, MS, MD, FAAP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Rita Guevara, MD, FAAP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Emily Spengler, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Site:
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children was established in 1875. It has pediatric specialists that provide care to children in the greater Philadelphia area in a thoughtful, progressive environment. St. Christopher's Hospital is committed to quality care through teamwork, technology, and service in a child-friendly, family-oriented setting. The Collaborative Primary Care Clinic (CPC) is a clinic at St. Christopher’s that serves families with a high level of social or family complexity.
https://towerhealth.org/locations/st-christophers-hospital-children
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns prepared and conducted a survey to assess families’ perceptions of the clinic and receive feedback directly from the patients served. The results of this survey will be used to improve the quality of care provided by the Collaborative Primary Care Clinic. Funding comes from a grant secured by the clinic. The BTG team also put together a website that included provider bios, standard screening forms, and educational materials for parents to use while they wait for their visit to begin. It was designed with attention to barriers in English, technology, and health literacy. One of the interns also provided Spanish interpretation services during patient visits (at the CPCC and in other departments), assisted in the development and administration of the survey, and worked to increase enrollment of Spanish-speaking families in the MyChart application.
Intern Statement:
Grace Pindzola: “Participating in Bridging the Gaps was an excellent experience which gave me greater experience understanding and navigating care for patients with complex social factors. I learned a lot about foster care and the relationship between the legal and medical systems, which will continue to inform my practice in the future. I also gained experience navigating communication barriers while taking English, technology, and health literacy into account. Through the survey project and developing the CPC welcome page, we anticipated literacy barriers and continued to reassess the efficacy of our materials in practice. My biggest takeaway from my time spent in the CPC is that it affirmed my desire to work in a specialty where I can form long-lasting relationships with my patients. I have been so impressed with the strength of the relationships between families and the care team in this clinic. This has set a great example for me of something I hope to model in my own practice someday.”
Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera: "Bridging the Gaps is a great program, and I feel very fortunate to be part of it this summer. I had a very rich experience that influenced my development as a future physician and human being. I have deeply thought about issues that not only affect the community we serve, but all of us in this country. I believe programs like this are essential for the development of patient-centered physicians and other care providers that understand the importance and effects of social determinants of health. My work in the CPC clinic has been gratifying because we provide a service to families that truly need it. Additionally, we are helping the clinic improve so they can continue to make a lasting impact on all patients. As an interpreter, I have interacted with many patients and their families, providing the comfort they needed to feel safe and heard. Additionally, I have observed the different dynamics, personalities, and interpersonal skills some physicians have. This has allowed me to take the best of each of them with me into my career.”
Depaul USA, Philadelphia
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Student Interns:
Jack Grossweiler, Drexel University College of Medicine
Kelsey Raftis, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Academic Preceptor:
Steven Peitzman, MD, FACP, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptors:
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, long-term housing for disabled individuals, supportive housing for college students, and a live-in, six-month 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.
https://depaulusa.org/programs/philadelphia/
Team’s Experience:
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 individuals at each location separately before scheduling programs. The interns led workshops on 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. At St. Joseph’s, the interns focused on practical life skills, such as time management and budgeting. In addition to workshops, the interns led music, art, and movement programs, and accompanied residents on trips to local museums and gardens.
Intern Statements:
Jack Grossweiler: “In this internship at Depaul, I acquired a much more comprehensive understanding of the different paths one may face when experiencing homelessness. One of the biggest lessons that I learned was the importance of establishing and nurturing a personal connection with people to achieve the best care that I can provide them and understand the social inequities they may face. With this new perspective and the insights gained from residents and staff, I have grown immensely in my ability to help individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. This growth will help me connect with new vulnerable populations in my training and profession.”
Kelsey Raftis: “In my time at Depaul, I have been grateful to broaden my knowledge in the concerns that these various communities face. There is truly a gap in the support that folks experiencing homelessness encounter, and I’ve been privileged to have had many conversations with the residents expressing their individual challenges on top of what it is to be chronically without shelter and resources. I have learned so much more about accessibility needs in the disabled community, the [overwhelming difficulty] of navigating subsidized housing, and the pressures of being a 20-something college student, facing life’s challenges predominantly on their own. In just seven weeks, I have gained new insight about these. communities and I will continue to build on that knowledge as I move forward in my work as a future therapist.”
Dream Camp Philadelphia
Dream Camp: Inspiring the Next Generations of Youth
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Student Intern:
Deanna Wyche, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Jeremiah Goldstein, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Natalie Padula, MS, Dream Camp Philadelphia
Community Site:
Dream Camp Philadelphia is a summer camp for youth. The vision of Dream Camp is to strive to break the cycle of generational poverty in underserved communities by teaching children to create successful pathways for themselves. The program also empowers them to become future leaders and contributors to the city. The program aims to provide support, encouragement, guidance, and a safe environment for the youth to strive in and become the people they want to be.
https://www.esfdreamcamp.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern served as a mentor and support person for underserved youth. The intern cultivated positive relationships with the youth and helped them develop character skills such as leadership, integrity, respect, and kindness. The intern also collaborated with specialists to present campers with a range of activities including dance, art, music, reading, chess, and martial arts. The Dream Camp program provided campers as well as its interns with many opportunities for educational, social, and personal development.
Intern Statements:
Deanna Wyche: “Working at this site highlighted the many reasons I hope to continue working with youth throughout my career. Coming to camp every day, I loved interacting with the kids and being a positive role model for them. I was happy to be part of providing a safe space for them to grow, learn, and most of all have fun. The communities these kids come from are full of violence and several other challenges that they must overcome. I was so excited to see them every day and know that they would be surrounded by nothing but people who cared for them and who would push them to be the best versions of themselves.”
Food Moxie
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A Fruitful Experience: Urban Gardening and Food Sovereignty With Philadelphia’s Food Moxie
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Student Interns:
Shanelle Jones, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Haley McMullen, Drexel University College of Medicine
Samik Patel, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Tariem Burroughs, MSEd, MSODL, MA, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public
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Community Preceptors:
Kimberly Fleisher, Food Moxie
Dorene Reggiani, Food Moxie
Community Site:
Food Moxie, located in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an urban gardening-farming program that produces and distributes nutritious foods to children and their families. Food Moxie runs three collaborative sites across Philadelphia: Stenton Family Manor, Martin Luther King High School, and Saul Agricultural High School.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns spent the summer assisting Food Moxie in creating increased food-cycle efficiency and with a Philadelphia networking experience. From starting seedlings in greenhouses to harvesting developed herbs and vegetables, the interns ensured that food safety, nutritional education, and environmental awareness were at the root of each step. In addition, the food grown at the Food Moxie sites was provided to the kitchen at Stenton Family Manor, which houses large families experiencing housing insecurity, and to other nonprofit organizations around Northwest Philadelphia that address food insecurity within the community.
Intern Statements:
Shanelle Jones: “My time with Food Moxie provided me a feeling of wholeness by transforming from a child who grew up homeless and with limited food in Philadelphia to a woman who is using her education and life experience to decrease such cases. Food Moxie is a program that proves that we do not need to “fix.” Rather, we need to listen, show up, follow through, try our best, and hope for a healthy, beneficial outcome. The families who receive the food we sow with our hands are learning skills that were ingrained in them all along and reclaiming their food sovereignty by learning valuable gardening skills.”
Haley McMullen: “The BTG CHIP program allowed me the opportunity to work with Food Moxie and actively participate in addressing food insecurity. I learned how to take care of the land, grow beautiful fruits and vegetables, and actively engage with wonderful community members. Through this program I was able to put my actual blood, sweat, and tears into providing for the people of Philadelphia.”
Samik Patel: “Overall, I think the experiences with Food Moxie have broadened the ways in which I view food scarcity as a community-level problem. Working with the kids during Garden Club at Stenton Family Manor has been especially insightful, as I have developed a better understanding of how resilient kids can be and the effects that the introduction of structured outdoor/gardening programming can have.”
Frankie’s World
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Frankie’s: A World Where Kids Can Be Kids
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Student Interns:
Sprikena Nako, Drexel University College of Medicine
Alexandra Potinteu, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Lauren Wells, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Kelley White, MD, Frankie’s World
Community Preceptor:
Conny Lockwood, Frankie’s World
Community Site:
Frankie’s World is a nonprofit medical day care and preschool for children with special and medical needs in Philadelphia. At Frankie’s, a 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.
https://www.frankiesworld.com/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern group assisted Frankie’s World in planning and leading a summer camp for current Frankie’s members and graduated students. They planned and led group lessons and craft time, and they played with individual students from infants to 12-year-olds. The interns incorporated recreational and therapeutic dance into their activities to inspire movement and strength for all ages. For one-to-one and group activities, the interns at Frankie’s used fun, kid-friendly techniques to promote comprehensive physical and mental wellness within the community.
Intern Statements:
Sprikena Nako: “Frankie’s is a place to connect with children of all abilities and backgrounds. We see them for all their talents and strengths across a wide, unique range of medical needs. In learning about accessibility in healthcare, I've gained new skills to incorporate into my practice in the future. I hope to serve patients just like the kids at Frankie’s. People with different abilities are often hidden by society, but places like Frankie’s World make them feel seen, heard, and loved.”
Alexandra Potinteu: “During my internship at Frankie’s World this summer, I focused on wellness through movement. The kids’ excitement and creativity through dancing really brought us together. Even on a hard day, moving our bodies and finding energy together brought a light to my summer at Frankie’s.” Having goals of working with kids with special needs, I was delighted to have the opportunity to apply strategies from my master’s program to prepare for a career serving others.”
Lauren Wells: “It often seems like resources providing care for this particular community are limited. We have medical facilities and day care for children, but they remain separated, more often than not. Frankie’s World brings both together in seamless combination to provide care for all aspects of a child, both educational and physical. The support and welcoming arms that Frankie’s shows to every child, no matter what they need, plays such an integral role in the lives of so many Philadelphia families.”
Gaudenzia, Inc.
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Student Interns:
Kayla Cooper, Drexel University College of Medicine
Emily Wexler, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Academic Preceptors:
Scott Horowitz, MA, MT-BC, LPC, ACS, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Community Preceptor:
Rayn Phillips, MSW, LSW, Gaudenzia, Inc.
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Community Site:
Gaudenzia Early Intervention is a program for 12- to 18-year-olds that provides drug and alcohol prevention education. The summer curriculum focuses on teambuilding, effective communication, and developing healthy coping skills.
https://www.gaudenzia.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns supported the free summer program, whose theme was teambuilding. Each intern was tasked with developing and implementing a week’s worth of curriculum highlighting their individual areas of expertise. Some curriculum topics included mindfulness, compassion for self and others, and leadership. The interns also attended scheduled trips in the community. These trips were aimed at exposing the teens to new creative outlets and to other community mentors in hopes of encouraging new interests.
Intern Statements:
Kayla Cooper: “Through this internship, I gained a deeper understanding of letting the community express their needs and then serving them accordingly. I formed connections with the amazing teenagers I worked with simply by lending a listening ear and being my authentic self. I was a bit daunted at the idea of leading lessons, but as I built connections with both the teens and staff, my worries quickly subsided. I had the support of a strong interdisciplinary team that collaborated seamlessly in a manner that would be expected of teams who had been working together for years instead of seven weeks.” Good quote
Emily Wexler: “This internship has taught me that authenticity is essential to building trust. Throughout my time at Gaudenzia Early Intervention, I built strong connections with both the incredible interdisciplinary team of staff members and the teen participants of the program and bore witness to the necessity for unconditional care and support. We engaged in activities that enabled the teens’ intelligence and creativity to shine and their leadership skills to begin taking shape. There is still so much work to be done for these young people, on individual, community, and systemic levels, but I have learned that you never know what kind of an impact you have on someone’s life and to make the most of the time that you have together.”
Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (HACE)
HACE: Serving the Hispanic Elderly Community of Eastern North Philadelphia
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Student Interns:
Wesley Perez Cervantes, Drexel University College of Medicine
Jessica Zbranak, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Charlene Chen, MD, Esperanza Health Center
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Community Preceptor:
Laura Cardona-Cruz, MT-BC, MS, HACE
Jeannette Cruz, MTh, HACE
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Community Site:
Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (HACE) is a nonprofit development organization focused on providing affordable housing and community development for the Latino community in eastern North Philadelphia. Since 1982 HACE has redeveloped real estate and offered housing counseling for a mixed-income, diverse elderly population. Spanning four sites throughout the city, HACE provides not only housing, but also a community that exemplifies the mission statement “From Possibility to Actuality,” every day.
https://www.hacecdc.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted the resident service coordinators in offering social service support and in planning educational and other engaging activities for the senior residents. Activities included COVID-19 testing, smoking cessation counseling, nutrition classes, translating, and Bingo. Interns helped with food distribution and acted as community liaisons between the residents and the administration to promote programs such as the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Interns also performed health checkups across all four HACE locations, measuring vital signs and creating a survey to assess the physical and mental health needs of the community.
Intern Statements:
Wesley Perez Cervantes: “My time at HACE has given me a glimpse of the challenges that our elderly Hispanic population faces daily and an opportunity to advocate for them. Seeing how this population can live below the poverty line knowing little to no English was inspiring and motivational. Each resident that I met reinforced how important it will be, as a future physician, to be aware of how social determinants of health can influence health outcomes. I am also grateful to have worked alongside social workers and community members who fight these challenges to bring resources for the betterment of the residents.”
Jessica Zbranak: “My internship at HACE this summer helped me understand the importance of community. This was my first time working with a senior population and never had I seen a group so full of life and kindness. The more I got to know the residents, the more I grew to appreciate their resilience and ability to persevere despite numerous obstacles. Working alongside the resident service coordinators introduced me to the social work aspect of healthcare, and I learned about the purpose and function of numerous social services that I know will be extremely important in my future career as a physician. It is clear that both the residents and the staff at HACE love their community, and I was so grateful to be a part of it this summer.”
Hope Rescue Mission
Strength in Unity: Improving Medical Compliance for Residents of a Homeless Shelter in Reading, PA
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Student Intern:
John LeMoine, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Academic Preceptor:
Holly Metzgar, DO, FACOG, NCMP, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Community Preceptor:
Frank Grill, Hope Rescue Mission
Community Site:
Hope Rescue Mission (HRM) has been providing vocational, social service, health, and spiritual programs for individuals facing homelessness in Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1894. It is a faith-based organization that receives no government funding, operating instead on grants and bountiful donations from the community. The institution currently serves only male residents. Recently, however, it started construction on a building in the rear grounds that will be called Lighthouse and will function as a shelter for women and adolescents. HRM also partners with a veteran’s affairs (VA) program.
https://www.hopeforreading.org
Team’s Experience:
The overall goal of the Bridging the Gaps student intern was to improve the residents’ compliance with their medications and medical appointments as well as to address any medical concerns that arose. The intern worked at a table alongside several occupational therapy student interns so that as residents approached the table with questions, the interns could provide medical and social service assistance. Additionally, the BTG intern participated in several smaller projects throughout the course of the internship, such as coordinating telemedicine appointments, cataloging resident prescription medications, and partnering with two on-site retired RNs to facilitate long-term care for chronically ill residents. Every other Tuesday, the intern partnered with a physician at a free clinic hosted at HRM. Every third Thursday, the intern toured the city of Reading along with police officers and case management staff to help bring people suffering from homelessness to HRM.
Intern Statements:
John LeMoine: “The city of Reading, one of the most poverty-stricken cities per capita in the United States, is located across the Schuylkill River from where my medical school campus and home are in Wyomissing, PA. For a year before my BTG internship as a first-year medical student, my endeavors rarely required me to cross the river into the city. I longed to engage with the Reading community on a personal level, and the internship at Hope Rescue Mission (HRM) gave me this opportunity. I had worked with homeless folks in the past, but my time at HRM opened my eyes to some of the specific struggles of the Reading community and gave me ample opportunity to listen to the residents’ stories. It was inspiring to observe how the residents, although hailing from a diverse array of backgrounds, find strength in and support one another to no end. I am grateful that I had the ability to partner with and deliver personable medical attention to the residents, and I am looking forward to continuing volunteering at HRM during my second year in school.”
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education
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Leaving a Legacy: An Experience With Sports, Mentorship, and Child Development
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Student Interns:
Sophia Kim, Drexel University College of Medicine
Jaret Nishikawa, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Daniel Taylor, DO, FAAP, FACOP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Joni Helton, Legacy Youth Tennis and Education
Josh Irving, Legacy Youth Tennis and Education
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Community Site:
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education offers free and low-cost community-based tennis programs for children throughout Philadelphia. Legacy provides affordable, safe, and nurturing camps for more than 3,500 children in the community each year. Legacy’s inclusive community promotes the development of high-achieving athletes while simultaneously teaching children about fitness, education, and character development. Legacy’s OST (Out of School Time) program partners with local Philadelphia schools to provide safe and enriching childcare during the summer and after school.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns were assigned to various Community Summer Tennis Camp sites such as Allen’s Lane Park, Pleasant Playground, and others throughout the greater Philadelphia area, where they collaborated with site directors and junior instructors to deliver tennis-centered programming. This included working with campers individually and in small groups, focusing on teaching proper tennis technique and on fitness drills. In addition, they also assisted with administrative and organizational tasks at the Legacy Center, focusing on supporting the OST program. OST programs support working parents and benefit children’s academic, social, and personal development through athletics, the arts, and STEM education.
Intern Statements:
Sophia Kim: “Through Bridging the Gaps partnership with Legacy Youth and Tennis Education, I was able to learn so much from the kids and coaches, while simultaneously giving back to my community. I was able to help build the kids’ confidence and knowledge about fitness, and the campers gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader. By being approachable, fair, and supportive, I was able to gain the trust of my campers over the summer. Overall, I enjoyed being integrated into Legacy Youth and Tennis Education and thought it was a great way to learn how to become a better teammate, leader, and community member.”
Jaret Nishikawa: “Serving as a Bridging the Gaps student intern with Legacy this summer has been an enriching and rewarding experience for me. The tennis aspect was fun, and I love teaching sports, yet I also found fulfillment in working at a nonclinical site, which required me to actively grow in ways that could be applicable to my future as a healthcare provider. Knowing the impact that adult mentors have on a child’s development, I learned new ways to communicate with adolescents, to remain patient in frustrating situations, and to diffuse conflict with positive and reinforcing language. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as a coach and role model for my campers at Allen’s Lane Park. Seeing their growth in confidence and self-discipline has been inspiring, and I hope they learned as much from me as I did from them.”
Mural Arts Philadelphia – Porch Light
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Art Beautifies, Connects, and Heals Communities
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Student Interns:
Kristen Bucchin, Drexel University College of Medicine
Ayotomiwa Odusote, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Esther Chernak, MD, MPH, FACP, Drexel University College of Medicine and Dornsife School of Public Health
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Community Preceptor:
Paige Phillips, Mural Arts Philadelphia
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Community Site:
Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Porch Light program, a joint collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, focuses on achieving universal health and wellness among Philadelphians by offering opportunities to contribute to meaningful works of public art. Porch Light projects are driven by issues that have tangible effects on local communities, such as mental health, substance use, spirituality, homelessness, trauma, immigration, war, and neighborhood safety. The targeted outcomes of any Porch Light project include improvements to the physical environment, new opportunities for social connections, and positive changes within a community, such as enhanced unity and empathy among neighbors.
https://www.muralarts.org/program/porch-light/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns at Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Porch Light program engaged with participants from the community, local artists, and Mural Arts staff during paint days at Horizon House and at site visits to Color Me Back: A Same-Day Work and Pay Program. The interns connected with community members through honest conversation while working on shared art projects or painting murals to brighten the community. Additionally, the interns attended mural dedications, conducted community outreach to collect signatures for mural placement, and participated in community engagement workshops. Outreach took place across Love Park, Strawberry Mansion, and Kensington. Overall, the interns’ creative collaboration helped promote positive changes and unity within the community, allowing them to meet people where they are. The interns also categorized Porch Light’s numerous projects to improve the organization and accessibility of the Mural Arts website, and they researched surrounding neighborhoods for future mural placement.
Intern Statement:
Kristen Bucchin: “Bridging the Gaps has been an eye-opening experience, giving me the opportunity to witness the challenges and realities underserved populations face and ways we can get involved and shine a light on these issues. Through the many conversations I’ve had with participants, artists, and other interns, BTG shaped my mindset and has enabled my growth as an open-minded, patient, and empathetic listener, which I will carry with me through my future career. I am grateful for my engaging experience with the Mural Arts Porch Light program because it has shown me the power of artistic expression in uniting communities, lifting people up, and helping them reconnect with hope, meaning, and life.”
Ayotomiwa Odusote: “Bridging the Gaps has helped me acquaint myself with the city of Philadelphia and its people. The Mural Arts Porch Light Program allowed me to grow and develop into an empathetic listener as I heard different stories at the sites: Kensington, Color Me Back, and Horizon House. It has helped me apply what I've learned in the classroom by being on the ground in the community. My perspective has changed by interacting with the artists and the program participants. The Mural Arts Porch Light Program is changing communities in Philadelphia by changing lives one person at a time.”
New Directions Treatment Services
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Supporting Individuals with Substance Use Disorder
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Student Intern:
Josette Graves, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Academic Preceptor:
Holly Metzgar, DO, FACOG, NCMP, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
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Community Preceptors:
Mairead Desmond, New Directions Treatment Services
Mihaela Pendos, CRNP, New Directions Treatment Services
Community Site:
New Directions Treatment services is an outpatient substance use disorder clinic and treatment center with locations in Wyomissing and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Patients are cared for by a diverse team of healthcare professionals including physicians, certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs), physician assistants (PAs), nurses, and counselors specializing in substance use disorder.
Team’s Experience:
New Directions Treatment Services offered a wonderful site in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, to explore both the clinical aspects of substance use disorder and the social determinants of health. The Bridging the Gaps student intern shadowed and was supervised by Mihaela Pendos, CNRP. The intern conducted interviews during the physical examination and understood the screening protocol and treatment for Hepatitis C. Additionally, the intern learned how to perform a PPD skin test for tuberculosis, how to administer sublocade injections subcutaneously, and how to draw blood from patients. The intern learned how to integrate oral health, cardiovascular health, smoking cessation, body mass index counseling, mental health, and safety during the interview sessions and directed patients to the appropriate resources.
Intern Statements:
Josette Graves: “Bridging the Gaps allowed me to deconstruct the stigma of addiction and regard it as a disease. Through this program, I built rapport with those suffering from substance use disorder and built relationships with a diverse team of healthcare professionals.”
New Journey Community Outreach
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Creating More Efficient Food Distribution During Record Inflation
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Student Intern:
Michael Samson, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Holly Metzgar, DO, FACOG, NCMP, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
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Community Preceptor:
Debbi Boone, New Journey Community Outreach
Sue Krall, New Journey Community Outreach
Jeff Laylon, New Journey Community Outreach
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Community Site:
New Journey Community Outreach is a nonprofit organization that operates in Reading, Pennsylvania. New Journey offers a daily soup kitchen that provides lunches to all who need them as well as food pantries on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. The pantries allow clients to select the foods they want, as opposed to receiving prepackaged groceries. Personal selection reduces waste and helps ensure that clients eat the food they pick up, rather than spend money on food elsewhere. In addition to food distribution, New Journey also provides clothing for those in need and general advice to help clients find housing, jobs, etc.
https://www.njcoinc.org/about_us
Team’s Experience:
The bulk of the Bridging the Gaps student intern’s experience was spent in the office doing administrative work. The increased volume of clients at New Journey required new ways to efficiently register them and get them the food they needed. A new ID card system was implemented, where clients received a card with their name and a corresponding ID number. The ID number allows New Journey volunteers to quickly find and register returning pantry clients.
Intern Statement:
Michael Samson: “Though I spent less time with the clients than I initially thought I would, I learned a great deal about what goes on behind the scenes at a nonprofit organization. During my time in the office, I learned about how to efficiently deliver care from the lens of finance and managing client information. I have a newfound appreciation for what must be done to secure funding and develop the plans that ensure everybody gets the care they need.”
North Light Community Center
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Student Intern:
Julianna Kinsolving, Drexel University College of Medicine
Brad Linso, Drexel University College of Medicine
Lavanya Logan, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Priya Patel, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Krista Wieder, North Light Community Center
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Community Site:
Located in the heart of Manayunk, North Light Community Center serves the children, families, and residents of the greater Manayunk and Roxborough neighborhoods. From offering a summer camp program for children to providing a space for distance learning during the pandemic, North Light is an instrumental resource for children in the area. North Light also serves as a food pantry and distributes food, household items, and essentials to those in need in the community.
https://www.northlightcommunitycenter.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked alongside staff in the summer day camp at North Light Community Center. They assisted with various activities and served as role models to children between the ages of 5 and 12. Activities included enhancing reading skills, facilitating educational games, promoting artistic creativity, strengthening physical activity, and fostering curiosity about their environment. In addition to supporting camp staff, the BTG interns provided emotional support to the children and helped create a fun and safe environment for all campers.
Intern Statement:
Julianna Kinsolving: “Spending my summer at NLCC taught me more about children than I could have ever learned elsewhere. It strengthened my empathy and communication skills and showed me how to effectively interact [with] and support young children who have endured extensive trauma. I learned that no matter how overwhelming children may seem, they are good and loving people who just need someone who cares to be that role model and support system for them. We have to tap into our inner child to remember what we needed when we were children and incorporate their joy into our own lives.”
Brad Linso: “Working at North Light Community Center has highlighted the importance of community to me. From the youngest child to the oldest staff member there is a sense of camaraderie that is almost palpable in the air. It’s deeper than just a summer camp to these children. I genuinely believe that these children will remember the impact that we’ve had on them for the rest of their lives, and I know that I’ll do the same”
Lavanya Logan: “I feel truly grateful to have had the opportunity to spend my summer with the children at NLCC. This experience challenged me to overcome my own biases, strengthen my problem-solving skills, and appreciate the unique perspectives and backgrounds of the children I worked with. The staff at NLCC has opened my eyes to the impact of lived experiences/trauma on children and taught me to look beyond their outward behavior to better understand and support them. I am immensely thankful to have been welcomed into this community and hope to use all that I’ve learned to better advocate for patients in the future.”
Northern Children’s Services
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Student Intern:
Pooja Puttigampala, Drexel University College of Medicine
Kendall Smith, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Renee Kottenhahn, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptor:
Dawn George, MS, PsyD, Northern Children’s Services
Kevin Weber, BA, Northern Children’s Services
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Community Site:
Northern Children’s Services supports the healthy development of children, while stabilizing their families to build stronger communities. The Wellness and Resiliency Program offers intensive and individualized services that integrate therapeutic interventions and academic support after school and all day during the summer. Most students referred for participation in the after-school and summer youth programs typically display behavioral challenges that manifest in multiple school suspensions, poor academic performance, impulsivity, and difficulty responding appropriately to school structure and authority figures. The program offers individual therapy, family and group therapy skills, social skills development, and homework help and tutoring.
https://northernchildren.org/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted in recreational and therapeutic activities with children in the Wellness and Resiliency Program. They assisted in de-escalation, resiliency-building strategies, implementation of coping skills, and recreational day-camp activities. They provided academic support services in the form of assistance with reading and writing. They also implemented educational activities such as a Jeopardy game centered around oral health and cardiovascular health and teaching the children how to check their pulse
Intern Statement:
Pooja Puttigampala: “I chose NCS as my site to explore a patient population I had not previously worked with and because I am passionate about mental/behavioral health services. I am grateful for this experience because I learned a lot about dealing with trauma, forming lasting bonds, and the importance of trust and communication when working with children. I have realized the importance of patience and meeting somewhere where they are, and I look forward to applying these lessons to provide better trauma-informed care to my patients.”
Kendall Smith: “NCS initially interested me because of the comprehensive role it serves to play in the behavioral health of children and the support and stability of families in the local community. My experience this summer helped me better understand how social and environmental factors impact behavior and development in children. Working with therapists and behavioral health technicians has broadened my knowledge regarding the effectiveness of mental health practices, such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance. I hope to take what I have learned this summer, including de-escalating challenging behaviors, building resilience in children and teaching coping skills, and applying it to my future work as a physician.”
Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading, PA
Bridging the Gaps at West Reading Elementary
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Student Interns:
Udit Roy, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Academic Preceptor:
Holly Metzgar, DO, FACOG, NCMP, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Community Preceptors:
Jamie Chmielewski, COTA/L, Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading, PA
Community Site:
Olivet Boys & Girls Club allows young children from all backgrounds to grow and develop while becoming caring, responsible citizens. Its programs address the region’s most pressing and immediate youth issues of educational support, after-school programming, and mentoring — all of which are provided by caring and knowledgeable staff.
https://olivetbgc.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern assisted with summer camp activities and enrichment, such as STEM activities, health education, introduction to Girl Scouts, and field trips to Blue Mountain.
Intern Statements:
Udit Roy: “This was one of my very first times working with young kids (aged 8 to 13) in this capacity. I loved my experience working with kids this summer. I really learned the importance of getting down to the child’s level and talking in a manner that makes sense to them and computes in their brains. I underestimated some of the bigger takeaways that can come from art, such as planning, patience, and persistence. Initially, these points may seem very simple, but the simplicity of the lesson is exactly what makes it a difficult topic to teach. It was also awesome to witness the moments when some of the girls in the camp had the realization that they could become an engineer or a doctor. It was clear that a new passion was ignited, simply because of exposure, and being part of the process that facilitates that realization is very rewarding.”
Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Ambulatory Health Services
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Student Interns:
Jacob Kalmanovich, Drexel University College of Medicine
Nidhi Khadke, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Viliami Tillage, Drexel University College of Medicine
Nicholas Young, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Barbara Hogan-Zarro, PhD, Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Vincent Zarro, MD, PhD, Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Community Preceptor:
Patrycja Dziekonska, MPH, Ambulatory Health Services, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Community Site:
The health centers of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health are strategically located to serve some of the most underserved populations throughout Philadelphia. Among their many offerings, the centers provide primary care, ob-gyn, dental, social, and legal services. The health centers accept patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and HMO plans as well as uninsured patients. For the uninsured patients, small fees are charged based on household size and income. The Prescription Assistance Program within the health centers helps patients who have no prescription coverage obtain medications for free through the assistance programs run by the drug manufacturing companies.
https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/city-health-centers/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked as patient advocates in the Prescription Assistance Program (PAP) at health centers throughout Philadelphia, helping patients with limited or no health insurance obtain their medications for free. The pharmaceutical companies distributing the medications require a lot of paperwork and follow-up. Patient advocates are responsible for explaining all the steps to patients and working to get them enrolled in the appropriate programs for their medications. Once a patient is successfully enrolled, the advocates are also responsible for making sure patients get timely medication refills, so their regimens are not interrupted. For many patients, a lapse in medication can lead to life-threatening consequences.
Intern Statements:
Jacob Kalmanovich: “I am grateful to have had the chance to work at the PAP office this summer, as it was a very meaningful experience. Being able to work alongside physicians to get under- and uninsured patients their needed medications has been both insightful and rewarding. As a patient advocate, I was able to witness firsthand some of the difficulties and obstacles that a low-income individual may face to acquire medication. This experience also illuminated the effect that social determinants of health play over one’s well-being. I assisted these patients in overcoming some of these obstacles and regaining some control over their own health. The skills and information I gained from this experience will allow me to improve the lives of as many people as possible and incorporate advocacy into my future career.”
Nidhi Khadke: “This was a highly rewarding experience but certainly not an easy one, as the pharmaceutical companies distributing the medications require a lot of paperwork and follow-up. Patient advocates are responsible for explaining all the steps to patients and working with them to get them enrolled in the appropriate programs for their medications. Also, the patient advocate’s job does not end once a patient is successfully enrolled: the advocates are also responsible for making sure the patients get their refills at proper times to ensure that there is no gap in medication regimens. For many patients, any lapse in their medication can lead to life-threatening consequences. I had the opportunity to learn about various practical Public Health scenarios and I feel immensely grateful that I can share this platform with different healthcare leaders and learn from their experiences. ‘Health’ in general is a broad concept and there are tons of healthcare professionals with whom I had the chance to engage: public health professionals, patient advocates, medical directors, nurses, and various other professionals. This was the best on-field experience I could ever ask for as a public health professional."
Viliami Tillage: “My experience with the Patient Advocacy Program (PAP) was invaluable. Many patients relied on us as advocates to access medication that would otherwise be unavailable due to limited or no prescription coverage. Although PAP services underserved communities, I am hopeful for a day when universal healthcare becomes a reality, and no one is ever left behind.”
Nicholas Young: “My summer working in prescription assistance gave me new insights into the difficult process of obtaining a state of physical and psychological well-being that many Americans struggle with. I saw how social determinants of health not only cause disease but prevent patients from accessing care and medication for myriad reasons. Having had the opportunity to observe both the best and the worst in how our current systems address patients’ needs, I will undoubtedly take what I learned forward into my career as a physician to provide individualized, comprehensive care.”
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Philadelphia Futures
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Student Interns:
Kevin Chao, Drexel University College of Medicine
Hiba Chaudhry, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Khalil Taylor, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Kristen Ryczak, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Community Preceptors:
Jonathan Edwards, Philadelphia Futures
Shanise Redmon, MA, Philadelphia Futures
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Community Site:
Philadelphia Futures is a nonprofit organization that connects low-income, first-generation-to-college students to the tools, resources, and opportunities needed for admission to and success in college. Their summer enrichment courses this year consisted of History and Human Behavior, Career Research and Exploration, and Environmental Science.
https://philadelphiafutures.org/
Team’s Experience:The Bridging the Gaps student interns served as teaching assistants for two classes in the Philadelphia Futures summer curriculum: Career Research and Exploration and History and Human Behavior. In Career Research and Exploration, the interns helped high school students develop skills for college and career readiness, such as how to write résumé, analyze different career industries, and give a 30-second elevator pitch. In History and Human Behavior, the interns helped students learn about African American, Haitian, Native American, and Middle Eastern history and movements, and how they have shaped our present-day society. For a final project, the Bridging the Gaps student interns developed and hosted a Jeopardy game about cardiovascular disease, oral health, and smoking cessation for all the students. Students increased their awareness of health disparities, acquired knowledge about effective preventive strategies, and learned about additional resources through active participation and engagement.
Intern Statements:
Kevin Chao: “Working with Philadelphia Futures has been rapturous, sobering, and insightful. From my experience, I learned that social determinants of health have a detrimental impact for everyone, particularly in education access. Those who are disenfranchised miss out on equitable opportunities to enter various career fields and working professionals who have more privilege lose out on a necessary diversity that drives productivity and camaraderie. The students that I worked with exhibited a prodigious level of tenacity, curiosity, and resilience, which served as a personal reminder to cultivate those same qualities in my personal development. I am grateful for this opportunity and motivated to continue to bridge the gaps between communities in my professional career.”
Hiba Chaudhry: “Interning at Philadelphia Futures has been an incredible experience. I worked with high school students, and seeing their dedication to come to class, even while having personal issues, amazed me. These students were given a platform to speak up and have their voices heard. Their experiences made me learn about the barriers these students face coming from disadvantaged communities, yet they are still taking advantage of the opportunities offered by Philadelphia Futures. Their resilience and passion inspired me. This experience made me realize why I wanted to work with students in the first place, and being a first-generation student, myself, gave me an opportunity to give back to the community.”
Khalil Taylor: “My time with Philadelphia Futures this summer has been beyond words. I came into this internship thinking I understood how to integrate passions, skills, and career aspirations. I quickly recognized the limitations of my perspective. Engaging with the students, instructors, and staff provided much needed insight into how I can better serve by combining my passions. This experience emphasized why mentorship and community service are essential and bidirectional. The boundless optimism, humor, and passion of each individual was refreshing and inspiring. Despite the struggles students experienced outside the classroom, the course provided a community for support and expression. As a product of Philadelphia, I am proud to know of and have the opportunity to experience Philadelphia Futures and a portion of the work they are doing with Philadelphia’s youth. I leave this experience feeling appreciative and empowered. I carry with me an invigorated passion, new tools and resources, and wonderful memories.”
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Programs Employing People
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Our Choice Matters - One Community
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Student Interns:
Aakanshya Aryal, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Jiawei Deng, Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
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Academic Preceptor:
Michele Rattigan, MA, ATR-BC, NCC, LPC, Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
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Community Preceptors:
Digo Kolingba, BA, Programs Employing People
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Community Site:
Programs Employing People (PEP) is a nonprofit organization that was founded to give people with intellectual and physical disabilities access to social, vocational, educational, therapeutic, recreational, and employment possibilities. Disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental or physical functioning and adaptive skills, such as information processing, communication, personal care, and social behaviors. The program matches individuals with activities and employment that fit their abilities, needs, and interests.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked in PEP’s senior and vocational programs, serving as direct support staff and assisting with group activities. The interns worked closely with the consumers to help them meet their goals. The interns created and led programs focused on cognitive skills, movement, and creative arts. They also assisted in art directives, literacy lessons, and fitness classes.
Intern Statements:
Aakanshya Aryal: “The opportunity to work at Programs Employing People during this summer was an incredible experience for me. The excitement and happiness of the adults and seniors participating in different activities throughout the day made me value smaller things in life. Working as a direct support professional and helping individuals achieve their short-term and long-term goals was great. I feel grateful for this experience and believe community engagement and participation is an important skill for a public health professional like me. This summer helped me hone that skill.”
Jiawei Deng: “In this community, everyone is treated equally. Making the member feel accepted and integrated into the community is critical. Being in the community may be difficult for them, but we are here to help. The consumer’s spirit and passion and their positive attitude always bring a smile to my face. My partner and I worked closely with consumers this summer. As a creative art therapy student, I have helped direct art activities to the consumers. For the creative art activities, I primarily focused on the kinesthetic and sensory levels of creative functioning for the consumers. There are also movement activities in the art that work on the consumer’s motor skills.”
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St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Summer Meals Program and CAP4Kids
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Meals & Memories: Community Resources and Engagement for Children and Families
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Student Interns:
Chioma Alaka, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Angela Kim, MS, MD, FAAP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Preceptors:
Daniel Taylor, DO, FAAP, FACOP, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
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Community Site:
Since 1875, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children's has been a leader in pediatric care. Its nationally recognized programs and pediatric specialists treat children in the Philadelphia area and around the world. The mission of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is to provide quality pediatric services in a caring, progressive environment. The Children’s Advocacy Project of Philadelphia, CAP4Kids, developed by Dr. Daniel Taylor, connects healthcare workers, social workers, child advocates, and families with community resources to address the social influences on health. The website contains a variety of resources ranging from after-school programs and financial assistance to legal help and more, all of which aim to decrease barriers to achieving healthy outcomes.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern helped manage the St. Christopher’s site of the Nutritional Development Services (NDS) summer meals program and distributed meals to children every weekday. The intern was able to collaborate with other St. Christopher’s employees and Bridging the Gaps student interns to facilitate meal distribution daily. Additionally, the intern collaborated with the website creator, Dr. Daniel Taylor, to develop organizational and accessibility tools for the CAP4Kids website. This included contacting community resources for website verification and creating over 100 QR codes to help enable site resources to be streamlined and easily accessible for all users
Intern Statements:
Chioma Alaka: “Spending my summer as a Bridging the Gaps student intern at St. Christopher’s has been one of the highlights I have experienced so far as a medical student. Having the opportunity to be a welcoming face to families as they enter the hospital and to alleviate a small stressor such as one meal of the day really helped me feel integrated into the Philadelphia community. Additionally, working on the CAP4Kids website really helped to highlight some of the wonderful resources and programs that can be available to families throughout Philadelphia. It also highlighted that although these resources exist, accessibility and allocation of them can still pose issues for struggling families. Thankfully, with websites like CAP4Kids, I believe we can continue to advocate and reach more families in need as more people become aware of the resources that are available. Learning about the community partners listed in the CAP4Kids website has enabled me to be better prepared to connect my future patients to necessary resources.”
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Together for West Philadelphia / RISE Philadelphia / Main Line Health
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Helping to Improving the Lives of Philadelphians
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Student Interns:
Karl Kamanousa, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Zach Kassutto, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Community Preceptors:
Barry Mann, MD, Together for West Philadelphia, Main Line Health
Risa Waldoks, Together for West Philadelphia
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Community Site:
Together for West Philadelphia (TfWP) is a community-based organization whose goal is to provide aid to West Philadelphians to improve health outcomes. TfWP provides direct support to individuals by partnering with other community organizations, healthcare systems, and schools.
https://www.togetherforwestphiladelphia.org
RISE Philadelphia was created by medical students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who live in Philadelphia rarely get the support they need to excel, and lockdown only made this issue worse. RISE’s goal is to provide academic help and mentorship to middle and high school students to assist them on their educational journey.
https://www.risephiladelphia.com
Main Line Health (MLH) is a not-for-profit health system that serves portions of Philadelphia and its western suburbs. It includes four acute-care hospitals: Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital, and Riddle Hospital. MLH is dedicated to improving the lives of Philadelphians and strives for excellence in quality of care and service.
https://www.mainlinehealth.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked with the three organizations to further their programs and to assist in data analysis. The intern organized and graphed data regarding the Helping Hands Program at TfWP to better understand the demographics of the population served and the effectiveness of the program. For RISE Philadelphia, the intern created presentations to help high school students understand college and how to apply. For MLH, the intern met with nurse managers and other staff members at various local hospitals to understand how these different institutions function in their approach to care for elderly patients and to determine if any methods adopted by the hospitals should be incorporated elsewhere.
Intern Statements:
Karl Kamanousa: “Working with these three organizations has been enlightening. While at times it was difficult to manage, it has been greatly rewarding. It was great seeing how these organizations functioned and to experience working and contributing to their work. And while these organizations are very different, it was interesting to see how interconnected their work is and how they all have the similar goal of improving our community and the lives of the people who live in it.”
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Unitarian Universalist House (UUH) Outreach Program
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Supporting Older Adults Through Healthy Aging and Independent Living
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Student Interns:
Michael Pamonag, Drexel University College of Medicine
Hana Shapiro, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Diane Gottlieb, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
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Community Preceptors:
Roberta Balsam, MA, UUH Outreach Program
Sara Popkin, MSW, LSW, UUH Outreach Program
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Community Site:
Unitarian Universalist House (UUH) Outreach provides individualized quality professional care that is responsive to the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of older adults in the Northwest Philadelphia community. UUH provides health promotion, social work support, distribution of the client assistance fund, and special projects, among other services.
http://uuhoutreach.org/index.htm
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted with the multifaceted services that UUH provides. Throughout the summer, the interns met UUH clients for in-person visits, compiled resources for the client base, connected clients with pertinent information, and put together a newsletter for an elder-living community affiliated with UUH. The interns also assisted with setting up and running community-based events and updated the team on any medical issues that clients experienced. Outside of their formal responsibilities, the interns spent their time making meaningful and personal connections with clients, many of whom have endured long periods of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intern Statements:
Michael Pamonag: “The Outreach staff’s investment and engagement in my learning allowed me to have an immensely eye-opening summer experience. UUH gave me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and hear incredible stories. Furthermore, through serving the UUH clients, I gained deep insight into some of the obstacles that older adults face as they live independently. Moving forward, I believe this will play a pivotal role in allowing me to develop into a more holistic physician who can better provide multidimensional care to my elderly patients.”
Hana Shapiro: “UUH Outreach is a unique community organization that has the flexibility to address many of the different obstacles older adults face while living independently. After having lived in the Germantown area for a year, it was gratifying to see the faces, houses, and stories of those who have called this pocket of Philadelphia their home. Working in tandem with a supportive and dedicated staff, I was able to build my toolbox of resources and skills to offer people in my community and bolster my confidence in becoming a compassionate, knowledgeable, and available health practitioner and neighbor.”