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9th Street Clinic / Latterman Family Health Center
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Availability of Language Options at the 9th Street Clinic
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Student Intern:
Caleb Daniel Jones, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Thistle Elias, DrPH, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Community Preceptor:
Yui Sugiura, DO, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Community Site:
The 9th Street Clinic is a free clinic just outside of downtown McKeesport. The clinic sees a diverse cohort of patients aged 18 and older who lack health insurance coverage. The clinic is open on Thursdays between 1 and 7 p.m.
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked with resident physicians to interview patients, with clinical staff to organize patient meetings, and one-on-one with patients in the waiting room and exam room to identify their needs. Working alongside front desk staff, the intern uncovered issues of language and reading level disparities in (non-legal) intake paperwork that were causing issues for patients and edited and translated the paperwork to reflect the diverse patient population. The intern will continue to work with the 9th Street Clinic for at least five more years. Results of this work should be evident moving forward.
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Reflections:
Caleb Daniel Jones: “I learned that while access to health insurance is somewhat more open than I might have previously thought, there are numerous reasons why a person may find themselves unable to get it. Each of these people still deserves top-quality care, and there are both small- and large-form ways to make sure these groups get it.”
Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
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Shamrock Way Pocket Park
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Student Interns:
Mae Moukamal, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Niyati Savur, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Thuy D. Bui, MD, UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Presbyterian
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Community Preceptor:
Kuwame Kinsel, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
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Community Site:
The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation (BGC) works to improve quality of life for residents of Garfield through active community engagement. The organization’s main goal is to involve as many residents as possible to aid in community revitalization through the development of Garfield’s business district and the Garfield Green Zone, and through youth programs such as the five-week summer Learn and Earn Program. The BGC has also made efforts to build affordable housing throughout the community for low-income individuals and their families.
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Team’s Experience
This was the first year that interns from Bridging the Gaps partnered with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation. The BTG student interns developed an extensive and detailed project plan to create a pocket park in one of the Garfield Green Zone spaces. The interns decided to transform the space to promote community bonding for all ages by incorporating different elements such as planter benches, a play space, a movie wall, and more. Because Garfield is one of six healthy food priority areas (HFPA) in Pittsburgh, the interns also focused on increasing food access by incorporating a garden space into their project with various produce. The interns also helped develop and maintain other Green Zone spaces that can continue to serve the community of Garfield.
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Reflections:
Mae Moukamal: “Garfield has become a second home to me this summer. The people here are extremely welcoming and make you feel comfortable, appreciated, and understood. The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation helps improve the quality of life for people every single day, and I am thankful I was able to take part in that process these past eight weeks. I am truly grateful for all of the experiences I have [had] and the people I have met during my time working here, and I hope to maintain these connections following the completion of Bridging the Gaps.”
Niyati Savur: “I have learnt that civic engagement can do wonders for bettering your community. I have learnt the importance of respecting community members’ wishes when coming in to develop a space. I have tremendous respect and admiration for the work that the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation has achieved and am grateful to have contributed to their efforts through this experience.”
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Center of Life
Hazelwood Girls Empowerment Program
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Student Interns:
Damaris Kyem, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Joslyn Rodell, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Martha Terry, PhD, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Community Preceptor:
Sarah Crawshaw, MEd, Center of Life
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Community Site:
Center of Life (COL) is a nonprofit organization established in 2001 in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Through the ongoing support of local, national, and international community partners and the community, COL provides extraordinary arts- and music-based enrichment programs and out-of-school programming for children. The mission of COL is to provide families and youth with life skills, education, training, and necessary resources for inner strength and a clear ability to strengthen their communities through a holistic approach. The organization’s vision is to equip families to create economic revitalization in their communities. COL exemplifies these core values through year-round programming for students and through community engagement events such as food delivery, the Summer Concert Series (through COL Jazz and the KRUNK Movement), and the COL Basketball League.
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns spent most of their summer working with Center of Life’s Camp Hazelwood, a summer extension of the after-school Fusion program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. While getting to know the Center of Life team and campers, the interns got to participate in activities around the Hazelwood community. They took part in food deliveries where they helped community workers deliver food and got to know the community better, went to weekly basketball games and concerts put on by the Center of Life Jazz and KRUNK (Kreating Realistic Universal New School Knowledge) Movement students, and participated in daily camp activities. The interns also created a mentorship empowerment program to equip girls aged 9 to 13 in Hazelwood with the skills and knowledge required to live successful lives in the future. Topics of discussion in the program included self-care, sexual education, hygiene and puberty, social media safety, vaping and substance abuse, and empowerment.
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Reflections:
Damaris Kyem: “My time at Center of Life has been extremely transformative. I have stepped outside my comfort zone and jumped right into the action, for example, by running scoreboards during the COL Basketball League games. The kids of Camp Hazelwood reignited in me a boldness to always ask thought-provoking questions and to never stop being inquisitive. I have witnessed firsthand how COL continues to serve as a vessel empowering Hazelwood youth to become the fuel necessary to reclaim, revitalize, and permanently redefine their community. The mentorship empowerment program aims to equip past, present, and future generations with long-standing tools to become proactive global citizens in society.”
Joslyn Rodell: “A girls mentorship program at Center of Life is vital to this community, and I think that girls who go through this program will be better equipped to care for themselves and thrive within their community. They will also be prepared to leave a positive impact on the Hazelwood community and potentially leave Pittsburgh to pursue their dreams, contributing in a big way to the world around them. I am ecstatic to be a small part of their journey.”
Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, Early Head Start (COTRAIC EHS)
Improving Communication and Building Community
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Student Interns:
Katie Cecconi, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Gillian Letson, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Jamie Zelazny, PhD, MPH, RN, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
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Community Preceptor:
Deborah Gallagher, Early Head Start/Family Center Director, Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center
Community Site:
The Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center (COTRAIC) promotes the socioeconomic development of the Native American community and others who experience the same type of economic difficulties in the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area. COTRAIC’s Early Head Start (EHS) program provides comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women and to families with children up to three years old.
www.cotraic.org/early-head-start
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns engaged in organizational capacity-building activities, including providing administrative and logistical support to management. At the invitation of management, the interns completed a Communication Needs Assessment, focusing on internal organizational communication and external communication to COTRAIC EHS families, and produced a 50-page report detailing the assessment process, findings, and recommendations, and a ready-to-implement communication toolkit. The interns presented a summary of the Communication Needs Assessment at the annual all-staff training week. The interns also engaged with Early Head Start families on multiple outings in the community, learning about child development, life-course public health impacts, and diverse experiences throughout Pittsburgh.
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Reflections:
Katie Cecconi: “I have seen more of Pittsburgh in the past two months than I have in the two years I’ve lived here. The best part of this experience was getting to see the city through the eyes of people who grew up here and have seen its multiple transformations over the past several decades. I’m grateful to all the COTRAIC staff for sharing their stories with me and for being real about the struggles and successes in the work they do.”
Gillian Letson: “Early Head Start gave me a greater understanding of what good community health work looks like. I see how important it is to set kids up for success, and now I better recognize how small things can impact our life course. I really appreciate how Bridging the Gaps has given me the opportunity to think about the role of public health from day one in a child’s life, and how it has pushed me to explore and connect so much more deeply with Pittsburgh.”
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gwen's girls
Equipping Black Girls with Knowledge and Skills for Success in Adulthood
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Student Interns:
Kathryn Deitch, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Adwoa Odoom, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Cynthia Salter, PhD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Community Preceptor:
Maureen Anderson, EdD, Gwen’s Girls
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Community Site:
Gwen’s Girls is a nonprofit organization that empowers girls and young women through gender-specific programs, education, and support services, helping them achieve self-sufficiency and community contribution.
www.gwensgirls.org/home
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns spent most of their time with the Gwen’s Girls teen program called Black Girls Advocacy and Leadership Alliance (BGALA). The interns assisted the program director with administrative tasks and planned and executed weekly lessons. For their project, the interns updated the Rite of Passage curriculum at Gwen’s Girls. Originally written by BTG interns in 2015, this curriculum explores various topics relevant to girls aged 11 to 13, including puberty, relationships, and self-esteem.
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Reflections:
Kathryn Deitch: “I initially felt very nervous about starting at Gwen’s Girls. I didn’t want to invade what was supposed to be a safe space for the girls. Over time, with the help of the BGALA girls and our mentors, I learned that I have unique skills and knowledge to contribute. Now I am responsible for taking all I have learned from Gwen’s Girls and advocating for Black women and girls in my future professional setting.”
Adwoa Odoom: “I’ve learned that it’s OK to be myself. Having a good support system is also important. Initially, I hesitated to work with the teens as I was unsure of how they would receive me. However, I realized we could relate to each other, regardless of our differences.”
Shadyside Family Health Center
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Heart-Healthy Recipe Book
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Student Intern:
Amrita Mani, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Thistle Elias, DrPH, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Community Preceptor:
Alissa Cohen, DO, MS DipABLM, UPMC Shadyside
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Community Site:
The Shadyside Family Health Center is a residency-based family health center in Pittsburgh that provides comprehensive, personalized care to people of all ages and backgrounds.
www.shadyside.familymedicine.pitt.edu/residency-program/family-health-center
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern interviewed staff at the Shadyside Family Health Center to determine areas for improvement based on patients’ experiences. The intern learned about existing clinic initiatives around food insecurity and developed a recipe book to accompany food boxes/food tickets that are provided for free to patients who screen positive for food insecurity. The intern developed the recipes using ingredients from the clinic food boxes/tickets to align with common diets recommended by doctors for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The intern also evaluated and updated the recipes and supplemental information sheets (about chronic conditions, reading a nutrition label, MyPlate, etc.) based on patient feedback.
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Reflections:
Amrita Mani: “Overcommunication is key. Pittsburgh has gaps but also many strengths. There are a lot of existing resources that begin addressing food insecurity, which I learned about during field trips to grocery stores/markets and conversations with patients. Primary care clinics have a special role in providing education and connecting patients to these resources.”
UPMC Montefiore
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BTG at UPMC Montefiore
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Student Intern:
Aaron Chacko, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Academic Preceptor:
Amar Kohli, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Community Preceptor:
Thistle Elias, DrPH, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Community Site:
UPMC Montefiore Internal Medicine, located at UPMC Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, provides comprehensive primary and specialized care, including preventive services and management of chronic illnesses. It serves as a major training site for medical students and residents from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, emphasizing hands-on clinical experience and research opportunities. Known for its patient-centered approach, the division is dedicated to building strong patient-provider relationships and advancing the field of internal medicine through innovative research.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked to revise patient documents used in the clinic. After speaking with numerous patients, it became clear that health literacy is a significant issue in the healthcare space, so the intern worked with the community preceptor to explore innovative ideas that could have a meaningful impact in the clinical realm and be beneficial to patients. The intern created new versions of forms such as the Personal Representative Form and the Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information, and then surveyed patients to gather feedback on the revised forms.
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Reflections:
Aaron Chacko: “After spending the summer in the clinic, I learned a lot about disparities in health outcomes within our society. I had the privilege of speaking with many patients about their home life, occupation, family, and financial challenges. This experience was further enriched by the weekly readings our class explored. I am grateful to have read many works that delve into the challenges faced by various demographic groups, including those from marginalized communities. From this summer experience, I came to appreciate the importance of basic necessities and how support can make a significant difference in many people’s lives. I hope to take the lessons I learned to become a more empathetic and caring physician, better equipped to understand my patients.”
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Vintage Center for Active Adults
Vitality at Vintage: Promoting Health Prioritization Through a Wellness Challenge
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Student Intern:
Brooke Ludwig, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
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Academic Preceptor:
Betty Braxter, PhD, CNM, RN, FAAN, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
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Community Preceptor:
Heather Sedlacko, MSPPM, Vintage Center for Active Adults
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Community Site:
Vintage is a center for active adults, located in East Liberty. Its mission is to improve and influence the experience of aging in the community by promoting social and physical well-being through a multitude of services, resources, classes, and activities. Vintage strives to promote healthy aging by providing a space for seniors to thrive.
www.vintageseniorservices.org/index.php
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern conducted a health-promotion interest survey of Vintage members and then launched a wellness challenge informed by the results. The intention was to motivate members to prioritize their well-being and to increase their use of Vintage’s existing resources. The two-week challenge included a packet with physical and mental health tasks for members to complete. The packet comprised gratitude sheets, printed workouts, health education crossword puzzles, recipe card outlines, and self-reflection sheets.
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Reflections:
Brooke Ludwig: “I have found my experience at Vintage to be extremely rewarding. It has solidified my interest in helping to promote healthy behaviors on a community scale, and it has shown me how important it is to really get to know and understand the people and populations that you are trying to help. Having the opportunity to spend time with this senior population has allowed me to form connections with many special people. I’ve gotten to serve as a motivator and partner in fitness classes, a resource for health information, a friend to joke around with, an adviser for technology, and a listening ear to confide in. Within all these roles, Vintage members have proved to me that age truly is just a number. With the right community around you, aging gracefully is more than possible.”​​
Youth Opportunities Development
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Introduction to Health and Wellness Trivia
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Student Interns:
Aliyah Anderson, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Sophia Oommen, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
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Academic Preceptor:
John Maier, PhD, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
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Community Preceptors:
Tre Mckeithen, Youth Opportunities Development
Brandon Ziats, Youth Opportunities Development
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Community Site:
Youth Opportunities Development (YOD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring peaceful, prosperous communities through the mentoring, education, and empowerment of youth. YOD uses after-school, in-school, and summer programming to focus on behavioral and academic improvement. The program director and long-term mentor spends almost every day with the children who are selected for the program and provides them with individualized care. At YOD, boys can play games and sports and learn new skills and topics, and they are encouraged to be respectful and well-behaved both inside and outside of the program.
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Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns supported YOD’s mission by empowering and mentoring the young boys, encouraging healthy and positive behaviors, and building trusted and safe mentor relationships. The interns saw an opportunity to introduce basic health and wellness topics that could improve the quality of life for the boys at YOD. They began to introduce topics such as common infectious diseases, sports nutrition and hydration, dental care, and mental health during group educational sessions each week. In addition, the interns developed a trivia card game that correlated with the health and wellness topics discussed during group sessions and included questions on new health information and entertainment topics the boys would relate to. The trivia game includes points, incentives to win, and QR codes on the back of the cards, with the intention that the cards will double as a resource guide. The last week of the program, the interns organized a trivia event to introduce the game to the students.
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Reflections:
The BTG CHIP experience has profoundly impacted the team’s professional and personal development. Through hands-on involvement in the inner workings of nonprofits, they have gained a deeper understanding of logistics, funding, and resource management, essential for effectively introducing health topics to underserved populations. This experience has taught them the importance of gradually introducing new ideas and planting seeds of knowledge, even when immediate changes aren’t visible. On a personal level, they have seen firsthand the resilience that can be nurtured in young individuals through the guidance of a trusted mentor, highlighting the critical role of trust in building meaningful relationships. Furthermore, they have learned that the size of an organization does not determine its impact; their smaller nonprofit has made a significant difference within the community by focusing on personalized, targeted efforts. This journey has enriched their approach to both professional endeavors and personal interactions, reinforcing the value of patience, trust, and focused attention.
Aliyah Anderson: “Having the opportunity to work at YOD this summer through Bridging the Gaps has solidified my passion for doing community-facing work. This experience has also highlighted its true value, as the knowledge we gain from statistics and textbooks only scratches the surface of the true realities and resilience of the people within our community.”
Sophia Oommen: “I was humbled by the welcome and friendliness that was shown to us as outsiders of the tight-knit community of Clairton. I was humbled by the dedication Brandon has given every day to support the lives and futures of the boys in Clairton. Clairton has taught me the importance of self-care within a community and how crucial human connection is in a time of need.”