Philadelphia 2025
Community Health projects
African Family Health Organization (AFAHO)
Where Public Health Meets Belonging
Student Interns:
Isaiah Dawid, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Mauryce Thomas II, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Academic Preceptors:
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Elizabeth Porter, MEd, African Family Health Organization
Community Site:
Located near Africatown in Southwest Philadelphia, the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) is dedicated to serving persons in the African/Caribbean diaspora. AFAHO works to help strengthen the community and facilitate social integration through the utilization of a peer support model. AFAHO assesses the needs of its community members to help them flourish.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns were tasked with helping with the communal food pantry, hosted once every two weeks by AFAHO in partnership with Philabundance, which supplies the food. Additionally, the interns helped run a summer camp for secondary and postsecondary students. During this camp, interns planned and hosted STEM-based workshops; assisted with outdoor games and activities; and provided English, math, and résumé-building skill sessions.
Reflections:
The interns time at AFAHO was eye opening to the diversity of the ACIR experience. Both Mauryce and Isaiah came in potentially wanting to serve this population in their careers and eager to learn more about the intricacies of these communities. From navigating generational divides to confronting the fear of ICE raids, they witnessed firsthand how injustice manifests in both daily routines and institutional systems. These experiences challenged the interns to better discern the needs of a community from an interdisciplinary perspective. Isaiah leaves the program knowing he would like to incorporate some elements of community care he saw at AFAHO into his future dental practice. Mauryce leaves with a greater understanding of the intricacies of the immigration process and the importance of language.
American Heart Association, Breathe Free PA
Clearing the Air: A Path to Make Casinos Smoke-Free
Student Interns:
Sophia Keang, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Harsha Meduru, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptors:
Brad Cary, Pennsylvania Government Relations Director, American Heart Association
Traci Kennedy, MPA, Midwest States Strategist, American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation
Community Site:
The American Heart Association is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Through research, public education, advocacy, and community programs, the AHA works to enhance cardiovascular health, promote healthy lifestyles, and reduce health disparities nationwide.
The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation is a nonprofit based in Berkeley, California, with a national reach. It focuses on protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke by educating communities, supporting smoke-free policy development, and promoting tobacco control efforts. ANRF’s mission is to preserve and advance the right of all people to breathe smoke-free air, especially in workplaces and public environments, with a focus on vulnerable and historically underserved populations.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked on a project that focused on legislative and advocacy efforts to eliminate the casino smoking loophole (a result of Pennsylvania’s 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act) and promote equitable public health protections for casino workers. The interns collaborated with the American Heart Association and the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation to support the passage of a comprehensive indoor smoking ban that includes casinos. The work included researching health impacts, reviewing legislative history, and drafting advocacy materials to be published on blogs and local news outlets. The final product was an op-ed titled “It’s Time to Clear the Air; Make Casinos Smoke-Free,” aimed at raising public awareness and building support for HB 880, also known as the Updates to the Clean Indoor Air Act bill.
Reflections:
Sophia Keang: “This internship showed me how deeply interconnected the healthcare field is with the legislative system. Healthcare providers hold a powerful role in public health advocacy, using clinical knowledge to fight for policies that protect entire communities, not just within the clinical setting. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to engage in hands-on advocacy through healthcare policy while working alongside students and professionals from diverse disciplines. This experience strengthened my skills in collaboration, adaptability, and effective teamwork — all of which are essential in real-world healthcare and advocacy work focused on overlooked and marginalized communities. In spaces like casinos, where visitors come and go but workers remain, lasting protections are critical. Advocacy ensures that no matter how transient a space may seem, the people within it are not forgotten.”
Harsha Meduru: “Working with the American Heart Association was truly eye-opening. I was surprised to learn that despite the widespread progress in smoke-free policies, significant exemptions still exist, particularly in casinos. This experience made me realize the vital role of advocacy and policymaking in healthcare. As a future healthcare provider, I now understand that being involved in policy work is just as important as providing clinical care. Actively contributing to policy change is essential to protect and improve public health, especially for vulnerable populations. I am incredibly grateful to have been exposed to this different side of healthcare, one that reminds me that meaningful change can also happen outside of traditional healthcare environments.”
American Lung Association
Fighting Flavor: Addressing Youth Vaping Through Legislative Advocacy
Student Intern:
Durgha Natrajan, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Elizabeth Hensil, Director, Advocacy for PA and WV, American Lung Association
Community Site:
The American Lung Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. Founded in 1904, the organization works to reduce tobacco use; promote clean air; advance lung disease research; and support patients with conditions like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. It plays a key role in shaping public health policy and empowering communities with resources to protect respiratory health, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern focused on educating Pennsylvania legislators about the health risks of flavored vaping products and advocating for policy change to protect youth. Working with the American Lung Association, the intern helped translate clinical and public health evidence into accessible language for lawmakers, creating a one-page informational handout summarizing key statistics and oral health risks associated with flavored vape use. The handout was distributed during legislative meetings. The work highlighted the disconnect between policymakers’ knowledge and public health data, aiming to fill that gap through direct engagement and education.
Reflections:
Durgha Natrajan: “This experience had a lasting impact on both my professional and personal development as a dental student. Working with the American Lung Association on flavored vape product advocacy provided a valuable opportunity to bridge clinical training with public policy. Engaging directly with legislators revealed how critical it is for health professionals to be active participants in advocacy, especially when public understanding of health risks is limited. The experience has reinforced the importance of oral health in broader public health conversations and sparked a long-term interest in integrating health policy and community engagement into my future career as a dentist.”
Asylum Pride House
Organizing Health and Wellness Events for LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers in Philadelphia
Student Interns:
Zoë Boston, Drexel University College of Medicine
Nicole Ru, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Homaira Azim, MD, PhD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptors:
Louisa Benatovich, BS, Asylum Pride House
Victoria Sirois, MA, Asylum Pride House
Community Site:
Asylum Pride House provides initial resources, case management, and long-term transitional housing to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in Philadelphia. It works with local and national organizations to provide wraparound support to clients in multiple areas, including immigration, housing, and legal services. In addition to these resources, Asylum Pride House organizes activities and outings for clients through the Wellness for Recently Arrived Persons Program (WRAPP) to support the emotional well-being and community integration of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Clients who participate in WRAPP also become eligible for free individual therapy sessions with local providers.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns took the lead on WRAPP activities this summer, working on a mix of educational sessions and community outings for Asylum Pride House clients. For the LGBTQ+ Immigrant Community Health Day, they reached out to multiple LGBTQ+ health/wellness organizations to table or speak at the event, and several immigration organizations also helped advertise the event to LGBTQ+ immigrants not affiliated with Asylum Pride House. They also coordinated with M&T Bank to host a financial literacy workshop for clients and organized a pottery class and a dance class. In between WRAPP planning, the interns accompanied clients on shopping trips and updated contacts for organizations in Philadelphia that Asylum Pride House has partnered with previously.
Reflections:
Zoë Boston: “I’ve greatly enjoyed my time working with the folks at Asylum Pride House. I have learned so much about the asylum and immigration processes, as well as why we need nonprofits like Asylum Pride House to do the work that they do. I want to serve the LGBTQ+ community in my future practice as a physician, and my experiences working with clients and organizing the immigrant community health day will help me achieve this goal. Learning what resources are available in the community and how to advocate for our clients to get the resources they deserve have been invaluable experiences. Before this summer, I had a vague idea about how to access resources for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. Now, I have a much more tangible way to help my future patients. I am inspired by our community preceptors every single day, and I can only hope that I will be able to serve my patients in the same way they serve their clients.”
Nicole Ru: “Through my experience at Asylum Pride House this summer, I’ve learned about the importance of wraparound services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and the resources available through different services in Philadelphia. I’ve also seen the impact of federal funding cuts this summer for many of the organizations that our site partners with, which illustrates the tenuous nature of support systems and safety networks in the community. Despite the uncertainty of the current climate, working with Asylum Pride House has been so fulfilling and inspiring — I’ve gained deeper insight into the asylum process in the United States, connected with multiple LGBTQ+ and immigration organizations in Philadelphia, and listened to our clients’ stories and experiences. It’s been such a rewarding experience, and I’ve had so much fun working with Victoria, Louisa, and Zoë over the past few weeks. I’m grateful to everyone at our site for giving us the opportunity to learn from them this summer, and I hope to carry this knowledge with me as I move forward into my career in healthcare to best serve my community and patients.”
Beyond Literacy
Bridging the Gaps: Health and Literacy Collaboration
Student Interns:
Wendy Chavez, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Agnes Duch, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Academic Preceptor:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Community Preceptor:
Mercy Howard, Student Support Coordinator, Beyond Literacy
Community Site:
Beyond Literacy (BeLit) opens doors for adults and families by using the power of literacy to transform lives. As Philadelphia’s largest literacy organization, BeLit offers free, high-quality education to help learners strengthen their skills in reading, writing, math, English language, digital tools, and job readiness. Its programs guide students from education to employment, supporting their growth as learners, active community members, and future professionals.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked with Beyond Literacy (BeLit) on its West and Center City Philadelphia campuses to support the mission of improving adult literacy. Their focus was on health literacy and promotion, especially around topics such as cardiovascular health, oral hygiene, and stress management. Together, the interns created and delivered bilingual presentations, interactive activities, and handouts tailored to BeLit’s adult learners. As a final product, they compiled a digital folder of health education resources for the sites to use beyond their time there.
Reflections:
Wendy Chavez and Agnes Duch: “When we began our placement at Beyond Literacy, we felt genuinely welcomed and came to appreciate the crucial role BeLit plays in the community. Our time there offered a closer look at how nonprofit organizations operate and revealed the very real barriers (economic, educational, and systemic) that many people face when trying to access care. Additionally, working with our community preceptor, Mercy, and our co-intern from Vanderbilt exposed us to new ideas for facilitating health education sessions on topics that are often overlooked. Alongside the GED and ESL teachers, we learned how interdisciplinary teamwork can expand the reach and relevance of health interventions. This experience reshaped our understanding of community care. We realized that making an impact doesn’t require a perfect system or place — just presence, consistency, and the willingness to listen. Through our engagement with BeLit learners, many of whom became avid participants in our workshops, we deepened our empathy. This summer at BeLit reaffirmed our commitment to becoming nurses who center dignity, trust, and compassion in all aspects of care inside and outside hospital walls.”
Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice
Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Student Intern:
Radwa Nahla, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Kristen Ryczak, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Shanise Weatherbee, MA, LPC, Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice
Community Site:
Based at Drexel University, the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice (CNSJ) is a trauma-informed organization dedicated to addressing violence and promoting healing through community-based, restorative approaches. CNSJ’s Community Outreach Team (COT) program engages youth aged 14 to 24 who have been impacted by violence and trauma, offering them holistic, culturally sensitive support and connections to care through credible messengers with lived experience.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern contributed to improving program documentation by updating the COT survey form to better capture client information, transferring collected data into the internal tracking system, and auditing client records to ensure accuracy and compliance. The intern also assisted in closing completed cases in the team’s database software. In addition, the intern participated in regular staff meetings that offered valuable insight into the COT program’s operations and its role in supporting youth affected by violence and trauma.
Reflections:
Radwa Nahla: “This experience deepened my understanding of trauma-informed care, community-based interventions, and the essential role of frontline outreach workers in advancing public health equity. Engaging with COT members, many of whom bring lived experience, taught me the importance of empathy, respect, and community trust in healing work. This placement has shaped my long-term commitment to integrating community voice into research and practice, especially in violence prevention and youth mental health."
Children First
Reconnecting and Reorganizing: Enhancing Coalition Communication and Outreach for Children First’s Lead-Free Promise Project
Student Intern:
Stephanie Ruiz-Torres, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Kaanan Raja, MPH, Health Policy Associate, Children First
Community Site:
Children First, formerly known as Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), serves as the leading child advocacy organization working to improve the lives and life chances of children in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Children First works to improve the lives of the region’s children by developing initiatives and advocating for quality healthcare, childcare, public education, and family stability. The tough challenges children face today do not lend themselves to simple solutions. With a strong reputation and history as a unique organization advocating across a range of children’s issues, Children First leverages the power of community-based coalitions to pressure government officials, legislators, and policymakers to take necessary action to give every child the opportunity to thrive. The organization’s policy work is focused on four main areas: early childhood education/childcare, public education (K-12), health and behavioral healthcare, and system-involved youth (juvenile justice and foster care). Children First is a leader in family inclusion and places parent/caregiver voice at the heart of its advocacy through the Parents Empowered for Change program.
https://www.childrenfirstpa.org
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern focused on reengaging more than 400 members of the Lead-Free Promise Project (LFPP) coalition who had previously participated in advocacy or outreach efforts. The intern led outreach efforts by contacting each member via phone or email to confirm or update their information and introduce a new membership tier system, then reorganized the coalition spreadsheet to include fields indicating the date of last contact and confirmation, enhancing its accuracy and usability. In addition, the intern conducted literature research on two key topics: the correlation between lead exposure and oral health, used to create a fact sheet for community outreach, and the use of filter paper as a method for testing lead exposure in children. The latter research was compiled into a literature review to be shared with the LFPP screening committee for analysis. The intern also reviewed and updated a resource guide for care management of a child who presents with elevated blood lead levels, calling the listed organizations to verify the accuracy of grant information, contact names, websites, and phone numbers to ensure that families receive the most up-to-date support and information. Throughout the summer, the intern also assisted Children First staff during meetings, tabling events, and with daily organizational needs. Final products included a streamlined coalition contact system and two educational resources to support outreach and screening efforts.
Reflections:
Stephanie Ruiz-Torres: “Being a Bridging the Gaps intern this summer and having the opportunity to work with Children First has been a deeply meaningful and transformative experience that I will take with me on my personal and professional journey. Entering the program, I had little knowledge about lead poisoning and its devastating impact on families across Pennsylvania, particularly in communities of color. Through this experience, I not only learned about the issue itself but gained insight into the systems and advocacy efforts working to combat it. Reaching out to coalition members by phone or email was both rewarding and humbling. Each interaction reminded me that I was representing a trusted organization, and it pushed me to be attentive, empathetic, and professional, always striving to offer a voice that was kind, respectful, and informed. I also cherished the sense of community within the Children First team; their warmth, dedication, and mentorship made me feel welcomed and supported every step of the way. I am truly grateful for this experience, which has strengthened my commitment to public health, advocacy, and community engagement.”
Clean Air Council
Clean Air Council’s 2025 Trail Program Summer Internship
Student Interns:
Alexander Chong, Drexel University College of Medicine
Teresa Hong, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Kathryn Stroup, MD, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptors:
William Fraser, Clean Air Council
Russell Zerbo, Clean Air Council
Community Site:
The Clean Air Council is a long-standing environmental health advocacy organization dedicated to protecting communities — especially Black and brown neighborhoods — from the harms of pollution and environmental injustice. Founded in 1967 by regional health associations, the Council began by promoting clean air awareness and pushing for stronger fuel regulations. Today, it continues its mission through public education, community organizing, and holding policymakers accountable. By promoting science-based policies and ensuring the enforcement of environmental laws, the Council empowers residents to advocate for a healthier, more equitable environment for all.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns contributed to improving the infrastructure and longevity of Cobbs Creek trail by pioneering a recently developed app called Trail Maintenance Toolkit (TMT). TMT is a mobile app that enables users to document, geolocate, and assess the condition of trail infrastructure. This tool allows for accurate and comprehensive tracking of maintenance needs. In addition, the interns created blogs and pamphlets to promote public awareness around trail safety and wellness.
Reflections:
Alexander Chong: “Working with the Clean Air Council’s Trail Program taught me to see green spaces not just as recreation areas, but as vital health resources and reflections of Philadelphia’s complex history of segregation, resilience, and community. Our primary task was to document and assess trail conditions, but in doing so, we discovered a hidden sanctuary in Cobbs Creek. Weekly trail visits gave me a peaceful start to the day and opened the door to conversations with fellow trail-goers, offering insight into the city’s evolving social fabric. I came to understand that trail maintenance is more than upkeep — it’s a form of care that demands attention, revision, and a commitment to community well-being. This experience has shaped how I advocate for public green spaces as a future healthcare provider, outdoor enthusiast, and a proud Philadelphian.”
Teresa Hong: “My internship with the Clean Air Council was a powerful introduction to the intersection between environmental justice and public health. By participating in a trail maintenance project, I learned about the multifaceted benefits of green spaces, including their impact on physical activity, social well-being, and neurodevelopment. Through conversations with residents, I also learned about the historical and systemic factors that have led to underfunded trails in underserved neighborhoods. Seeing firsthand the disparities in trail conditions enhanced my understanding of the social determinants of health in the Philadelphia region and their connection to chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. This experience taught me lessons that extend beyond the scope of medical school and will shape how I approach patient care with a broader, more informed perspective.”
Drexel University Community Wellness HUB
Health, Education, and Wellness Intern
Student Intern:
Matthew (Heath) Patterson, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
James Buehler, MD, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Community Preceptor:
Monica Harmon, MSN, MPH, RN, Drexel University Community Wellness HUB
Community Site:
“Come HUB with me!” With a name chosen by the residents of West Philadelphia, the Community Wellness HUB serves as a welcoming, nonjudgmental safe space for residents of Powelton Village and Mantua to heal, unite, bridge. The HUB is dedicated to improving health, advancing health equity, and enhancing quality of life for West Philadelphians. In addition to offering health screenings and preventive care services, the HUB also hosts health and wellness programming as well as community outreach and education events — all free of charge. By fostering a unique sense of cultural awareness and sensitivity, the HUB advances community engagement through partnership, empowering and encouraging West Philadelphians to assume active roles in individual and community health. In doing so, the HUB establishes the organizational foundation for a sustainable public health safety net, one capable of addressing the identified social influences of health through ongoing collaboration with the residents of West Philadelphia, academic institutions, students, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern collaborated with the Community Wellness HUB’s clinical staff and health education program directors to promote health and health equity by engaging West Philadelphia residents in individual and group environments. The intern supported clinical services by providing blood pressure checks, blood glucose monitoring, BMI measurements, and COVID testing, while also assisting with patient-specific care coordination through referrals to primary care, behavioral and mental health, sexual and reproductive health, violence prevention and victim support, resource access, and opportunities for employment and skill development. In addition to facilitating survey administration, community outreach, and wellness program logistics for small group sessions, including art and music therapy, the intern launched a recurring qigong class. Additionally, the intern also partnered with Ausome Ambassadors, an enrichment program for young adults with autism spectrum disorder, to lead an adapted qigong class tailored to participant needs. Last, the intern partnered with Lazarex Cancer Foundation to co-host a virtual community workshop called “The Skin I’m In: Sun Safety,” which focused on skin cancer prevention and education, including addressing myths about skin cancer in people with darker skin tones.
Reflections:
Matthew (Heath) Patterson: “The Community Wellness HUB graciously welcomed me into their community, offering the opportunity to engage directly with residents of Powelton Village and Mantua. Working alongside HUB staff, I supported efforts to address community health priorities through small-group wellness programming, care coordination, and outreach. In these shared healing spaces, I witnessed how trust and continuity empower meaningful health conversations —especially when rooted in mutual respect. While I often emphasized the physical and emotional benefits of qigong, I came to more deeply value how these gatherings fostered relationships through presence and consistency. This experience reshaped my vision for my future role as a family medicine physician. I hope to create a clinical space that integrates holistic and community-centered care, where practitioners such as dietitians, acupuncturists, osteopathic providers, and physicians collaborate to address not just illness, but the broader contexts of isolation and disconnection.”
Drexel Food Lab
The Joy of Cooking
Student Interns:
Samuel Cho, Drexel University College of Medicine
Jennifer Zhang, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Emily Spengler, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptors:
Jonathan Deutsch, PhD, CRC, CHE, Drexel Food Lab
Rachel Sherman, Drexel Food Lab
Community Site:
Do good. Feed better. Keep going. The Drexel Food Lab is a faculty-mentored interdisciplinary food product design and culinary innovation research lab solving real-world problems in sustainability, health promotion, and access. Its members apply culinary art and science to improve the health of people, the planet, and economies. In doing so, they not only develop new food products and menu items with entrepreneurs and industry, nonprofit, and government partners, but also develop the Food Lab’s flagship “product”: graduates across disciplines who are poised to improve the food system.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns were actively involved in multiple areas of the Food Lab, including product development and focus group testing, client meetings and presentations, and nutrition curriculum development. This year’s focus concerned value-added food product recipe development as well as product sensory survey analysis. The former involved testing multiple rounds of recipes in a commercial kitchen, while the latter involved data parsing and organization from Qualtrics. Interns also volunteered with some of Philadelphia’s community food and garden organizations, such as Las Parcelas, to gain a better understanding of food resources and needs in the community.
Reflections:
Samuel Cho and Jennifer Zhang: “Our time at Drexel’s Food Lab offered us a chance to step back and seek clarity from the many lectures offered by Bridging the Gaps. In this political climate, it seems like everything we knew to be stable has come undone; it is a period in history where hope often feels lost. As medical students and aspiring physicians, the act of creating food and finding nourishment during our summer break afforded us a strangely indispensable opportunity for meditation upon the state of the world and its repercussions for our futures. The art of cooking, which offers challenges and pleasures alike, helped to ground us in this strange new world.”
Get Fresh Daily
Rooted in Impact: Cultivating Plant-Based Wellness With Get Fresh Daily
Student Interns:
Autumn Carstensen, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Jenna Patel, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Jiana Murdic, MS, Founder and Director, Get Fresh Daily
Community Site:
Get Fresh Daily is an organization committed to promoting education about wellness and healthy living to individuals of all ages within the Black community. Through its community gardens, educational programs, summer camps, farmers markets, Fresh Takes produce boxes, and community wellness events, the organization introduces individuals to the joys of gardening, the value of nutritious eating, and the healing powers of nature. Through its Black-Owned Farmers Markets, Get Fresh Daily helps support local farms and businesses in distributing fresh produce to the West Philadelphia community. At the heart of this site is Freedom Greens + Gardens, a welcoming and inclusive space where community groups and partners can gather, build relationships, and connect with nature.
https://www.getfreshdaily.org/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns served as camp counselors during Camp Excellence, a wellness-focused day camp for students in first through eighth grades. The interns assisted the counselors and junior counselors, facilitated the arts and crafts and fun and games workshops, and supervised the campers throughout the day. Beyond their work at camp, the interns contributed to the upkeep of Freedom Greens + Gardens by watering the crops, harvesting and preparing produce for the Black Farmers Markets, and managing the Get Fresh Daily table on market days. Additionally, they developed a comprehensive, user-friendly database, compiling seasonal produce lists, nutritional information, and recipes from past Get Fresh Daily newsletters to support easy future access and use.
Reflections:
Autumn Carstensen: “This summer, I saw how public health can come to life through simple relationships, creativity, and trust. At Get Fresh Daily, I learned that health education works best when it’s hands-on, enjoyable, and understandable. I saw how systemic barriers show up in everyday moments and how small acts, like sharing produce at a local farmers market or teaching a health skill via children’s-toy props, can have a big impact. This experience deepened our commitment to working in community health and meeting people where they are while doing so.”
Jenna Patel: “Working at Get Fresh Daily this summer was such a memorable experience. I enjoyed spending time outdoors as a camp counselor and in Freedom Greens + Gardens. I met many wonderful individuals along the way and will cherish our conversations. As a camp counselor, I truly enjoyed bonding with the kids while we played Uno and soccer or drew on the sidewalk with chalk. I had as much fun interacting with the campers as I believe they did with me. Gardening, one of my favorite childhood pastimes, was also rewarding. The Freedom Greens + Gardens is a welcoming, inclusive, and peaceful community space in West Philadelphia. Working in the garden highlighted the lack of access to nutritious food as a result of various social determinants of health. I admire how Get Fresh Daily is committed to its community, aiming to educate, provide wellness, and arrange opportunities for community members to have access to healthy food. I am incredibly grateful for the time I spent at Get Fresh Daily and will remember all of the insights I received from those around me as I move forward in my dental career.”
Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc.
Promoting Preventive Care in the Greater Philadelphia Area
Student Interns:
Ada Liu, Drexel University College of Medicine
Karsyn Terry, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Annette Gadegbeku, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Monica Mallory-Whitmore, DO, Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc.
Community Site:
Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc. (GPHA) is a large Federally Qualified Health Center that has been serving patients for over five decades. GPHA has 12 clinical sites throughout Philadelphia and is the largest non-hospital health provider in the region. Its mission is to provide quality, comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and child development services through an expert staff of professionals. While using a fiscally responsible approach, it seeks to meet the needs of a diverse patient population, regardless of the ability to pay.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns focused on creating health initiatives to improve quality measures across the six GPHA primary care sites. They focused on quality measures for colorectal screening, diabetic eye and foot screening, and asthma control medication pickup. Working with health center administrators and clinical directors, the interns identified potential barriers faced by patients in the community and created solutions, including educational materials that connect patients with resources. The interns also worked on establishing a more sustainable workflow for pediatric autism patient referrals, including creating a workflow document, a tracker-to-document referral process, and a parent educational booklet to enhance understanding of the process. When not working on these health initiatives and program assessments, the interns helped care coordinators reach out to patients to confirm their annual physical appointments and worked with patients to complete their annual health risk assessments before scheduled appointments.
Reflections:
Ada Liu and Karsyn Terry: “Working at GPHA over this summer has been a valuable experience that showcased the organization as a significant contributor in increasing healthcare access for the underserved and marginalized communities throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Throughout the time at GPHA, we worked closely with clinical directors and nurses across various GPHA sites throughout Philadelphia, learning about the various socioeconomic barriers patients face preventing them from taking care of their own health. Notably, across all clinics, we witnessed the priority to improve patient education and health literacy. Whether it be from brochures, links on their website, or simply providing thorough explanations over the phone, every staff member at GPHA clearly understands the importance of keeping their patients as informed as possible and is committed to giving patients agency over their well-being. Despite having to navigate a wide variety of challenges, we were inspired to witness the ubiquitous love of patient-centered care and overall optimism to make a difference.”
Inglis House
Activities to Empower – Therapeutic Life Enrichment for Residents at Inglis House
Student Intern:
Gloria Pezzella, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Clarissa Lacson, PhD, MT-BC, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Community Preceptor:
Patricia Veltri, Inglis House
Community Site:
Inglis House is a residential skilled nursing facility providing person-centered care for adults with neurodegenerative disabilities. The residents, who range in age from 20 to 90, are all wheelchair users. Their primary diagnoses include multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Inglis House is a nonprofit, which allows it to provide therapeutic and life enrichment services with many engagement opportunities, including art classes, history lectures, technology services, music therapy, trips, and more.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked alongside the Therapeutic Life Enrichment Team assisting with daily activities scheduled for residents, including art groups, music games, sensory meditation, and practices for Keen Games (Inglis House’s annual Olympics). The intern’s contributions included transporting residents and assisting with personal adaptations, as needed, for hands-on activities. The overall goal was to allow residents to operate as independently as possible and get the most from the experience. Throughout the summer at Inglis House, the intern socialized frequently with residents, providing reassurance and friendship.
Reflections:
Gloria Pezzella: “The time I spent at Inglis House this summer was deeply meaningful for me. Connecting with the residents and learning more about the person beyond what meets the eye demonstrated the importance of person-centered care to me. Each person is unique, with a special story to tell, and giving someone the space to share can completely transform your interactions. I am moved by each person’s resilience and positive outlook despite the challenges they have faced which led them to Inglis House. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend time at Inglis House and to learn how to respectfully navigate the complex medical conditions contributing to these disabilities. All of this will contribute to my practice as a physician in the future, as I want to be a provider whom my patients can trust, someone who truly sees and understands them.”
Mazzoni Center
Understanding Substance Use in the LGBTQ+ Community and Key Needs for Treatment
Student Intern:
Katherine Allen, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
Academic Preceptor:
Zoë Van Orsdol, MA, MPH, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
Community Preceptor:
Devon Taylor, Director of Practice Management, Mazzoni Center
Community Site:
The Mazzoni Center, one of Philadelphia’s oldest LGBTQ+-focused health centers, provides a wide range of services designed to meet the unique needs of its community. The main site, located at Broad and Bainbridge, provides comprehensive primary care, medical case management, and behavioral health services as well as a food bank and a youth drop-in clinic. The secondary location in Washington Square West operates as a sexual health clinic offering STI testing and treatment. Mazzoni’s mission is to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all patients regardless of their income level or insurance status. Annually, the Center provides compassionate and inclusive care to more than 15,000 patients. A pressing need is a more comprehensive approach to substance use, particularly meth, and to addressing the many issues that contribute to its use.
Team’s Experience:
LGBTQ+ adults are at a higher risk of substance use and substance use disorders as compared with the general population. In particular, elevated rates of stimulant use are reported among gay and bisexual men. The Bridging the Gaps student intern gathered information from key sources such as care providers, patient records, professional literature, internal and external resource lists, and patient interviews to address the issue. With this information, the intern developed a proposal to improve and streamline the Center’s substance use screening protocol and update treatment referral resources, with the goals of reducing the barriers to treatment and mitigating progression to more serious health conditions.
Reflections:
Katherine Allen: “Bridging the Gaps was a valuable learning experience for me in that I saw firsthand the difficulties and inequities that the LGBTQ+ community faces in obtaining compassionate and comprehensive services. If Mazzoni did not exist, it would be far worse. My experience at Mazzoni taught me how important it is to have as many services as possible available under one roof. However, it also taught me that, in some cases, treatment is only a stopgap measure if other needs such as homelessness, joblessness, long-term mental health services, etc. are unable to be addressed. For me, gaining deep clarity on the gaps in community services was just as important as understanding the commitment that Mazzoni has to the LGBTQ+ community.”
Mothers in Charge, Inc.
Stopping the Silence, Preventing the Violence
Student Interns:
Sonia Dalal, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Celes LeFleur, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Academic Preceptors:
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Dorothy Johnson-Speight, EdD, MHS, LPC, Founder and National Executive Director, Mothers In Charge, Inc. (MIC)
Community Site:
Mothers In Charge is a nonprofit violence prevention organization based in Philadelphia that serves individuals and families of various ages who are impacted by gun violence. The organization was founded out of necessity and is passionately committed to fostering a safer community through services such as grief support, anger management, reentry services, education, outreach, intervention, and advocacy. Mothers In Charge uses the PIE approach to reducing gun violence: prevention, intervention, and education.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns observed and participated in weekly group services such as anger management and grief support. The interns worked closely with the Mothers In Charge staff to assist in community outreach efforts through tabling events, annual fundraisers, and youth programs. The interns also created pamphlets and bookmarks focused on oral health, cardiovascular health, and trauma that included educational content and QR codes listing available resources in Philadelphia.
Reflections:
Sonia Dalal: “Working with Mothers In Charge grounded me in what community care actually looks like. Every week, I sat in on grief and anger management sessions, where I learned that healing is not linear, and sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is just be there [to offer] an ear, a shoulder, a hand. Quiet, present, and willing to listen. Along the way, I met people who welcomed me into deeply personal moments, who showed up for each other while carrying so much themselves. Their strength, honesty, and openness taught me what it really means to hold space for someone. This summer shifted how I think about care. It’s not always about finding solutions; sometimes it’s just about being there through the hard parts. It’s about trust, consistency, and showing up even when it’s heavy. I’ll carry that with me moving forward, in the way I listen, the way I show up, and the way I hope to care for others, in dentistry and in everything I do.”
Celes LeFleur: “My time working with Mothers In Charge has been a truly wonderful experience that I will cherish for the entirety of my professional career and personal life. I am truly grateful for the connections I have made with the staff and the Philadelphia community. Mothers In Charge and its members have shown me the power of resilience and hope, even in the face of loss. I continually find myself in awe of how kind, giving, and courageous the Mothers In Charge community is, and I have learned the power of acceptance and the importance of community. Although challenging at times, hearing the stories of individuals impacted by violence, trauma, grief, and incarceration has taught me the importance of listening to others’ stories with compassion, empathy, and without judgment. Mothers In Charge has illuminated me on issues of gun violence and systemic inequalities, which will be invaluable within my professional practice as a future social worker.”
Nationalities Service Center (NSC)
NSC: Witnessing Perseverance and Resilience Within Immigrant and Refugee Populations
Student Interns:
Siddiqa Faruki, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Hannah Park, Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Academic Preceptors:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Zoë Van Orsdol, MA, MPH, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
Community Preceptor:
Kara Friesen, MA, Associate Director of Health Services, Nationalities Service Center
Community Site:
Since 1922, Nationalities Service Center (NSC) has been committed to serving refugees and immigrants in the Greater Philadelphia area, assisting approximately 5,000 clients annually in recent years. NSC supports newcomers from more than 100 countries and offers multiple resources to help clients build a foundation of independence, including programs and services for legal protection, language access, community integration, employment supports, and healthcare navigation. NSC’s mission is to empower immigrant and refugee communities and to see them thrive.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked with the Health Access and Innovative Support Program for Immigrant and Refugee Empowerment (INSPIRE) teams, focusing on navigating the healthcare system and providing social support. The interns connected clients to healthcare services and social benefits such as SNAP, SSI, public transportation, adaptive equipment, and healthcare screenings. The interns also helped clients make and navigate healthcare appointments and escorted clients to these visits to advocate for cultural humility and accessible interpretation. With support from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the interns developed resources to educate clients on the significance of smoking cessation, detailing the health benefits of quitting and offering a list of supportive resources to be disseminated after translation. The interns also created a safe space for clients to voice their concerns and needs and facilitated accessible support to ultimately promote clients’ journeys toward independence and self-sufficiency.
Reflections:
Siddiqa Faruki: “My time at NSC has deepened my appreciation for immigrants and refugees more than ever. I was inspired by how perseverant they are for themselves and their families. As individuals, their resilience and strength have left a lasting impact on me. Witnessing them navigate through financial, linguistic, and healthcare challenges reminded me of the strength it takes to rebuild a life in a new place, similar to how my immigrant parents had to readjust. At the Survivors of Trauma (SOT) clinic at Penn Dental, I connected clients to vital and free dental services. Next, with the Wellness team, I had the opportunity to support them through appointment escorts. My work with INSPIRE gave me the opportunity to understand the daily lives of clients through home visits, where we worked on accessing healthcare services that address some social determinants of health, like SNAP, transportation, education, affordable housing, and appointment scheduling. While there were moments of frustration and limitations, I found deep fulfillment in being part of a team that reflects on work similar to my immigrant background. I gained immense respect for the social workers who carry this work with such care and dedication. Above all, I was inspired by the clients themselves, their determination, humility, and hope. I am sad to see my time at NSC come to an end, but I am grateful for all that I have learned through these communities, and I am committed to continuing to support them with dignity and compassion in the future.”
Hannah Park: “My experience at NSC was a beautiful testament to the strength and resilience of the refugee community. It has been my privilege to be intimately involved with our clients’ unique journeys and to learn how to warmly encourage steps towards growth in each scenario. Every day at the office brings the distinct honor of celebrating clients’ milestones and wins together, big or small; it never fails to amaze me just how much empowering and building up our clients’ confidence and independence can impact their resettlement experience. These families go on not just to simply live but to thrive. The vital intersection between health access and social support was always at the forefront of my work, reaffirming a deep need and my growing passion to advocate for systematic change towards holistic, informed care. NSC’s direct fieldwork opportunities opened my eyes to just how much power and privilege I hold as a citizen and future healthcare provider, and the need for attention to our approach in every interaction leaves undeniable, lasting marks on our patients’ trust and health outcomes. I want to take my experiences and conversations with our clients to become a trauma-sensitive, culturally humble provider who can fight for the dignity, respect, and quality of healthcare my patients deserve.”
No More Secrets Mind Body Spirit Inc.
More Than Products: Listening, Learning, and Supporting Community
Student Interns:
Racquel Giro, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
McKenna Mooshian, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Academic Preceptors:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptors:
Nya McGlone, MS, Co-founder and COO, No More Secrets Mind Body Spirit Inc.
Lynette Medley, MEd, Co-founder and CEO, No More Secrets Mind Body Spirit Inc.
Community Site:
No More Secrets Mind Body Spirit Inc. is a Black-women-led nonprofit based in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, founded to address period poverty, menstrual stigma, and inequity in access to hygiene. Their groundbreaking initiative, The SPOT Period, the first menstrual and uterine wellness hub in the nation, offers free menstrual products, health education, and a safe, welcoming space for underserved communities. The organization hosts wellness events for all ages and reaches even more communities through a mobile clinic offering education and care on the move. Since launching, they have distributed more than 22 million products and continue to lead in advocacy, research, and menstrual equity.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns supported No More Secrets this summer with pop-up events and events for young girls in the community and scheduled appointments for product distribution, which included picking up several months’ supply of menstrual products. The interns helped assemble bags with preferred products and offered education sessions. They assisted with pop-up events, helping to display products on tables for easy grab-and-go and to educate young women about the types of products. Their main project of the summer was planning and facilitating daytime slumber parties for preteen girls in the community. The interns helped plan and set up one slumber party at the beginning of the summer and facilitate another toward the end. These events included food, games, movies, a journaling activity, and a mini education session on periods.
Reflections:
Racquel Giro: “Spending the summer at No More Secrets has been an incredibly eye-opening experience that reshaped how I view community care and public health. As a dental student, I came into this internship expecting to focus on education and outreach, but I quickly realized that this work was about so much more than sharing knowledge. No More Secrets models what it means to show up for people in ways that are affirming, trauma-informed, and rooted in love. I was moved by how something as seemingly simple as handing out menstrual products could carry so much meaning when it’s done with intention, respect, and understanding. Being part of the daily operations, from assembling bags for appointments to helping with pop-up events, helped me see how much thought goes into every single interaction at The SPOT. It’s not just about distributing products — it’s about restoring dignity, building trust, and creating safe spaces for people who are often overlooked or stigmatized. This experience made me reflect deeply on how I want to show up for my future patients. It reminded me that technical skill is only one part of care — what matters just as much is how we make people feel. The staff at No More Secrets model empathy in action, and I’ll carry that example with me into my career. I’m so grateful to have worked with such passionate and fearless leaders, and to have been part of a mission that is actively shifting the narrative around menstrual health. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”
McKenna Mooshian: “This summer at No More Secrets taught me a lot about working with the community and the value that organizations like this have in people’s lives. This experience has opened my eyes to the impact that listening to and learning from the community can have in relation to providing both education and healthcare. As a nursing student, I will take a lot of my observations and insights from this internship and apply them to my future career. One big takeaway from this summer is that just showing up and being there to support someone is enough. Taking the time to just talk with, listen to, and show empathy for a struggling member of the community is so important, something that No More Secrets does every day. Of course they provide menstrual products, but they also provide education, a listening ear, and a safe space to just be. No More Secrets is such a unique organization, shedding light on an issue that is too often overlooked, especially in our current political climate. Not only are they providing products to people that need them, but they are actively working to break cycles of shame, misinformation, and neglect surrounding menstrual health. I am very grateful to have spent the summer working with such inspirational people and helping to make a difference in the community.”
Old Pine Community Center (OPCC)
Building Healthier Communities Through Food and Summer Learning
Student Interns:
Ronnie Macauley, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Meggie Qu, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Academic Preceptors:
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Mark Atwood, Executive Director, Old Pine Community Center
Community Site:
Old Pine Community Center (OPCC) is a nonprofit organization based in Society Hill. OPCC collaborates with neighborhood community partners to support three programs: food (including food donation), children (including summer camp and after-school programs), and community engagement. Since 1977, OPCC has supported the local community by offering engaging programs and services centered on children and families, addressing food insecurity, and fostering community involvement. Additionally, OPCC offers rental space for private events, celebrations, sports activities, and neighborhood gatherings.
https://oldpinecommunitycenter.org/
Team’s Experience:
As part of the food program, the Bridging the Gaps student interns helped prepare 300 meals for summer camp children, working in collaboration with organizations like Depaul USA and Puentes de Salud. Every Tuesday and Friday, the interns joined other volunteers in the kitchen to prepare meals, and they packed more than 100 grocery bags each week for individuals in need. The interns also sent donation inquiry emails and visited local restaurants and grocery stores seeking potential donations. As part of the summer camp program, the interns engaged children by teaching proper oral hygiene techniques, introducing STEM-based careers such as the roles of various health scientists, and promoting nutrition education in partnership with the Franklin Institute.
Reflections:
Ronnie Macauley: “My time at OPCC was incredibly rewarding and insightful, allowing me to gain valuable experience and a deeper understanding of the local community. I am thankful for the opportunity to work alongside the kindhearted staff and volunteers, who embody the true spirit of community. This experience has shaped my perspective on community engagement and allowed me to serve those in need. It has also deepened my passion for addressing food insecurity and giving back to the Philadelphia community. OPCC has profoundly impacted both my life and my future career as a healthcare professional, and I will carry these lessons forward in everything I do.”
Meggie Qu: “Working at a community center right in the middle of a historic churchyard has been such a peaceful and meaningful experience. I feel really lucky to be in a space that brings together people from so many different backgrounds. It’s amazing to see the basketball court being shared by lawyers and summer camp kids under the same roof. The staff here are incredibly kind and hardworking, and they’ve made my time here so special.”
Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Prescription Assistance Program Patient Advocates
Student Interns:
Anjali Desai, Drexel University College of Medicine
Celena Fei, Drexel University College of Medicine
Kaitlyn Kaufman, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Vasavi Peruru, Drexel University College of Medicine
Lauren Siegel, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Esther Chernak, MD, MPH, Drexel University College of Medicine and Dornsife School of Public Health
Community Preceptor:
Evan Kaye, MPA, 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 the city. Among their many offerings, the centers provide primary care, pharmacy services, family planning, dental care, and social and legal services. The health centers accept patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and HMO plans as well as uninsured patients.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked as patient advocates for the Prescription Assistance Program (PAP) in five different health centers within the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The PAP helps patients without insurance obtain medications for free through drug manufacturers’ programs. Interns assisted patients with the application and re-enrollment processes, notified patients when their medications arrived at the health center, and helped patients enroll in a program to access the shingles vaccine. The interns worked closely with the health centers’ providers and resource counselors to help make the process as seamless as possible for the patients.
Reflections:
Anjali Desai, Celena Fei, Kaitlyn Kaufman, Vasavi Peruru, and Lauren Siegel: “As patient advocates for the Prescription Assistance Program, we provided access to essential medications for uninsured and underinsured patients. Many patients could not afford their medications without programs such as these offered at the city health centers. We found it so rewarding to help patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and better manage their chronic conditions. Serving as patient advocates has helped us grow inter-professionally. … We learned more about Medicare and Medicaid policies firsthand. We also saw the importance of using medical interpreters to improve communication with patients. We are now more aware of the barriers that prevent patients from accessing their medications.
Additionally, Kaitlyn added: “As a law student, I witnessed barriers to care for patients and undertook new forms of advocacy outside of the legal profession. Overall, we greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with the Patient Assistance Program and learn more about our community through the process.”
Philadelphia Family Pride
Paths to Parenthood: Family Planning in the LGBTQ+ Community
Student Intern:
Andrew Thayer, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Michael R. Galvan, MS, Philadelphia Family Pride
Community Site:
Philadelphia Family Pride is the Greater Philadelphia region’s premier nonprofit organization dedicated to building community and supporting LGBTQ+ parents, aspiring parents, and families through educational programming, resource distribution, and advocacy.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern focused on planning, organizing, and facilitating Philadelphia Family Pride’s annual Paths to Parenthood lecture series on LGBTQ+ family planning. This signature educational program is designed to guide and empower LGBTQ+ individuals and couples on their journey to starting their own families. This year, the course consisted of seven sessions and provided information on financial planning, legal considerations, choosing a sperm donor, achieving pregnancy with donated sperm, adopting, fostering, developing one’s parental identity, single parenting by choice, and more. The intern was responsible for the overall logistical coordination of the program, including philanthropic development via the procurement of sponsorships, curriculum planning, speaker recruitment and scheduling, management of social media campaigns and press releases, and community outreach.
Reflections:
Andrew Thayer: “As a dental student committed to engaging my community to address systemic inequalities in oral healthcare, interning with Philadelphia Family Pride was transformative. Working on the Paths to Parenthood course gave me firsthand experience in the kinds of community-driven organizing I hope to integrate into my practice throughout my dental career. I learned how to navigate the administrative and logistical work required to plan, coordinate, and execute public-facing programs. More importantly, I witnessed LGBTQ+ families come together to identify their own needs and create spaces of mutual aid and advocacy. Having done so, I now feel a renewed sense of purpose in using my role as a dental professional to make healthcare more equitable.”
Philadelphia FIGHT
Strengthening Health Connections for Immigrant Families and PrEP Patients
Student Interns:
Victoria Garity-Fernández, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Karen Wang, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Hillary R. Bogner, MD, MSCE, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Donald L. Boyer, MD, MSEd, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Community Preceptors:
Kate Cerrone, MSN, CRNP, Philadelphia FIGHT
Leah Scherzer, MD, Philadelphia FIGHT
Dana Serafin, CRNP, FNP-BC, Philadelphia FIGHT
Maggie Webb, MPH, Philadelphia FIGHT
Community Site:
Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers, located in Center City, provides high-quality, comprehensive primary care to address the physical and emotional health needs of children and adults. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FIGHT welcomes all patients regardless of gender, race, color, sex, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, insurance status, or ability to pay.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns at Philadelphia FIGHT focused on projects involving patient education, resources, and connection to care. One intern worked with the pediatrics team on an immigration project, focusing on accessible resources for immigrant families in Philadelphia, Upper Darby, and Lansdowne. Through this project, several bilingual resources were revised and redone, and many handouts and pamphlets were created in both English and Spanish for oral care, diet, and behavioral concerns. The intern also assisted with day-to-day interpreting. The other intern worked with the PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) team, which focuses on providing support to patients who are on pre-exposure prophylactic medications for HIV. The intern conducted outreach to patients who were overdue for a follow-up appointment or had been lost to care. Both interns created educational resources on the different forms of PrEP, the newly FDA-approved six-month injectable PrEP, and adult oral care.
Reflections:
Victoria Garity-Fernández: “The pediatrics, YHEP, and dental teams at FIGHT go above and beyond to care for families’ whole health, addressing not just physical needs, but also creating a sense of safety, support, and belonging in their communities. Their care extends well beyond annual checkups; families truly feel the genuine dedication of every team member. Kids leave with new books and a sense of acceptance I never imagined a doctor’s office could provide. They transform sterile medical spaces into warm, welcoming environments for people from all backgrounds. My time at FIGHT was eye-opening and challenged my perception of the healthcare field. The long-term relationships built between clients and social workers are essential to both patient health and the strength of the office. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) serve as the connective tissue across departments, supporting whole-person care, and the team deeply values their role. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and for the lifelong connections I formed along the way.”
Karen Wang: “Working with the PrEP team at Philadelphia FIGHT has provided me with an invaluable learning experience this summer. Witnessing the team’s dedication to each patient in making sure they are able to access care and continue to take their medications has truly cemented what it means to provide patient-centered care. Whether this means helping patients apply for medication assistance, providing free samples of PrEP, or personally texting patients to remind them of their upcoming appointments, the team remains focused on each patient’s needs despite the conditions that may hinder care. I’ve seen the impact of this commitment to each individual in the ways that patients have expressed their gratitude and given me their trust when I mentioned that I am working with the PrEP team. HIV care and prevention has a long history of being stigmatized and underfunded. Having this opportunity to work with a team that is fully committed to HIV prevention has inspired me to bring a similar level of dedication and perseverance to my future practice.”
Philadelphia Senior Center
Promoting Wellness and Community Engagement Among Older Adults
Student Interns:
Clarissa Class, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
Yanira Ellis-Peña, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Academic Preceptors:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Brittany Watson, VMD, PhD, DACVPM, MS, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Julie Nelson, Center Manager, Philadelphia Senior Center
Community Site:
The Philadelphia Senior Center, operated by NewCourtland, is one of the oldest and largest senior centers in the country, providing services and programs that promote health, wellness, and community engagement for older adults. The center offers daily meals, fitness classes, educational workshops, social activities, and support services such as housing assistance and benefits counseling.
https://www.newcourtland.org/senior-center/
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns supported the Philadelphia Senior Center by creating interactive and educational health activities focused on nutrition, cardiovascular wellness, smoking cessation, and oral hygiene. They developed a Nutrition Bingo game to promote healthy eating habits in an engaging way and designed a wellness passport to encourage seniors to track heart health and smoking cessation goals. The interns also delivered an oral hygiene presentation, providing practical tips for maintaining dental health. These resources aimed to promote accessible and age-appropriate health education for the senior community.
Reflections:
Clarissa Class and Yanira Ellis-Peña: “Through our BTG internship experience, we learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability when working with community-based programs and addressing unexpected challenges. Engaging with seniors through health education, wellness activities, and AI training strengthened our public speaking skills and enhanced our ability to communicate effectively across diverse audiences. Those who had pets or knew someone who did were excited and appreciated our collaborative presentations connecting human and veterinary medicine, highlighting the interconnectedness of health through a One Health approach. We gained a deeper understanding of how our community prioritizes its health and learned how to meet people where they are when sharing information. These experiences fostered personal and professional growth by building patience, empathy, and confidence in our roles as future healthcare providers and reaffirmed our commitment to community-centered care, inspiring us to continue creating meaningful and accessible health interventions.”
Puentes de Salud
Bridging Health: Puentes de Salud
Student Intern:
Noah DiBiasio-Hudson, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Hillary R. Bogner MD, MSCE, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Donald L. Boyer, MD, MSEd, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Community Preceptors:
Sharon Katzenbach, CRNP, Puentes de Salud
D. Daphne Owen, MD, Puentes de Salud
Annette Silva, RN, Puentes de Salud
Community Site:
Puentes de Salud is a community resource center in south/central Philadelphia, designed to foster the overall wellness of the Latinx community by providing health and social services in one centralized location. Puentes offers low-cost clinical services including primary care, urgent care, women’s healthcare, dental care, and routine screenings/preventive care. Its wellness services include therapy, case management, food access support, social work, and legal services. Puentes de Salud also offers educational and arts-based programs for community members. Founded on a commitment to health justice and addressing social determinants of health, Puentes partners with local organizations and universities to provide empowering, high-quality services to members of the community.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern served as an interpreter during patient appointments, took vitals, and supported intake as patients arrived. Working in the on-site lab, the intern expanded their phlebotomy skills and knowledge of outpatient care management. The intern’s project this summer was to create a comprehensive guidebook and poster with instructions, tips, and key phrases for volunteer students in the intake/vitals role. Over the past year, staff at Puentes have noticed that student volunteers have extremely variable education and backgrounds with regard to taking appropriate vitals. This has led to avoidable errors in the critical data our providers use to diagnose and treat patients, as well as substantial confusion and data inconsistencies. Through collaborative work with Puentes staff and other volunteer students, the BTG intern created an internal resource to support the consistent and high-quality patient care Puentes is known for.
Reflections:
Noah DiBiasio-Hudson: “Though I began volunteering at Puentes de Salud in September 2024, this summer was when I really began to feel like a part of the team. I looked forward to work every day and was consistently humbled by the energy, passion, and joy with which everyone at Puentes engages, even during an extraordinarily difficult moment for both the team and the community we serve. This experience galvanized my commitment to building a career in community-based healthcare and emphasized the value of whole-person, integrated health models. The Puentes model is vastly different from in-hospital care — the amount of interpersonal care, networking, and resource leveraging that goes into caring for patients at Puentes is enormous and impressive. For me it raises the question: If models like Puentes’s naturally attract/create a culture of generosity and humanized care, how can we take lessons from that model and adapt them to be integrated into existing healthcare institutions? In a hyper-specialized and subdivided healthcare system, how do we refocus on human dignity and connective care?”
Social Needs Response Team (SNRT) at Penn Medicine
Addressing Social Determinants of Health with the Social Needs Response Team
Student Interns:
Sebastian Chung, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Jasmine Wang, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Academic Preceptors:
Hillary R. Bogner, MD, MSCE, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Donald L. Boyer, MD, MSEd, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Community Preceptor:
Deborah Lowenstein, LCSW, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Community Site:
Founded during the COVID pandemic, the Social Needs Response Team (SNRT) is a virtual call center that primarily addresses safety, immediate social needs, and distress through patient referrals from the Penn Medicine system. An interdisciplinary team — including nursing, medical, dental, social work professionals, and more — collaborates remotely to directly connect patients to resources and address unmet social needs, including housing, food insecurity, and access to healthcare resources.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked with patients to help address a variety of social needs, from food insecurity to health insurance and mental health resources. Each day, the interns were tasked with a list of patient referrals from various outpatient departments at Penn or recently discharged patients seeking assistance. Faced with challenges such as the lack of available resources, loss of funding for resources, or barriers to access for patients, the interns focused not only on trying to come up with solutions and connecting patients directly to resources but also on providing empathetic support and a space for patients to feel heard.
Reflections:
Sebastian Chung: “This summer, the Social Needs Response Team assisted the community by connecting individuals with housing, insurance, food, and transportation resources while examining how these needs reflected broader systemic issues. The work highlighted recurring barriers such as the burden of advocacy on individuals, inadequate funding, liability-driven policies, historic racism, and gentrification. Through resource navigation and documentation, the team identified patterns that tied individual struggles to larger structural problems. This experience provided insight into how disorganized city budgeting and limited social investment deepen inequities, fostering a clearer understanding of Philadelphia’s challenges and informing future approaches to systemic advocacy and social work practice. It also emphasized the importance of addressing not only immediate needs but also the policies and structures that create them.”
Jasmine Wang: “Working at SNRT this summer was a very enlightening experience, as it felt like a constant battle between the extreme need for resources that patients were experiencing and the severe lack of programs and resources available to them. There’s no question that people in Philly and the surrounding area face disparities when it comes to health equity and overall social determinants of health, but SNRT placed those challenges directly in front of us. Whether it was learning how to support patients emotionally through difficult times, learning about existing resources, or trying to come up with creative ways of addressing problems, I think I gained many tools that I will be able to bring to my own patients when I am practicing. The difficulty of this work also reminded me that there is still a need for advocacy to support existing resources and call for the funding of many more.”
Spectrum Health Services
Improving Cervical Cancer Screening Outcomes in West Philadelphia
Student Intern:
Akshara Kannan, Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Annette Gadegbeku, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Theresa Moran, RN, MSN, Spectrum Health Services
Community Site:
Spectrum Health Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center with various locations throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Located in West Philadelphia, Spectrum Community Health Center provides comprehensive healthcare to the West and Southwest Philadelphia community. Services include general adult and pediatric care, OB/GYN care, podiatry, dentistry, and behavioral healthcare.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern conducted a quality improvement project aimed at increasing cervical cancer screening rates and identifying barriers preventing regular screening in patients receiving gynecological care at the Spectrum Community Health Center. This included scheduling patients for screenings, talking to patients at gynecology appointments, and holding events such as mass walk-in screenings, then identifying common themes in patient responses regarding their experiences surrounding cervical cancer screenings. The intern conducted a second project to help improve overall sexual and reproductive health literacy in the community. This included creating various educational resources geared toward both pregnant and non-pregnant patients on topics such as smoking cessation and oral care during pregnancy, postpartum care, STD prevention and testing, sexual assault resources, and birth control methods.
Reflections:
Akshara Kannan: “My time at Spectrum Health Services through Bridging the Gaps was quite invaluable, as I had the chance to work with the surrounding community to identify and ameliorate an issue I had already felt passionately about. I was able to interact with individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and learning about their unique experiences regarding accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare as well as other healthcare services furthered my interest in actively advocating to bridge systemic barriers to increase access to preventive care and improve community health outcomes.”
Visitation Homes
Fostering Community and Resilience at Visitation Homes
Student Interns:
Adja Box, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
Keziah Smallhorne, Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Academic Preceptor:
Zoë Van Orsdol, MA, MPH, Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health
Community Preceptors:
Zakiyyah Harris, Program Director, Visitation Homes
Shawna Murray, BSW, Visitation Homes
Community Site:
Visitation Homes is a program of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia (previously known as Catholic Social Services) that has been serving families experiencing homelessness since 2003. The program began as a transitional housing initiative in partnership with the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services. Located in the Kensington neighborhood, Visitation Homes offer a trauma-informed Permanent Supportive Housing Program for both single mothers and single fathers. Many of the families it serves have a history of significant trauma. The organization’s priority is to create a safe environment that satisfies the basic human need for shelter. When a family is admitted, they receive keys to their own furnished apartment stocked with essentials like linens, kitchenware, toys, cleaning supplies, and more. One of the primary goals is to help families eliminate barriers, achieve self-sufficiency, and improve their quality of life. Program staff work closely with residents to teach them how to lead a healthy lifestyle after experiencing trauma.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns engaged directly with residents to better understand and address the community’s needs. They prioritized community wellness and empowerment by incorporating social drivers of health and women’s health screenings. After identifying where their efforts were most needed, they shifted their focus to wellness initiatives. This included designing an arts workshop aimed at reflection and future envisioning to promote goal-oriented self-expression. They also hosted multiple oral health education sessions for children and helped establish a partnership with Gentle Gratitude Philly to provide free period product kits to residents. On a day-to-day basis, the interns supported ongoing workshops by setting up food, utensils, and other materials, while also actively listening and contributing to discussions when appropriate.
Reflections:
Adja Box: “I am grateful to have had this experience. It had a deep impact on my professional, personal, and academic development. I appreciate the staff and community members at Visitation Homes as they made the experience worthwhile. My fondest memories include interviewing one of the residents and building rapport with her for the storytelling project, as well as attending weekly women's workshops. She [this resident] uses her voice and testimony to educate people and spread awareness about substance use disorders and their detrimental impact on the mind and body. Many of the workshop discussions focused on the importance of self-reflection, self-care, and overall wellness, while also offering the community members parenting advice and informal life coaching. This experience provided me with new ways to build rapport and support underserved communities while enhancing my communication skills. The experience also sharpened my critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management skills so that I can be better equipped for future professional opportunities.”
Keziah Smallhorne: “This summer, my experience at Visitation Homes has been grounding and restorative. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to working in underserved spaces and expanded my understanding of what truly empathetic care can look like. Throughout the summer, I saw just how resilient both social service providers and the people they support truly are. Everyone here, including the staff, residents, and those who come in to teach and host workshops, feels like a family. They support each other in ways that reminded me of the strength and beauty in community. I hope to carry the patience and perspective I refined here at Visitation Homes with me for the rest of my life.”