Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center
Title: Building Community to Promote Health and Wellness for Adults with Intellectual Disability and Mental Illness
Student Interns:
Nashita Ali
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Matilda Brilleman
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Hillary R. Bogner, MD, MSCE
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Donald L. Boyer, MD, MSEd
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
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:
Beverly Bradley
Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center
Angelo Cirrincione
Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center
Community Site:
The Hall-Mercer Community Behavioral Health Center of Pennsylvania Hospital is dedicated to enriching the lives of people affected by mental illness or developmental disabilities. The center has played a significant role in broadening the acceptance and advancing the care of people with psychiatric disorders or intellectual disabilities.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns supported the Adult Day Program, which provides socialization and wellness services, including group therapy, community engagement, exercise, and health education. In addition to building relationships with clients, the interns developed programming to integrate cardiovascular and oral health in fun and interactive ways. The interns designed and implemented art projects, smoothie-making, an oral health presentation with demonstrations, and a health-related Jeopardy game. These activities were aimed at promoting positive attitudes around nutrition, physical activity, and personal hygiene while also addressing the role of mental health on health behaviors.
Reflections
“Working at Hall-Mercer this summer was an eye-opening experience, and working with the clients has opened my eyes to the importance of oral health and overall health in adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues.”
Nashita Ali
“As a medical student with an interest in primary care, I was able to hear firsthand experiences that made me think more about my future role as a provider and the kinds of life challenges my future patients may face.”
Matilda Brilleman