Mercy Center for Women
Title: Supporting Women and Children Through Health Education, Outreach, and Community-Based Care
Student Interns:
Arielle Merkher
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rachel Reback
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Prabha S. Awale, PhD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Anna Brzozowski
Mercy Center for Women
Community Site:
Mercy Center for Women is a transitional housing program in Erie, Pennsylvania, that supports women and children as they work toward stability, independence, recovery, and reunification with family. The center provides structure, case management, community support, and connections to local resources for residents who may be experiencing homelessness, substance-use recovery, trauma, domestic violence, or other life challenges.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns assisted Mercy Center for Women by supporting resident programming, community outreach, and health education throughout the summer. They created and presented educational materials on women’s health, medication safety, children’s health, dental health, and patient advocacy, with a focus on making information accessible, practical, and empowering for residents. The interns also developed supportive resources, including an anonymous health-question box, medication cards, and take-home educational materials, to help residents feel more comfortable asking personal health questions and advocating for themselves during medical appointments. In addition to health education, they participated in morning reflections, intake-related tasks, community meetings, outreach events, donation organization, and daily activities that supported the center’s mission. Through these experiences, the interns helped promote trust, dignity, health literacy, and connection within the Mercy Center community.
Reflections
My time at the Mercy Center for Women taught me so much about serving my community and will help inform my actions on my journey to becoming a physician. I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with the women and families and learn their stories and trials. In doing our seminar project, I learned how much of an impact health education can make when done leading with patience and empathy. The women I worked with also helped me realize the unique challenges underserved populations face when it comes to receiving healthcare and what social determinants of health really look like. Bridging the Gaps helped me connect with our community, and I will carry their stories and lessons with me forever.
Arielle Merkher
My time at Mercy Center for Women taught me so much about what community medicine really looks like outside of a clinic. I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with the women and children, spend time in the house, and learn from the residents and staff. This experience helped me better understand how much housing, safety, childcare, transportation, food access, addiction recovery, and support systems can impact a person’s health and ability to receive care. Through our women’s health presentation, medication education materials, anonymous question box, and community outreach events, I learned how meaningful health education can be when it is done with patience, empathy, and trust. Mercy Center taught me the importance of meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and caring for the whole person. I will carry the lessons and relationships from this experience with me throughout my journey to becoming a physician.
Rachel Reback
