Mercy Center for Women
Title: From Awareness to Empowerment: A Holistic Wellness Initiative
Student Interns:
Tenzin Norzin
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Leah Labranche, PhD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Anna Brzozowski
Mercy Center for Women
Community Site:
The Mercy Center for Women provides safe, supportive, and empowering housing solutions (including permanent supportive housing) for individuals and families in transition, with a focus on those affected by domestic violence, addiction, and mental health challenges. The Mercy Center for Women is committed to fostering stability, healing, and resilience through comprehensive support services and collaborations, acknowledging the importance of spiritual well-being in the journey toward empowerment and a fulfilling life.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern developed several projects at the Mercy Center for Women. The intern led educational sessions on key health topics, including oral hygiene, common gynecological issues, and the dangers of smoking, helping residents build knowledge of basic health maintenance. To foster personal growth and resilience, the intern launched a book club featuring Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, encouraging residents to reflect on how consistent effort, more than talent, can drive success. To round out the experience and build community, the intern also organized a lively karaoke night for residents and their children, creating an opportunity to relax, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company.
Reflections
“Interning at the Mercy Center for Women has been one of the most invaluable experiences I’ve had in serving the local community. I have met with women who have faced unimaginable hardships and who continue to strive toward healing and independence. This experience has reminded me that medical issues are not just the physical symptoms that patients present with, but also social and emotional ones. My time at the Mercy Center for Women reinforced my interest in women’s health and rights, and I hope to practice medicine with consideration for the broader context of patients’ lives.”
Tenzin Norzin