St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
Title: St. Christopher’s Hospital 15th Annual Back-to-School Carnival
Student Interns:
Durga Mounika Chilukuri
Drexel University College of Medicine
Kristyn Spetz
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Stacy Ellen, DO, FAAP
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptor:
Renee Turchi, MD, MPH, FAAP
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Site:
The Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs is located within St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. It provides a “medical home” — complete, coordinated, family-centered care — for youth with medical complexity.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked with the team at the Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs to plan the 15th Annual Back-to-School Carnival, held each summer to provide children and youth in the Philadelphia area with backpacks filled with school supplies to help prepare them for the new academic year. The carnival also connects families to relevant health resources, screenings, fun, and food. Since the carnival’s inception, 20,000 children and their families have attended the annual event, and school supplies have been provided to more than 10,000 children. To prepare for the backpack giveaway and carnival, the interns assisted with fundraising, innovative ideas, identifying and organizing community resources and partners, planning games, and ordering supplies. The interns’ main project was coordinating with vendors and reaching out to community partner organizations to invite them to participate in the carnival. The interns also met with various hospital departments, including the dental and trauma teams, to coordinate carnival activities, health screening educational initiatives, and oral health screenings. The interns were instrumental in organizing and filling backpacks for distribution.
Reflections
“Working to put together an event as large as the Back-to-School Carnival involved many moving parts. Dr. Turchi and her team were incredibly welcoming, and we learned a great deal about the community that St. Christopher’s serves. One of our responsibilities as Bridging the Gaps interns was to acquire donations from local vendors and corporations, which gave me a firsthand look at how a community can come together to support the health and well-being of its constituents. The carnival also provides a platform for community partner organizations that offer essential services such as speech therapy and free legal support. As I’ve learned more about how challenges like housing instability, food insecurity, violence, and limited access to resources affect specific areas of Philadelphia disproportionately (particularly neighborhoods surrounding St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children), I saw how this event serves not only as a fun space where kids can get backpacks and school supplies to start the year on a positive note, but also as a vital opportunity for families to connect with and learn more about helpful community resources. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work on the Back-to-School Carnival this summer. Being a part of this experience has made me feel more connected to my community in Philadelphia, and I hope the carnival continues to be an integral part of the neighborhood, creating a positive impact for years to come.”
Durga Mounika Chilukuri
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in Bridging the Gaps this summer, which has been an experience I will always reflect on with appreciation. Working with St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is a privilege and feels like a home rooted in compassion. The staff’s unwavering dedication to serving the Philadelphia community continues to inspire me, and I know I will be a better physician because of the time I spent there. Helping to plan the 15th Annual Summer Carnival, which provided children with backpacks and school supplies during a time of need, was an exceptionally fulfilling experience. It reinforced my passion for service and energized me for a future career grounded in community engagement. Working alongside Dr. Turchi and her remarkable team has been both humbling and motivating. Their steadfast commitment to the carnival and the families it supports exemplifies the true spirit of Bridging the Gaps. Their example will guide me as I continue to seek ways to serve underserved and under-resourced populations throughout my medical career.”
Kristyn Spetz