Students Run Philly Style
Title: Promoting Health Through Movement and Mentorship: Students Run Philly Style
Student Interns:
Samantha Fish
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Annie Wu
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
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:
Madison Helmick, MA
Associate Director of Youth Initiatives
Students Run Philly Style
Community Site:
Students Run Philly Style is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that serves students in grades 6 through 12 through mentorship and long-distance running. Guided by the core values of courage, effort, and respect, students work toward the shared goal of completing a 10-mile, half-marathon, or full-marathon race. Along the way, they build meaningful relationships under consistent adult mentorship, experience the physical and mental benefits of exercise, and develop goal-setting skills that extend far beyond running. Through participation in SRPS, students ultimately gain the skill set for long-term physical and social wellness.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns focused their efforts on community engagement, youth mentorship, nonprofit structural support, and resource mobilization for more than 1500 students and 400 mentors across 60 school-based and community-based teams. By planning information sessions and leading communication with students and family members, the interns supported nearly 90 students in attending a free Leadership Camp Summit and helped increase registrations for the Philadelphia Distance Run Family 5K Program by 150% and growing. To address access barriers, the interns compiled healthcare resources to help students obtain free sports physicals. Interns researched potential grant donors and partnerships to advance the mission of SRPS through financial support and improved donor relationships. Directly fostering positive youth mentorship and belonging, the BTG interns planned a healthcare careers presentation for high school students and organized oral health educational resources for the annual SRPS Scoop N Loop event.
Reflections
Our summer with Students Run Philly Style (SRPS) highlighted that health promotion extends far beyond the clinic. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this collaborative team grounded in respect, inclusivity, and meaningful mentorship. Throughout our experience, we gained a deeper understanding of the intersection between physical activity, oral health, emotional well-being, and the broader social factors that shape health. Our intern team supported the SRPS mission by connecting students with free sports physicals, promoting participation in free leadership programming and race events, researching grant opportunities and community partnerships, and developing educational resources on oral health, college preparation, and career exploration. Through community engagement, youth mentorship, and organizational support, each project reinforced the importance of reducing barriers to care and creating opportunities that promote health equity. As future dental practitioners, we hope to carry these lessons in relationship-building, compassionate communication, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration into our clinical practice. Our summer with SRPS affirmed that meaningful and lasting improvements in health begin with empowering youth and investing in the communities people call home.
Samantha Fish
This summer with Students Run Philly Style (SRPS) provided the opportunity to take a step back and gain a broader perspective on access to care, barriers to youth sports, community outreach, and nonprofits, and their connection to oral and cardiovascular health. As dental students, we came to appreciate that oral health extends far beyond the dental chair, highlighting the importance of building relationships with the communities we serve, understanding the barriers they face, and working alongside them to promote health and wellness in all facets of their lives. For example, through compiling community resources for sports physicals, we gained greater insight into the geographical and financial barriers to care. By helping organize the SRPS Youth Leadership Summit, we witnessed the impact of fostering strong community and social connections for youth. While leading a session introducing careers in healthcare for the SRPS high school interns, we reflected on our own journeys and practiced reflexivity by tailoring our presentation to their interests. Ultimately, this summer consisted of continuous learning, reflection, and growth. Our time with SRPS strengthened our commitment to listening to and partnering with the communities we serve, while broadening our perspective on the value of youth mentorship, access to sport, and their role in promoting lifelong health and well-being.
Annie Wu
