Westmoreland Community Action
Title: Westmoreland County Transportation Guide to Clinics
Student Interns:
Vivian Chien
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Kumal Siddiq
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Academic Preceptor:
Jennifer Cummings, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Mary Haus, MD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Community Preceptor:
Carrie Lesniak
Westmoreland Community Action
Natalie Pacy
Westmoreland Community Action
Mitchell Samick, MS
Westmoreland Community Action
Community Site:
Westmoreland Community Action (WCA), formerly known as Westmoreland Human Opportunities, was established in 1980. Its mission is to eliminate poverty by strengthening communities through various services such as housing, crisis intervention, emergency services, financial support, early childhood education, and more. Based in Greensburg, PA, WCA serves all of Westmoreland County, helping thousands of residents annually, including individual adults, families, and children in any way needed.
The housing programs WCA contributes to include young adult services. Participants have access to various programs, including rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and host homes. WCA helps guide participants to the best programs to fit their needs and supports them in all ways until they reach independence.
Team’s Experience:
After a discussion with community preceptors and gaining an understanding the needs of the participants, the Bridging the Gaps student interns focused on increasing transportation accessibility. The interns made a booklet that contains bus routes in Westmoreland County, clinics in the area, and directions to the clinics. They also participated in the monthly food bank day by helping the agency assemble and deliver food boxes. They created an information packet to include with the boxes that contains guidance on safe food storage, recipes, and how to eat health on a budget. In addition, the interns attended a resource fair in New Kensington and provided vision checks for children, blood pressure checks for adults, and numerous handouts on oral hygiene, mental health, and Narcan® use.
Reflections
“Working with Westmoreland Community Action this summer has been an extremely rewarding and humbling experience. Every conversation with the participants revealed the incredible strength and perseverance of these individuals, and I’ve gained a deeper understanding on how the social determinants of health impacts both physical and mental health. When I’m in school, sometimes it feels like being in a bubble that’s disconnected from my community, and I’m super grateful for the opportunity this summer to connect with, learn from, and engage with the local community. The lessons and insights I gained from this summer will continue to inspire me as I work towards being a well-rounded and empathetic physician.”
Vivian Chien
“Being part of Westmoreland Community Action has been an impactful and eye-opening experience. It has allowed me to better understand the systemic barriers that many people face when accessing basic needs, such as healthcare, housing, foods, and employment. While I was aware of a connection between poverty and negative mental and physical health outcomes, witnessing the toll it takes on participants’ daily lives made addressing this issue feel more urgent and just how important organizations like WCA are in mitigating these disparities within our community. One of the most rewarding aspects of this experience was seeing how small efforts, like a budget meeting or offering self-care guidance, could make a big difference along the line. This experience will serve as a reminder to me that lasting change starts with just listening and being compassionate; no matter how small your role may be, it may have a huge impact on attaining equity for someone out there.”
Kumal Siddiq