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Syllabus

 

 

Community Health Internship (BTG CHIP) 

2025 Syllabus

Program Directors

Academic Institution                            Name                                         Email address

Drexel                                            Elissa Goldberg, MSS, LSW                          ejg32@drexel.edu

                                                                   Laura Mullin, MS                                lam479@drexel.edu

Jefferson                                         Zoë Van Orsdol, MA, MPH             maria.hervada-page@jefferson.edu

Temple                                           Jerome Wright, MSW, LSW                   jerome.wright@temple.edu

UPenn                                               Bridget McCormick, MS                bmccor@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

                                                               Ellen Martinak, MS                                martinak@upenn.edu

DeSales                                           Tricia Bernecker, PhD, RN                    Tricia.Bernecker@desales.edu

Cooper                                           Anthony Rostain, MD, MS               Rostain-anthony@CooperHealth.edu

                                               

Expectations:

Taken from the BTG Student Agreement 2025:

Bridging the Gaps is both a professional development experience and a job.  Therefore, we expect that students will handle their commitment to the program professionally, including completing all of the requirements stated herein and treating people with respect and dignity.  If a student does not fulfill these expectations, we will notify the student's school through a letter to the appropriate Dean.  Unprofessional behavior reflects not only on the individual, but on the institution and the profession.

Assignments: (SEE ASSIGNMENT DETAILS for more information)

1. RECORDED SESSIONS: 

MUST BE VIEWED PRIOR TO JUNE 18

BTG Program Evaluation

Bridget McCormick, MS, Bridging the Gaps

 

Introduction to Oral Health in the Bridging the Gaps Program

Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine      

Oral Health Slides

 

Introduction from Pennsylvania Department of Health

Edward Naugle, PhD, Director, Pennsylvania Primary Care Office 

Additional Resource:

Mandated Reporting

Maria Hervada-Page, MSW, Thomas Jefferson University 

Mandated Reporter Slides

2. STORY TELLING PROJECT:  Due July 18th submit to student coordinators 

Goal: For students to hear the perspective of the community from someone in the community.

3. ORAL HEALTH/CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE/SMOKING CESSATION: Due July 18th

    submit to student coordinators 

Goal: For Students to incorporate into their projects when appropriate.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT: 

If your site is hosting an event, awareness campaign, resources, etc. tag @btgupdates so we can share the post or email Nasheeka Conix (Nasheeka.Conix@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) or 

Bridget McCormick (bmccor@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)

5. WEEKLY JOURNALS/ FINAL PAPER

 

6. TEAM EXPERIENCE SUMMARY/ SYMPOSIUM: Professional Presentation Materials (see       

    Symposium section in student login, details TBA)

7. CENTRAL TEXT: Long Bright River by Liz Moore, your Program Director will provide you with your book.

 

8. EVALUATIONS AND QUESTIONNAIRES: Completion of weekly and end of the program 

    evaluations and questionnaires is a program requirement. Links will be sent via redcap.

 

Small Group:

Lead by a skilled facilitator Small Groups will focus on what students are learning through their community-based work as well as from all other components of the program:  BTG presentations, the students’ growing understanding of their community site, the storytelling project, articles, discussions, etc. Small Groups take place weekly during the Wednesday Curricular Sessions.

    Group Number                     Small Group Facilitators                                Email

          Group 1                                          

          Group 2                                         Anthony Singleton                  asingleton@educators4education.org

          Group 3                                           Denise Johnson              Denise.Johnson1@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu   

          Group 4                                           Elissa Goldberg                                     ejg32@drexel.edu

          Group 5                                             David Malloy                                    DMalloy@merakey.org

          Group 6                                              Rayn Philips                                   rphillips@gaudenzia.org

          Group 7                                          Crystal Wortham                                crystal@upliftphilly.org

          Group 8                                              Pat Dooley                        Patrick.Dooley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

          Group 9                                            Jerome Wright                              jerome.wright@temple.edu

          Group 10                                Jocelyn (Jocie) Jones Arnold                  jocelynarnold@gmail.com

 

Course Schedule

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18th BTG ORIENTATION:

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (3500 N. Broad St)

Morning Session:

8:00 - 8:30AM       Breakfast 

8:30 - 9:00AM       Welcome/Introduction

                              Lucy Wolf Tuton, PhD, BTG Executive Director

                              You are a Mandated Reporter

                              

                              Assignment and Resource Overview

                              Ellen Martinak, MS & Bridget McCormick, MS

9:00 - 10:00 AM   Narrative Medicine

                              Mara Gordon, MD

10:00 - 10:15AM   BREAK

10:15 - 12:15 PM  De-escalation training

                              Geremi James, LSW

12:15 - 1:00PM     LUNCH

  1:00 - 2:00PM     Small Groups 

  2:00 - 2:30PM     No More Secrets: Mind Body Spirit, Inc.

                              Lynette Medley MEd, Founder/CEO (She/Her)

  2:30 - 2:45PM     BREAK

  2:45 - 3:30PM     Mural Arts 

                              Mat Tomezsko & Brian Campbell

  3:30 - 3:45PM     Component Programs

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25th  

University of Pennsylvania (421 Curie Blvd, BRB II/III Auditorium)

8:00 - 8:30AM       Breakfast 

8:30 - 8:45AM       Announcements 8:45 - 9:30AM       

8:45 - 9:45AM      EIHCTRSDUE: A practical approach to navigating the ethical, legal, and racial                                        dilemmas in child abuse reporting

                             Mario Cruz, MD

9:45 - 10:00AM    BREAK

10:00 - 11:00AM  Gun Violence in Philadelphia

                               Scott Charles, MAPP

11:00 - 12:00PM   Small Groups

12:00 -12:45PM    Lunch

12:45 - 1:05PM     

1:05 - 1:50PM       

1:50 - 2:00PM       Break 

2:00 - 2:40PM       

2:40 - 3:20PM       Tobacco Free Policy and Smoking Cessation

                              Ryan Coffman, MPH, CHES, CTTS-M Tobacco Policy and Control Program                                                   Manager, Philadelphia Department of Public Health

3:20 - 4:00PM       Closing Comments

JULY 2nd

Cooper Medical School 

Morning Session:

8:30 - 8:45AM     Updates/Announcements

8:45 - 9:45AM       Immigration

                              Mark Altchuler, MD

9:45 - 10:00AM     BREAK

10:00 - 11:00AM   A Progressive View of Harm Reduction: Harm Reduction in HIV/AIDS, The                                              Overdose Epidemic and The Hospital and Clinic

                              Brian Work, MD MPH

11:00 - 12:00PM   Small Groups

Afternoon Session:

COMPONENT PROGRAM: See your Program Director for details on your school’s afternoon component schedule

JULY 9th

Drexel University 

Morning Session:

8:30 - 8:45AM        Updates/Announcements

8:45 - 10:45AM      The Power of Resilience-based, Trauma-Sensitive, Strength Focused                                               Communication in Working with Youth

                               Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed 

                                    Objectives

                                   1) The participant will have a grasp on the behavioral change process and how a strength-                                             based approach combats the demoralization that can paralyze behavioral change                                                       progress.

                                   2) The participant will be better prepared to eliminate shame from interactions by focusing                                            on building confidence in youth. They will understand that confidence has to be rooted in                                         existing competencies.

                                   3) The participant will understand how to communicate with youth in a way that builds on                                              their existing strengths rather than undermines their forward movement.  This objective                                             focuses on shifting away from approaching youth with lectures and giving control back to                                         people from whom it has been taken away.

                                   4) The participant will be prepared to communicate with youth in a way that restores control                                          to their decision-making processes.

10:45 - 11:00AM   Break

11:00 -12:00PM    Small Groups

Afternoon Session:

COMPONENT PROGRAM: See your Program Director for details on your school’s afternoon component schedule

JULY 16th

University of Pennsylvania

Morning Session: 

8:30 -   8:45AM       Updates/Announcements

8:45 - 10:45AM       Screening of The Road to Justice

                                followed by a conversation with Executive Producer, André Robert Lee

10:45 - 11:00AM     Break

11:00 - 12:00PM     Small Groups

Afternoon Session:

COMPONENT PROGRAM: See your Program Director for details on your school’s afternoon component schedule

July 23rd 

Drexel University (60 N. 36th Street)

Morning Session: 

8:30 - 8:45AM        Updates/Announcements

8:45 - 9:45AM        Reproductive Rights

                               Kim Mutcherson, JD

9:45 - 10:45AM      Medicare

                               Giridhar Mallya, MD, MSHP

10:45 - 11:00AM    Break

11:00 -12:00PM      Small Groups

 

Afternoon Session:

COMPONENT PROGRAM: See your Program Director for details on your school’s afternoon component schedule

JULY 31st

Morning Session:

Component Programs: See your Program Director for details on your school’s schedule

Afternoon Session:

Cherry Street Pier (121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.)

11:30AM - 3:30PM        Walls for Justice

                                       Meet at the front of Cherry Street Pier

                                       121 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106

                                       Wear clothes for art activities

Complete and Submit: Final BTG Evaluations and Questionnaires / Team Experience Summaries / Poster Presentation /Final Paper

 

FALL 2025: BTG 35th Symposium

October 7, 2025, 7:15AM - 12:00PM

College of Physicians of Philadelphia (19 S. 22nd Street)

Students will present their BTG projects in a professional format, details TBD.

Ask your PD about the afternoon Symposium event with alumni, community partners, grantmakers, and other BTG stakeholders from 12PM - 6PM.

Students are also welcome to join us (but not required) the night before,

October 6, 2025 from 4pm-8pm for the screening of our BTG Documentary.

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