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
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
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.
