The Community Drives Medical Education on Wellness on Wheels Bus

January 21, 2022

Community & Public Health

Mary Marchese is getting a unique community-based medical education in the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) Track,

PURCH, based at UMass Medical School-Baystate, is built by—and for—the communities served by Baystate Health.

"...understanding community history, culture, and context helps medical trainees to consider the historical underpinnings of current health disparities so that they can ultimately provide the most effective, culturally accessible care to patients."

When Marchese was in the North End neighborhood of Springfield as part of the Wellness on Wheels bus team, she worked closely with Jose Claudio of the New North Citizens Council to learn the history and culture of the Puerto Rican community in the U.S., particularly in the neighborhood they were serving.

The project she created as a result is a powerful uniting of visuals with her reflections on her experience.

> Read the story on MassLive: Wellness bus connects doctors, patients in a real world setting