Capstone Scholarship and Discovery-PURCH (CSD-P)
CSD-PURCH is a mentored, student-driven, four-year-long scholarly experience on a topic you are passionate about in medicine.
In your first year, you work with your mentor in the Brightwood Learning Community to brainstorm ideas, scale the project, and connect you to potential advisors and resources to begin your capstone.
By the fall of your second year you must select a Capstone Advisor who will provide the expertise and additional support you need to complete your capstone. You have the option of collaborating with faculty and colleagues at either the Springfield or Worcester campus.
How is Capstone Different for PURCH Students?
Because your CSD project is driven by you and based on your personal passions (as long as it's related to medicine and meets at least one of the core competencies) it provides an opportunity to make a more direct connection with the purpose of PURCH.
Throughout your four years in the PURCH track, you will gain a deeper understanding of the complex local and regional issues that impact the health of rural and urban populations in western Massachusetts. This valuable longitudinal perspective will help you develop a capstone project that addresses the health needs of our community.
Focusing your capstone in Baystate Health's communities gives you access to the creative and innovative work being done by our community partners and the change-makers in a diversity of fields who are working to transform the health, health care, and the overall well-being of community members in western Massachusetts.
Current PURCH Capstone Projects
PURCH Education Enrichment Catalog
Andrew Boylan
Advisor: Kevin Hinchey
Needs Assessment for HOCPR Training in Hampden County, MA
Colton Conrad
Advisor: Kenneth Knowles,
Social Determinant of Health Screening in an Urban FQHC
Juliana Dixon (Costanzo)
Advisor: Melanie Gnazzo
Using visual educational materials to enhance health literacy in rural areas of Honduras regarding sexual health and preventative care
Kirstin Lee
Advisor: Jen Cavalari
MLK Food Insecurity Health Fair
Wendy Ma
Advisor: Frank Robinson
Exploring Physical Education in Putnam Springfield Public High School
Poornima Manikantan
Advisor: Molly Senn-McNally, Department of Pediatrics
Using Qualitative Analysis to Identify Strengths of Trauma Educator Program
Caleb Noone
Advisor: Jessica Bossie
Assessing the American College of Gastroenterology Screening Guidelines for Barrett Esophagus: How Effective Are They?
Emily Nuss
Advisor: Elizabeth Peacock-Chambers, Department of Pediatrics
Exploring Physical Education in Putnam Springfield Public High School
Prithwijit Roychowdhury
Advisor: Molly Senn-McNally, Department of Pediatrics
Predictive Modeling of Risk Factors Associated Poor Maternal and Child Health Outcomes in a Home Visiting Program
Laura Schwartz
Advisor: Lauren Meade, Division of Internal Medicine
Improving outcomes in diabetic patients through integrated care management
Alay Shah
Advisor: Preeti Nakrani
A Retrospective Chart Review of spindled cell tumors diagnosed and treated at an academic multidisciplinary institution for the past 20 years
Daniel Wenzel
Advisor: Riley McLean
Youth Outreach in Public Health
Kevin White
Advisor: Kathleen Szedga, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Pathways to a Career in Academic Medicine
Amanda Whitehouse
Advisor: Mary Philbin
Youth Violence Exposure in Springfield, MA