Community Needs Guide Medical Student Projects

Medical students in the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health track were embedded in local community service organizations for two weeks this Fall as part of their Population and Community Health Clerkship.

Their projects—including, substance use in rural areas, gun violence, the digital divide for Spanish speakers, and food deserts—focused on priorities identified by the communities in which they were based. (Photo: The ReGreening Springfield team posted signs describing the health benefits of tress in the Mason Square neighborhood.)

Finding Their Voices as Advocates

Students discussed their projects in a virtual presentation to legislators, community members, and faculty on November 4, 2021.

Each presentation culminated in an advocacy pitch—a recommendation based on students’ interactions with agency staff and clients, and research about health issues and populations that were the focus of their project.

Projects Had Local Focus

Ten teams, some of which also included pharmacy students and residents, collaborated with organizations in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, and the upper Quabbin region—Baystate Health's service area.

Watch their presentatioNS

Quaboag Connector: Providing Rural Transportation in the Quaboag Valley

• Gilbert Gyamfi and Hamis Wagwa, Pharmacy Students, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Services
• Benjamin Laliberte, Medical Student, UMass Chan-Baystate

Youth Mental Health and Substance Use in the Quaboag Hills Region

• Vanessa Avalone, Sarah Hansen and Mack Jones, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate

Armbrook Village: Addressing Fall Prevention for Residents with Dementia

• Etienne Njoayem and YeaJi Lee, Pharmacy Interns, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Services 
• Julia Small, Medical Student, UMass Chan-Baystate
• Tyler Fassett, Pharmacy Resident, Baystate Health

Rural Harm Reduction: Supporting Drug User Health at Tapestry Health (Greenfield, MA)

• Hannah Achadinha, Pharmacy Intern, WNEU College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
• Kaan Apaydin, Cara Mitrano and Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate

The Digital Divide: BeHealthy Partnership

• Duong Doan and Marcella Jewell, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate
• Katy Weizman, PG4 Pharmacy Student, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Services

ReGreening Springfield

• Gabi Walsh and Juliana Arenas, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate
• Nava Parvaneh, Pharmacy Student, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Services

Addressing Barriers to Care in Collaboration with a Community Health Worker (WOW BUS)

• Georgia Bancheri and Pooja Dutta, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate 
• Sabrina Gaffney and Stephanie Moriarty, Pharmacy Interns, WNEU College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

The Diameter of the Bullet: ROCA and Baystate Health

• Sarah Danforth, Gabby Carroll, Gidon Salamatbad, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate

Community Understanding and Needs Related to Youth Diabetes in the Mason Square Neighborhood

• Anna Mortali and Jacob Greenwald, PharmD, Baystate Health
• Laura Labb and Emily Gang, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate

Healthy Food Education and Distribution in Springfield Food Deserts

• Jordan Dudley, Rose May, Kamryn Jebb, Medical Students, UMass Chan-Baystate
• Isabelle Dieu, PharmD, WNEU College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences