2023-24 Fellow Projects

Most of these projects can be expanded by new Fellow applicants. Legacy projects (those that are at least in their second year of existence) are marked with an asterisk.

Children and Adolescent Health

Salman Farooqui, Sonia Patel, and Shilpa Rajagopal

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, UTMB School of Public & Population Health

*Connect at UTMB

Community Site: Galveston Independent School District

Site Mentor: Synethia Dorsey; Academic Mentor: Dr. Premal Patel

Connect at UTMB seeks to inspire and empower young children in Galveston to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) topics. We partner with schools across Galveston Independent School District to provide regular hands-on tutoring and project-based workshops for elementary and middle school students.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact smfarooq@utmb.edu, shrajago@utmb.edu, or sonpatel@utmb.edu.

Samantha Carty and Jessica Cox

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Sunshine State of Mind

Community Site: Weis Middle School, GISD

Site Mentor: Margie Kusnerik; Academic Mentor: Dr. Joseph Shotwell

Carty & Cox are addressing adolescent mental health at Weis Middle School in Galveston, TX by establishing an after-school program as part of the social emotional learning program. The program will focus on factors that impact mental health as well as healthy stress outlets. Ultimately the program will help adolescent girls establish healthy stress mechanisms as well as help raise awareness to factors that impact mental health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact secarty@utmb.edu or jrcox@utmb.edu.

Abhijit Rao, Vivian Tat

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, UTMB School of Public & Population Health

Taking Our Best Shot

Community Site: Moore Memorial Library (Texas City), Helen Hall Library (League City), Rosenberg Library (Galveston), and Texas Area Health Education Center

Site Mentor: Jessica Matos, MLIS; Academic Mentor: Dr. Leslie Stalnaker

Taking Our Best Shot is an interprofessional student-led initiative that fosters knowledge and access to credible health information and practices. Our aim is to promote health and well-being through empowerment, cross-sectoral partnerships, and community-wide events.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact abrao@utmb.edu or vitat@utmb.edu.

Amber Hurd and Isabella Martingano

University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

Legacy Checkmate

Community Site: Legacy Community Health

Site Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Feldmann; Academic Mentor: Dr. Joel Blumberg

Our mission is to understand and increase teen wellness visits! In addition, we will garner support and advancement for the YAC program at Legacy and hope to provide more health promotion information in a clear way.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact anhurd@cougarnet.uh.edu or idmarti2@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Nisha Gupta

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, UTHealth School of Public Health

Project H.E.A.R.T. - Health, Education, Art, Resilience, and Trust

Community Site: The Bridge

Site Mentor: Octavia Taulton; Academic Mentor: Dr. Mona Eissa

This workshop program teaches adolescents about mental and sexual health topics while providing them with healthy coping mechanisms and outlets for creative expression. It aims to foster a community of peers while empowering these teens to have control over their decisions.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact nisha.gupta@uth.tmc.edu.

Kristen Downey and Shourya Kashyap

Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Medicine

Project Prevention Through Education

Community Site: Scotty's House

Site Mentor: April Theiss; Academic Mentor: Dr. Diane Chico

Kristen Downey and Shourya Kashyap are increasing child abuse awareness in collaboration with Scotty’s House, a Child Advocacy Center serving the seven counties within Brazos Valley. Our project will focus on promoting the Prevention Through Education program to school districts and daycare facilities to educate
teachers, parents, and youth how to recognize child abuse, report concerning signs, and become aware of the facilities in place for victims of child abuse.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact KristenDowney8@tamu.edu or kashsrk@tamu.edu.

Mukund Nair

UTHealth School of Public Health

Spark - An Afterschool Program for High School Youth

Community Site: George Sanchez School- South Campus

Academic Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Schick

Nair is partnering with the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans' charter school, George Sanchez Charter School, to create an afterschool program for high school aged youth. The program, which meets three times a week, aims to expose students to a wide variety of professional, personal, and academic development opportunities. The afterschool program also serves as an opportunity for students to learn about the possibilities that exist in Houston and beyond. Capturing this sentiment, the program is named Spark: Sparking student Potential through Activities giving them Real-world experiences and Knowledge.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mukund.j.nair@uth.tmc.edu.

Courtney Huynh and Mary Li

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Making Strides in Social Emotional Learning

Community Site: YES Prep Public Schools

Site Mentor: Antoinette Tate; Academic Mentor: Dr. Mary Kollmer-Horton

Courtney and Mary are addressing social emotional health in Houston by working with YES Prep Public Schools to implement social emotional learning curricula with students. The aim of the project is to work with at-risk students to improve social emotional health through targeted interventions, with the goal of improving students’ academic performance, classroom behavior, and self-regulation skills.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact courtney.t.huynh@uth.tmc.edu or mary.li@uth.tmc.edu.

Amira Bajracharya and Bryana Stigers

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Let's Talk About It

Community Site: New Hope Housing- Reed

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Beyda

Bryana and Amira are addressing mental health and wellness in Houston by establishing a mentorship program and providing tangible tools for adolescent girls who have formerly experienced homelessness to empower them to make informed and healthy decisions throughout their lives. In addition to providing a support system and a safe space, the program topics will include maintaining healthy relationships, self-advocacy, emotional intelligence, healthy coping habits, life-skills, sexual health education, nutrition, and mental health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact amy.bajracharya@gmail.com or bryana.j.stigers@uth.tmc.edu.

Saloni Kumar

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Sisters Building Sisters

Community Site: YES Prep White Oak

Academic Mentor: Dr. Mary Kollmer-Horton

Saloni Kumar is carrying on the work of Grace Brooks and Edom Kidane with the Sisters Building Sisters Project which is an afterschool program hosted at WhiteOaks YESPrep Charter School. The program is designed to empower young girls in underserved areas to learn more about mental health, healthy relationships, reproductive health, coping strategies for difficult situations, and resilience in the face of adversity.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Saloni.Kumar@uth.tmc.edu.

Lien Le

Texas Children's Hospital (Scholar)

Safety First!

Community Site: New Hope Housing

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez and Cesar Ramirez; Academic Mentor: Kristen Beckworth, MPH

Dr. Le is working on preventing childhood injuries. Too many children end up at the doctor's office or the emergency room because of injuries and ingestions that are entirely preventable. By meeting families in their homes and providing age-appropriate safety screenings, education, as well as child-proofing materials, she is hoping to give parents all the tools needed to keep their kids safe.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Lien.Le@bcm.edu.

Reese Sim

Texas Children's Hospital (Scholar)

Gun Violence/Firearm Safety Education

Community Site: YES Prep Southside School

Site Mentor: Sheporah Johnson; Academic Mentor: Dr. Nathan Serazin

Dr. Sim is addressing gun violence and firearm safety education in Houston by conducting student focus groups on gun violence and associated lived experiences within the community. The program will aim to discuss the scope of gun violence, explore the aftermath and impact of trauma in individuals and communities, and provide resources and support for those affected by gun violence. In parallel, the goal is to support the development of a student-led firearm safety educational product that can be disseminated to the student body and the greater Southside community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Reese.Sim@bcm.edu.

Hannah Patterson

Texas Children's Hospital (Scholar)

Project Name: TBD

Community Site: FAM Houston

Site Mentor: Rev. Hannah R. Terry; Academic Mentor: Dr. Wallis Molchen, DO

Dr. Patterson has partnered with FAM Houston's Women's Empowerment Group (WEG), which intends to create a brave space for resettled refugee women to find community and access resources. As a pediatric resident and Schweitzer Scholar, she has led discussions regarding health topics, career paths in medicine, and general practices of Western medicine. Additionally, she has helped facilitate other residents to engage in conversation with the Congolese women within WEG.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact hannahepatterson@gmail.com

Kyrra Engle

Texas Children's Hospital (Scholar)

Filling the gaps: From sex education to empowerment

Tony’s Place and Covenant House

Site Mentor: Eugene Hall; Academic Mentor: Dr. Lauren Bretz

Dr. Engle is addressing sexual health among adolescents and emerging adults by developing a sexual health curriculum to be delivered by health professionals at Houston-based community service organizations. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve sexual health knowledge, self-efficacy, intention, and behavior among at-risk adolescents and emerging adults and to strengthen this population’s trust and utilization of the medical system for sexual and reproductive health issues.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kyrra.engle@bcm.edu.

Individuals with Disabilities

Richard Preble

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, UTMB School of Public & Population Health

Reacting to Dysreflexia

Community Site: TIRR Memorial Hermann

Site Mentor: Adele Henry; Academic Mentor: Dr. Anna de Joya

Preble’s project aims to bolster educational efforts to equip spinal cord injury patients and their families with critical knowledge regarding autonomic dysreflexia, a neurological syndrome that can lead to serious consequences if not promptly and properly addressed. In addition to increasing awareness and understanding, the project will also strive to instill positive attitudes, confidence, and self-belief in patients’ ability to manage these episodes.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact rgpreble@UTMB.EDU.

Angela Angelova and Helen Elizundia

UTHealth School of Dentistry, UTHealth School of Public Health

*Oral Hygiene Intervention & Dental Home Establishment for Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Pediatric Patients

Community Site: TIRR Memorial Hermann

Site Mentor: Dr. Anna de Joya; Academic Mentor: Dr. Ana Candia Solari Neumann

Angelova and Elizundia will be addressing oral health access and education in the pediatric population at TIRR Memorial Hermann in-patient rehabilitation facility. We will be focusing on creating oral health educational materials for kids at a literacy level fit for their developmental age as well as present an Oral hygiene presentation to build confidence in their oral health. The establishment of a dental home is essential for pediatric patients so our project aims to increase access to providers through education and connecting with local dentists in the greater Houston area to ensure their oral health is taken care of long after their time at TIRR Memorial Hermann. If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact aangeluvah@gmail.com or helizcuza@gmail.com.

Madilyn Feik and Sanjay Neerukonda

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Project S.E.E.D. (Support, Empower, and Engage with the
Disability Community)

Community Site: RSVP (Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Project) Clinic and the UT Spina Bifida Clinic

Site Mentor: Dr. Sunil Kothari, Dr. Jason Au; Academic Mentor: Dr. Carolina Gutierrez

Feik and Neerukonda are addressing the difficulties the disability community faces in accessing resources vital to their daily functioning and well-being. By engaging in conversations with adults with neurological injuries as well as the families of children with spina bifida, Project S.E.E.D. aims to increase awareness and utilization of resources available to the disability community.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Madilyn.L.Feik@uth.tmc.edu or sanjay.v.neerukonda@uth.tmc.edu.

Nutrition

Kimeera Paladugu

The Honors College at the University of Houston

Food for Thought

Community Site: New Hope Housing

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Ben King

Kimeera is addressing the nutritional and wellness needs of the residents coming out of homelessness at New Hope Housing through nutrition centered workshops paired with a personal herb garden and holistic mental and physical health exercises. This project seeks to promote proper nutritional values paired with low-impact physical activity while simultaneously encouraging social engagement to combat common stressors in order to bring a more healthy, well-balanced lifestyle to the residents of New Hope Housing.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kimeerap@gmail.com.

Samuel Tran

The Honors College at the University of Houston

*Avenues to Your Wellness

Community Site: New Hope Housing

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Michelle Belco

Sam is addressing food insecurity and chronic health disparities in Houston’s Second Ward by cultivating nutrition education workshops for working families of a non-transitional housing center. The project strives to empower food insecure households with the knowledge and resources to better take charge of their own health concerns.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact transam270@gmail.com.

Kiran Ahmed and LaTarsha Carpenter

Texas Woman's University, Texas Southern University

*Jump Start Health

Community Site: New Hope Housing- Perry

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. YaFatou Mbye, Dr. Sandra Tyson

Kiran and LaTarsha will be addressing wellness and preventative health for middle-aged residents with lower incomes at New Hope Housing through evidence-based nutrition education lessons that combine seed-to-plate microwave cooking demonstrations and a container herb garden initiative. This project strives to foster health-promoting behaviors and encourage the residents to develop agency in their nutritional behaviors and mental health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kahmed@twu.edu or l.carpenter9782@student.tsu.edu.

Maddie Aycock and Kumail Mahesri

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Nourish

Community Site: YES Prep West Secondary School

Site Mentor: Brittney Garza; Academic Mentor: Dr. Shreela Sharma

Kumail and Maddie are partnering with YES Prep Public Schools to facilitate after-school cooking classes, teaching at-risk students valuable cooking skills, nutrition, and food safety. Through hands-on learning, their goal is to grow children’s confidence and inspire them to make sustainable and healthier food choices. If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact madison.r.aycock@uth.tmc.edu or kumail.m.mahesri@uth.tmc.edu.

Homeless Health

Christy Lee and Madelina Nguyen

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Nalox-OWN

Community Site: HOMES Clinic in Downtown Houston, TX (Houston Outreach Medicine, Education, and Social Services) at Healthcare for the Homeless Houston (HHH)

Site Mentor: Dana Lynn Clark, MD; Academic Mentor: Dr. Denise Wilkes, Chevas Rainer

Nguyen and Lee are taking a stand against the opioid epidemic by establishing a naloxone training and resource navigation program for Houston’s unhoused population at the HOMES clinic. Their mission is to empower unhoused individuals to take action by providing them with the knowledge, tools and necessary resources to recognize and reverse an opioid overdose.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact cplee@utmb.edu or malnguye@utmb.edu.

Anaelle Lahitte-Crohare and Jessica Ngo

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

BrIDging Resources

Community Site: CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread

Site Mentor: Angela Joseph; Academic Mentor: Dr. Sarah Siddiqui

Ngo and Lahitte-Crohare are addressing barriers to access of social services in Galveston, Texas by assisting with ID application and resource navigation for the unhoused and underserved community. Ultimately, the program aims to increase access to social services such as employment, housing, healthcare, etc, through acquiring identification documents and addressing their well-being with resource navigation.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact anlahitt@utmb.edu or jango@utmb.edu.

Kevin Chen, Maham Gardezi, and Aymun Razzak

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

*Street Medicine Galveston

Community Site: Galvestoon Central Church

Site Mentor: Rev. Michael Gienger; Academic Mentor: Dr. Norman Miles Farr

Aymun, Kevin, and Maham are addressing the physical health and social needs of the unhoused population of Galveston through Street Rounds. As they engage with the unhoused community, they plan to cultivate trustworthy relationships by educating volunteers in proper trauma-enforced training, referring individuals to the appropriate social resources on the island, addressing acute medical needs by utilizing healthcare residents, and partnering with local businesses on the island to raise funds for street rounds and grow local businesses.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact kevchen@utmb.edu, magardez@utmb.edu, or amrazzak@utmb.edu.

Alyssa Adams, Kelcee Heflin, and Brandon Miller

UTMB School of Health Professions

Mobility Clinic

Community Site: Galveston Central Church

Site Mentor: Rev. Michael Gienger; Academic Mentor: Dr. Laurie Farroni

Heflin, Adams, and Miller are providing physical therapy services to unhoused and uninsured Galveston community members in a community led space. Student volunteers are bridging the gap between healthcare workers and underserved populations by providing interprofessional care such as, physical therapy treatment, treatment for foot related pathologies, shoe fittings, and assistive device maintenance and prescription.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact alyadams@utmb.edu, klheflin@utmb.edu, or bsmiller@utmb.edu.

Apoorva Kakkilaya and Cynthia Okafor

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Through the Lens

Community Site: Galveston Central Church

Site Mentor: Rev. Michael Gienger; Academic Mentor: Dr. Norman Miles Farr

Cynthia and Apoorva are addressing the social stigma associated with homelessness by empowering the unhoused community to tap into their creative talents and share their story. By using photovoice, they hope to spark a dialogue and influence Galveston society to appreciate and humanize a population that is often neglected.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact apkakkilaya@gmail.com or cyokafor@utmb.edu.

Debra Bayliss and Arlena Davis

University of Houston Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing

Mental Health Awareness in a Nurse Practitioner Driven Clinic

Community Site: Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing Health Clinic

Site & Academic Mentor: Dr. Kathryn M. Tart

Ms. Davis & Ms. Bayliss are addressing the mental health needs of individuals seen at the Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing Health Clinic by conducting community outreach to increase awareness and population served; developing a resource center for individuals seen in the clinic, developing a clinic policy that addresses individuals who indicate depression on the PHQ-9 tools. Ultimately, this project aims to increase the numbers of clients served and offer interventions for mental health in this vulnerable population.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact dlbaylis@cougarnet.uh.edu or adavis27@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Colton Andrews and Panayiotis Kontoyiannis

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School

PCIC Integration at HOMES Clinic

Community Site: HOMES Clinic

Site Mentor: Dr. Dana Clark; Academic Mentor: Dr. Dana Clark

Andrews and Kontoyiannis are addressing homelessness in Houston by implementing a social services platform that enables student volunteers at HOMES Clinic (medical and pharmacy students) to be more connected to social service providers in Houston and help coordinate delivery of social services to the unhoused population. The platform, called the Unified Care continuum Platform (UCCP) by Patient Care Intervention Center (PCIC), is a mobile software used by many social service organizations to plan, coordinate and deliver social services to clients.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact colton.andrews@bcm.edu or panayiotis.d.kontoyiannis@uth.tmc.edu.

Maternal Health

Hannah Adams, Angelique Basquine, and Anika Felix

University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

*Project MatCHrescence

Community Site: Humana Institute at the University of Houston, Healthy Start uH

Site Mentor: Dr. McClain Sampson; Academic Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Pilkinton, Dr. LeChauncey Woodard

Angelique, Anika, and Hannah are addressing perinatal health inequities across Houston via maternal education and peer support programs. Working under the direction of the Humana Institute at the University of Houston and Healthy Start UH, they are also sharing maternal and child health resources on social media, creating motherhood mentorship circles, and expanding inclusivity to Spanish-speaking communities.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact headams@cougarnet.uh.edu, abbasqui@cougarnet.uh.edu, or affelix@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Erika Fanous, Cara He, and Lillibeth Snellman

Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Moms to Moms

Community Site: Ben Taub Hospital / Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital

Site Mentor: Dr. Jocelyn Greely; Academic Mentor: Dr. Judy Levison, Dr. Irene Stafford

Moms to Moms addresses maternal health inequities and literacy through education sessions at Lyndon B Johnson and Ben Taub Hospitals, aiming to improve postpartum maternal and fetal health along with social wellbeing. Topics for sessions include postpartum depression, breastfeeding, contraception, nutrition, exercise, interpersonal violence, sexually-transmitted infection prevention, as well as financial and community resources.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact erika.s.fanous@uth.tmc.edu, cara.he@bcm.edu, or Lillibeth.Snellman@bcm.edu.

Vulnerable Communities Health

Breanna Alonzo and Sana Khan

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

*Draw YOUR story

Community Site: St. Dominic Village Senior Care Community

Site Mentor: Alonso Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Mary Kollmer-Horton

Sana and Breanna aim to address social isolation amongst older adults through the creation of a weekly art and storytelling program inspired by methodologies such as TimeSlips and Visual Thinking Strategies.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Breanna.R.Alonzo@uth.tmc.edu or sana.khan.1@uth.tmc.edu.

Mielad Ziaee

The Honors College at the University of Houston

Project PROGRESS: Program for Refugee Outreach, Guidance, and Empowered Leadership Success

Community Site: Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

Site Mentor: Ms. Treisy Skidmore; Academic Mentor: Dr. Daniel Price

Ziaee is addressing Afghan refugee health in Houston by establishing a mentorship program for Afghan refugee youth with Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. The program leverages evidence-based, culturally-informed practices to cultivate leadership and enable youth to navigate the American healthcare system. The ultimate aim is for Afghan youth to be empowered to be leaders in and out of their communities to sustainably address the social determinants of health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact mielad.ziaee@gmail.com.

Jean-Pierre Nguyen and Vaishnavi Sankar

Baylor College of Medicine

*The Pride Coalition at Covenant House Texas

Community Site: Covenant House

Site Mentor: Mr. George Weatherspoon; Academic Mentor: Dr. Daryl Shorter, Dr. LaVonya Bennet

The Pride Coalition at Covenant House Texas aims to maintain a safe space for LGBTQ+ residents, improve mental and physical health literacy, and empower LGBTQ+ residents to pursue their personal and professional goals. Our project has four primary components: organizing community events, creating lessons on mental/physical health topics, holding professional skills workshops, and having office-hours to talk to residents one-on-one.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact Jean-Pierre.Nguyen@bcm.edu or vaishnavi.sankar@bcm.edu.

William Lavercombe

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Moneywise: Building Wealth Through Knowledge

Community Site: New Hope Housing- Avenue J

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Gabe Aisenberg

Lavercombe is addressing financial inequities at New Hope Housing through a series of financial workshops and one-on-one sessions that will be provided monthly. The project's underlying goal is to empower the residents with ability to utilize resources in the community for financial improvement.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact William.Q.Lavercombe@uth.tmc.edu.

Brinda Kalra

Texas A&M University School of Public Health

Project Name: Project Prosperity Pathways

Community Site: Amaanah Refugee Services

Site Mentor: Philip Sansui; Academic Mentor: Elena Andreyeva

Through Amaanah Refugee Services, Kalra is addressing the concerns of stress caused by adaptation and everyday living, as well as social integration issues experienced by refugees in the Houston region. This program consists of a monthly mental health class series, one-on-one support sessions, feeding programs, higher education options, and women's empowerment activities. The ultimate objective is to enable refugee kids to become leaders inside and outside of their communities, resulting in long-term solutions to socioeconomic determinants of health.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact bkalra1@tamu.edu.

Nicholas Ariyo

Texas Southern University

Project Name: Bridging the Gap

Community Site: The Citadel

Site Mentor: Simone Champagnie; Academic Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Pounds

Bridging the Gap (B.T.G) is a service project based on providing health education to underserved communities. Ariyo is currently partnering with the Citadel, a 55+ independent living community, as well as working with different health and community organizations around Houston. As a new project, there is plenty of opportunity to grow and fine tune topics to the needs of the community. Current topics are hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease, and soon nutrition as well.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact n.ariyo7670@student.tsu.edu.

Emma Cooke

Texas Children's Hospital (Scholar)

Building Health Together

Community Site: Alexander Jewish Family Service

Site Mentor: Ada Cheung, PhD; Academic Mentor: Julie Gonzalez, MD

Dr. Cooke is working to build health literacy in older adults at Jewish Family Services through group discussions and one-on-one coaching sessions incorporating education about common conditions, medication management, and nutritional and exercise counseling. She aims to develop participants’ self-efficacy through shared, practical solutions to the common challenges facing individuals with multiple chronic conditions.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact emma.cooke@bcm.edu.

Women's Health

Inchara Raj

UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Contraception Care

Community Site: St. Vincent's Clinic

Site Mentor: Dr. Norman Farr; Academic Mentor: Dr. Lucy Villarreal

Inchara is addressing the lack of low cost/free contraception service by expanding access to various contraception methods, including LARCs, for little to no cost, improving family planning counseling to create holistic, individualized contraception plans for patients, and organizing training events for healthcare professionals to help expand access to contraception for patients in Galveston and across Texas.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact inraj@utmb.edu.

Jaimi Ingram

Prairie View A&M University

A Whole House

Community Site: Women Connection Inc.

Site Mentor: Monique Davis; Academic Mentor: Dr. Marco Robinson

Jaimi is addressing women’s health in Houston by working with Women Connection Inc., where she will expose women and children to opportunities to improve their mental health, and get them back on their feet through educational, extracurricular, and different career involvements. Her goal is to expose these families to experiences they are missing out on due to their circumstances, and remind them that whatever goals they have are still possible to reach!

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact jingram13@pvamu.edu.

Niveya James and Preethi Kannan

UTHealth McGovern Medical School, UTHealth School of Public Health

*New Hope Housing Women’s Wellness

Community Site: New Hope Housing- Reed

Site Mentor: Sandra Martinez; Academic Mentor: Dr. Kennenth Arfa

Preethi and Niveya are addressing the issues surrounding women's health coming out of homelessness by continuing a women's wellness program for the residents which seeks to facilitate a safe space for women to address the concerns, conflicts, and struggles of their lives while encouraging improvement of health behaviors.

If interested in continuing/expanding this project, please contact niveya.james@uth.tmc.edu or Preethi.Kannan@uth.tmc.edu.