The Service-Learning course places students in FQHCs and community-based organizations during their first and second years of medical school. Students identify a health equity priority, co-design an intervention, and evaluate its impact. The course’s goals are rooted in fostering social accountability, developing trust-based partnerships, and preparing students to work in interdisciplinary teams to improve systems of care.
This year’s event also featured the presentation of Spirit of Service-Learning Awards by course co-director Isabel Chen, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Health Systems Science, and Dr. Chung. The awards recognize students and community partners who demonstrate exceptional collaboration and innovation in advancing the goals of the Service-Learning program.
Following the presentations, participants gathered at the school’s rooftop garden for a networking lunch, celebrating the partnerships that made each practicum possible. Among the many community-based collaborators were Venice Family Clinic, UMMA Health, Valley Community Healthcare, ParkTree Community Health Center, and JWCH Institute. KPSOM also recognized the contributions of dozens of individual mentors and organizations who supported student projects through site-based guidance, lived experience, and subject matter expertise.
The following projects were presented at the KPSOM Class of 2027 Student Scholarship Symposium:
Abby Li, Hadley Sorsby-Jones, Jason Scott, "Increasing Resource Awareness and Utilization for Unhoused Individuals at an FQHC." Mentors: Evonne Biggs, Dulce Medina, Resa Caivano.
Adam Lessing, Maddy Sopp, "Healthcare provider perceptions on continuing medical education best practices in the federally qualified healthcare setting." Mentors: Nicole Cervantes, Paul Gregerson, Philip Le, Abraham Gallegos.
Akasha Barreto Vega, Sophia Durney, Tilden Chima, "Demographic Analysis of the Relationships between UMMA Patients and Food Support." Mentor: Matt Welzenbach.
Alec Starzinski, Darwin Luna, "Mitigating Social Drivers of Health Disparities for Non-Native Individuals." Mentors: Nicole Cervantes, Paul Gregerson, Juan Rivera, Tricia Waite, Philip Le, Abraham Gallegos.
Alex Gomez-Lara, Mandisa Keswa, "Reducing A1C Levels Through Educational Interventions Among Prediabetic Patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center." Mentor: Rebecca Deans.
Amanda Manea, Drew Aurioles, Robert Will, "SBC Adolescent Mental Health Resource Mapping." Mentor: Ngozi Chukwu-Abayomi.
Andrea Yeung, Max Hukill, "Train the Trainer: Health Education Classes for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness." Mentor: Rebecca Deans.
Daniel Chen, Kasey Bowyer, Trevor Marshall, "Fremont High School Mentoring Project." Mentor: Matt Welzenbach.
Dasol Lee, Lauren Fink, "Dental Health Project." Mentors: Mary Agnes Erlandson, Dulce Medina, Aaron Street, Victor Mleckzko, Evonne Biggs, Damini Lad-Jina, Rocio Huerta, Emen Brown, Carrie Kowalski, Karen Lauterbach, Resa Caivano.
Destiny Rochester, Joanna Kim, Marisa Preyer, "Text Message Reminders as a Way to Increase Well-Child Visits and Pediatric Vaccine Rates." Mentors: Kim Tran and Leslie Moo.
Huma Manjra, Sanah Barsai, "Health Literacy Flyers." Mentor: Matt Welzenbach.
Iris Deng, Isabel Arana, Jonathan Alkalai, "Assessing Prenatal Care Satisfaction and Promoting Pediatric Services Awareness Among Expecting Mothers at a Valley Community Health." Mentors: Roger Pecks and Leann Vasquez.
Isra Hamdi, Lillie Lapeyrolerie, "Arts and Community in Skid Row." Mentor: Christina Tran.
Jack Heckl, Nick Locke, Neil Rowen, "Developing Housing Partnerships to Improve Social Need Screening and Referrals at ParkTree Community Health Center." Mentor: Ngozi Chukwu-Abayomi.
Jared Duran, Jared Sarinas, Michael Au, "Medically-Assisted Therapy (MAT) Clinical Decision Support Tool (CDST)." Mentor: Kamini Lad-Jina.
Jasmine Mitchell, Kass Newton, "Substance Use Screening at the Los Angeles location of Wesley Health Centers." Mentor: John Su.
Jenna Philipp (C/D), Nikita Patel, Susana Camacho Plascencia, "Power Up Your Plate." Mentors: Susanna Camacho Plascencia, Ngozi Chukwu-Abayomi, Elvia Sanchez.
Jose Barrera, Mark Mofus, "Enhancing Diabetes Care Through Targeted Patient Education at JWCH." Mentors: Andrea, Orizaba, Kim Tran, Abraham Gallegos.
Kaven Bal, Mohammed Hamideh, "Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring at an FHQC: A Pilot Project." Mentors: Ruth Valenzuela, David Luna.
Mariana Cabatu, Matt Shelly, "A Comparison of Patient and Care Team Experiences Between the Cecil Hotel and Weingart Center Clinic." Mentor: John Su.
Mohammed AlDajani, Nick Nguyen, "Breaking Barriers to MAT engagement: Understanding and Addressing Obstacles to Addiction Treatment at JWCH." Mentor: John Su.
