The Remillard Family Community Service Fund has announced the recipients of its 2023 funding cycle, awarding 12 grants to support innovative projects led by UMass Chan Medical School faculty, staff and students that address social determinants of health; equitable access to care; housing insecurity; nutrition education; commercial sexual exploitation; and diversity, equity and inclusion in the health care workforce.
Established at the Medical School in 2015 with a $3 million donation by the Remillard Family Foundation, the Remillard Family Community Service Fund is dedicated to providing ongoing support for community outreach programs.
A total of $160,500 in grants of up to $20,000 each has been awarded for this year’s projects:
Strengthening relationships and skills to address the social determinants of health
Proposed by Patricia Seymour, MD, associate professor of family medicine & community health; Christine MacGinnis, DO, associate professor of medicine; and Susan Hogan, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health
The new social determinants of health curriculum will involve students using national and community-level data to understand the impact of social determinants of health; participating in a survey of their community to identify resources and needs; participating in six hours of service learning with community-based organizations; and evaluating current screening tools and health models to identify best practices.
Student-run free clinic for the care and analysis of acute and chronic wounds in the vulnerable population of Worcester and Central Massachusetts
Proposed by medical students Mitchell Kennedy, Aviv Liani, Arianna Markel and Jade Refuerzo, and Giorgio Giatsidis, MD, PhD, assistant professor of surgery
Establishing a student-run free clinic that delivers wound care to vulnerable populations; providing medical students an opportunity to learn about the management of wounds and about the care of underserved patients; providing patient education; and collecting critical epidemiologic data to drive the implementation of future health care and policy initiatives.
Lung cancer diagnosis in Worcester, increasing equitable access to screening
Proposed by medical students Isabel Emmerick and Maggie Powers, and Feiran Lou, MD, MS, assistant professor of surgery
To implement a community outreach initiative for lung cancer screening, focusing on reducing disparities in access based on gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status; and identify gaps and points of intervention within the health system and community.
Continuing nutrition education for young mothers experiencing housing insecurity in Worcester
Proposed by medical students Ana-Maria Poole and Margaret Reynolds; and Anne Powell, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Suzanne Allen, NP, instructor in pediatrics
Mentors for Young Mothers, a UMass Chan Medical School student-run organization working with YOU Inc.’s Teen Parent Supported Living Program, will continue to directly deliver the existing nutrition curriculum during scheduled group at the YOU Inc. residential facilities.
Attachment and bonding education for young mothers experiencing housing insecurity in Worcester
Proposed by medical students Ana-Maria Poole and Margaret Reynolds; and Anne Powell, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Suzanne Allen, NP, instructor in pediatrics
To develop a tailored attachment and bonding curriculum for the Mentors for Young Mothers student-run organization that will strengthen educational group sessions and alleviate financial barriers mothers may face in caring for their children.
Increasing physical activity in high school students at Holyoke High School-North Campus
Proposed by medical students Jennifer Marino, Akanksha Nagarkar, Nefeli Neamonitaki, and Elena Tang; and Melanie Gnazzo, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health
For M.E.A.L. (My Education, Action and Lifestyle) Inc., a student-run organization, working to improve access to future health predictors and improve health outcomes in Holyoke; to continue presenting health education workshops discussing nutrition and physical activity at Holyoke High School - North Campus; to address the lack of motivation for and participation in PE classes, students will receive pedometers to wear during PE class and will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards.
Diversity, equity and inclusion in surgery initiative
Proposed by Emily Fan, MD, chief resident in vascular surgery
To diversify the surgical workforce to reflect the diversity and needs of the population served in Worcester and provide exposure to surgical specialties, mentorship and guidance to students in high school and above who are interested in pursuing careers in surgery.
Device-assisted exercise interventions and lifestyle changes in individuals with serious mental illness
Proposed by medical student Prashasti Upadhyay and Xiaoduo Fan, MD, MPH, professor of psychiatry and director of UMass MIND
To expand the walking group led by the Genesis Club, which aims to encourage individuals with serious mental illness to become more active. Each participant will receive a mobile health technology device like a Fitbit and take part in a 45-minute outdoor walking group three times a week and a weekly group education and support meeting over eight weeks.
Expanding community health worker workforce development within the African community in Worcester
Proposed by medical students Erik Bartland and William Lemnios; and Olga Valdman, MD’09, assistant professor of family medicine & community health
To increase engagement of African community members in the community health worker training, which will ultimately translate into better health system navigation, care coordination and health education within the African community in Worcester.
Decreasing vaccine pain and anxiety for babies, children and teens at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Proposed by DNP student David Runyan; and Keri Walko-Henry, ATR, CCLS, LMHC, child life specialist; Sarabeth Broder-Fingert, MD, MPH, associate professor of pediatrics; and Lauren Fortier, CPNP-MSN, RN, instructor in pediatrics
To provide training and education for expansion of the Kids’ Comfort Program at the Kennedy Community Health Center and create Comfort Kits that include ColdSpray (numbing spray), ShotBlockers (a plastic disc that helps to decrease injection pain, Buzzy (a vibrating tool that helps block pain), oral sucrose (pain relief for infants) and reusable distraction toys.
Improving postpartum and breastfeeding education among medical trainees for provision of high-quality breastfeeding medical care to the Worcester population
Proposed by Pratiksha Yalakkishettar, MD, resident in family medicine
To close the gap in clinical training around medication safety in lactation and provide education for medical trainees who interface with recently postpartum or lactating individuals.
Breaking barriers through advocacy for Worcester survivors of commercial sexual exploitation
Proposed by medical students Evelyn Semenov, Stevie Yang, Ivy Mwangi, Shivi Maheswaran, Rosemary Cobb, Ana-Maria Poole, Ari Fantakis Ettore and Nefeli Neamonitaki; nursing student Rachel Stroh; and Jennifer Bradford, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health
A program that aims to address disparities encountered by survivors of commercial sexual exploitation while educating current and future health care providers to better advocate for survivors in a culturally competent and trauma-informed manner throughout their careers.
