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.

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.