Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

These projects were completed by students in the University of Vermont Family Medicine Clerkship. Block Clerkship Projects were completed during a five-week period, while Longitudinal Clerkship Projects were completed over the course of a 12-month longitudinal clerkship.

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Increasing Preventative Naloxone Distribution for Patients Receiving Prescription Opioids

Brian A. Fellenstein
Short-term Project
Recent studies have shown that in office-based settings, while 10.67 per 100 visits included one or more opioid prescriptions, only 1 per 100 visits included naloxone as a co-prescription. Unfortunately, many chronic pain syndromes necessitate the use of opioids. While these prescriptions are reasonable, the data suggests that clinics across the country continue to use opioid medications per recommendations but fail to provide patients with Naloxone co-prescriptions and appropriate education.
Skin Lesion Identification in Central Vermont

Tanner L. Ferrell
Short-term Project
Skin cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in Vermont, and educational information involving skin lesions is insufficient.
Increasing patient information on HPV vaccination beyond the age of 26

Caroline R. George
Short-term Project
The project provides valuable information about HPV and HPV vaccination for adults aged 27-45. It emphasizes the significant impact of HPV types 16 and 18 on cervical cancers and discusses the potential benefits of catch-up vaccination for certain individuals in this age group. Additionally, it addresses considerations for specific populations and highlights the availability of HPV vaccination through specific programs. The document also touches upon the coverage of HPV vaccination under different healthcare plans.
Improving Access to Hearing Rehabilitation Through Hearing Aid Recycling

James Go
Short-term Project
Cost is the most significant barrier to patients seeking hearing aids, with the average price being in the thousands of dollars. Recycling of unneeded hearing aids is one way to improve access to hearing aids for people for whom price is a barrier.
Addressing Antifungal Resistance: Using Boric Acid Suppositories for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Isabel Goodrich
Short-term Project
Antifungal resistance poses a growing challenge in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), necessitating innovative approaches for effective management. This community health project investigates the efficacy of boric acid as an alternative treatment for VVC, particularly in the context of antifungal resistance. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates interventions aimed at healthcare providers and patients alike.

Firstly, a targeted in-person presentation was delivered to family medicine residents, focusing on the use of boric acid in VVC treatment and its potential impact on addressing antifungal resistance.

Secondly, a patient informational pamphlet was developed, providing comprehensive guidance on safe utilization of boric acid suppositories for VVC as well as answers to frequently asked questions while using boric acid.

Thirdly, an electronic medical record dot phrase was created for physicians to streamline documentation and facilitate easy access to boric acid treatment protocols, enhancing efficiency in clinical practice.

Through these interventions, the project aims to enhance healthcare provider awareness and patient education regarding boric acid treatment of VVC. By equipping healthcare providers with the tools and knowledge necessary for effective implementation, and providing patients with comprehensive information, this initiative seeks to mitigate the impact of antifungal resistance in VVC management.
Tech Tracking: Harnessing the Power of Personalized Data to Address Metabolic Pathologies

Kyle M. Gorman
Short-term Project
Leveraging widely available smartphone technology to track key health data in an effort to reduce the burden of metabolic disorders in Chittenden County, Vermont.
Empowering Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Providers: Perceptions of Supports for Enhanced Patient Care

Arman S. Grewal
Short-term Project
An investigation into the supports and resources available for Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) providers in Burlington, Vermont. A compilation of existing support structures was conducted. Additionally, future directions were explored to enhance these supports, ensuring that MAT providers can deliver the most effective care to their patients. This work aims to strengthen the overall framework of resources available to MAT providers in the region of Burlington, Vermont
The Welcome to Wellness Workbook

Julia Halvorson-Phelan
Short-term Project
This project aims to develop a comprehensive wellness workbook designed for individuals seeking to make meaningful lifestyle changes in areas such as nutrition, exercise, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption in collaboration with their physician. Drawing from evidence-based practices and insights from family medicine, the workbook guides users through a structured goal-setting process. It encourages self-reflection and provides practical tools for planning and tracking progress. It also includes bite-size snapshots of current recommendations in each pillar of wellness. This initiative not only enhances individual health outcomes but also contributes to broader community well-being by promoting preventive health strategies.
Suicide Screening in Addison County, VT

Devin Hebert
Short-term Project
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale is a useful screening tool being implemented by primary care offices in the UVMHN. This project helps provide local and online resources for those that screen medium or high risk on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale in Addison County.
Improving Care for LGBTQ+ Patients

Justin Henningsen
Short-term Project
LGBTQ+ patients are at higher risks for many health conditions. Providers and staff are not always comfortable supporting conversations about gender and sexuality. In this project, I provided training to staff members of Hardwick Area Health Center on risks and best practices.
Increasing Patient Awareness and Education Surrounding Prescription Weight Loss Medications

Anirudh A. Hirve
Short-term Project
Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. While it remains important for clinicians to emphasize health supportive behaviors including dietary modification and exercise when counseling patients, the advent of new weight loss medications has created a need for patient education materials regarding these interventions for a growing number of patients who request them at primary care visits. This project created a smart phrase in the electronic medical record summarizing weight loss medications currently available on the market to transform patient counseling and enable better shared decision making between patients and providers.
Exploring the Intersection of Food and Healthcare

Molly Hurd
Short-term Project
There are clear correlations between diet and chronic disease. This project surveyed users of a local Danbury food pantry to explore their relationship with healthcare and their views about the importance of diet and health, as well as barriers they face to eat healthy. In addition, I developed a pamphlet that explains the role of lifestyle changes specific for T2DM, and using the American Diabetes Association's resources, created a shopping list color coded to match the diabetic plate, that can be used when counseling patients with a new diabetes diagnosis.
Understanding of T2DM Risk Factors and Prevention/Screening Resources

Nicolas Hutt
Short-term Project
Survey of how patients with a diagnosis of T2DM understand the disease and their knowledge of prevention and screening resources prior to their diagnosis.
Resources for Fall Prevention

Kimberly Michelle Jones
Short-term Project
Falls are the number one cause of injury in older adults and as the population grows older the number of falls per year will only increase. This project aims to spread awareness of the various resources available to those at risk of falling in the Burlington area. This was done by creating an easily accessed standardized handout that can be shared with any patients that providers think are at risk.
Injectable medications for weight loss

Christine Kahla
Short-term Project
Weight loss injectable drugs have become a hot topic in the community and on social media. The main goal of this project is to provide an easy-to-comprehend guide about these medications, offer the most up-to-date information, and set appropriate expectations for the patients.
Movement Matters: Encouraging Activity in Preventive Medicine

Stefanie Geiger Kelsey
Short-term Project
Extended Release Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Prescribing in Primary Care

Heather Kettlewell
Short-term Project
There are many barriers to accessing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, especially for rural communities that may be far away from healthcare providers. There is a need for interventions to increase accessibility of OUD treatment. Extended release injectable buprenorphine (Sublocade) provides an option for patients to receive treatment via once a month injections. This could make OUD treatment more accessible to rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients by reducing the number of times they would need to travel to the clinic. Our intervention is to create a protocol for prescribing extended release buprenorphine at Family Medicine Hinesburg.
Empowering Patients: Understanding Risks of Smoking and Strategies for Cessation

Angela Khadka
Short-term Project
In the US, cigarette smoking continues to be a significant contributor to preventable diseases and fatalities each year. According to the New York State Department of Health, the smoking rate among adults in Clinton County (which includes Plattsburgh) was 19.9% in 2021. In the state of NY, over 22,000 people lose their lives due to smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. During my rotation at CVPH, I encountered many patients who were smokers and had chronic health conditions such as COPD and expressed a desire to quit smoking but faced challenges in doing so.
Screening for LUTS in Patients of Perimenopausal Age

Sarah Kohl
Short-term Project
Underscore the importance of standardized screening for lower urinary tract symptoms in patients in perimenopause and menopause. Describe standardized screening tool to identify LUTS in at risk patient population.
A Pamphlet on Housing and Food Insecurity Resources in Burlington

Zachary Kramer
Short-term Project
A pamphlet consolidating the most used and current resources for housing and food insecurity in Burlington Vermont in the spring of 2024. I collected the list from social workers at my clinic, as well as several unhoused members of the Burlington community. I also corresponded with a provider at the Community Health Center of Burlington who said that information on safe sharps disposal would be useful, so I created instructions on how to safely dispose sharps on the street.
Expanding Awareness of TBI Resources in the North Country

Nicholas W. Krant
Short-term Project
Disability, emotional dysregulation and financial stress are only some of the issues that many patients who suffer TBI encounter. While resources are available to alleviate some of these burdens on patients who suffer TBI in New York's North Country, patients often struggle to find these resources. This project endeavors to create a resource for patients, family members and practitioners to find available resources.
Preconception Care Quick Facts

Aathmika Krishnan
Short-term Project
The number of unintended pregnancies in the United States is about 50%. In 2020 the US had a maternal mortality rate greater than three times the rate of other high-income countries. Given these trends, preconception care should be an integral part of primary care for people of reproductive age to allow for frequent monitoring and follow-up. An informational pamphlet about preconception care was developed and made available to community members considering pregnancy soon.
Dreaming Wisely: Improving Awareness of Age-Related Sleep Changes and Risks of Ambien

Angelina Kuzina
Short-term Project
This project involves an educational handout designed to inform patients 65+ about the normal changes in sleep associated with aging, while also highlighting the potential risks linked to long-term use of Ambien (zolpidem). A dot phrase was created in Epic for providers to attach the infographic to end of visit summaries. This initiative aims to empower older adults with knowledge about their sleep health and encourage discussions with their healthcare providers regarding medication use, with the goal of promoting safer medication use and improved quality of life.
Dissemination Plan to Inform Lamoille County’s Spanish-Speaking Population of New Bilingual Provider

Taylor E. Lamarre
Short-term Project
Cholesterol Awareness in Colchester: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Maisie Laud
Short-term Project
Awareness and education surrounding the health impacts of high cholesterol is crucial for young adults. Elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Education about cholesterol could empower young adults to engage in proactive health monitoring and management. Promoting awareness through targeted health education and awareness can lead to better outcomes, encouraging a generation to prioritize heart health. Ultimately, early intervention and lifestyle modifications can mitigate the potential consequences of high cholesterol, enhancing overall well-being and quality of life.