Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

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  Access to PrEP in Plattsburgh, New York (CVPH Family Medicine)

  Kelly Knight

  Short-term Project

  This project examines ways to increase access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Plattsburgh, New York (located in Clinton County). After a review of the current literature on the subject and interviews with community members, an intervention was conducted at CVPH Family Medicine. EHR tools were generated and distributed to providers in the practice, with the goal of increasing the distribution of patient education materials about PrEP.

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  Anti-fat Bias in Primary Care

  Dana Kramer

  Short-term Project
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  Addressing Non-Emergent Medical Transportation Barriers For Rural Vermont Patients

  Casey D. Krueger

  Short-term Project

  Access to transportation is a Social Determinant of Health, yet many rural Vermonters face barriers to adequate transportation. Consequently, patients face difficulties accessing primary care and completing recommended health screenings. Destigmatizing ride programs and effective communication are key components of connecting patients with transportation resources. This project sought to develop a reference tool for clinic staff to improve communication about transportation barriers with patients and ultimately improve health outcomes.

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  New Americans Accessing Mental Health Services

  Alexander M. Kubacki

  Short-term Project
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  Empowering Providers to Treat Menopause

  Aranshi Kumar

  Short-term Project

  This project created a brochure designed to empower providers to sift through the myths surrounding prescribing for the treatment of menopause.

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  Improving Retinopathy Screening for Patients with Diabetes: Optometrists Accepting New Patients On Medicaid +/- Interpreter Services

  Kassondra M. Little

  Short-term Project

  For patients with diabetes, screening for microvascular complications like retinopathy requires annual retinal photography or dilated fundoscopy to identify and mitigate processes that can cause preventable blindness. Yet, by measures at the state and federal level, the percent of patients achieving this care is below target. At the Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB), the barriers responsible for this include uncertainty among patients and providers about which local optometry offices accept Medicaid, are scheduling new patients and have interpreter services available. This project aimed to improve retinopathy counseling, the achievement of retinopathy screening and the time burden placed on providers and other CHCB staff by creating a list of optometrists in Chittenden County that are currently providing diabetic retinopathy screening, accepting new patients on Medicaid, and whether or not interpreter services are available on site. This list was then distributed to CHCB providers and practice managers to reference in counseling patients.

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  Dinner Table Talks: How healthy eating behavior and body positivity start at home

  Megala Loganathan

  Short-term Project

  Body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and unhealthy eating behaviors all share a large sociocultural component. A family medicine practice is the perfect place to start educating patients about their attitudes surrounding food and how the effects of their relationship with food and their bodies can be felt in the home environment. Hearing many patients share that their mental and physical health struggles stemmed from how they learned to perceive things as children inspired me to take advantage of the trickle down effects of patient education. The goal of this project is to make and distribute a pamphlet that addresses ways to improve eating culture and body image and to recognize and separate nutrition and emotional eating. I hope that this intervention not only educates patients but promotes a healthier home environment for the rest of the members in a household/community.

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  Safer Prescription Opioid Use in the Greater Danbury Area

  Ying K. Loo

  Short-term Project

  Opioid use disorder continues to be a major public health concern worldwide, with over 16 million people affected, and is associated with increased health care costs, reduced quality of life, lost productivity, and loss of life due to opioid overdose deaths. The neurobiology and susceptibility for opioid dependence and addiction is not well-understood by patients, and the lack of understanding of the safe use of prescription opioid regarding its intended effect of pain-relief versus other potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms may lead to misuse. This community health improvement project aims to empower patients and their family members to better understand indications for opioid use, improve awareness of potential for addiction, how to recognize signs and symptoms of misuse, and how to manage their opioid use through safe storage and disposal practices.

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  Patient Education for Proper Inhaler Administration in Richmond, VT

  Jessica M. Lucas

  Short-term Project
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  Improving the Assessment of Patient Dietary Choices

  Jiayi Luo

  Short-term Project

  Asking about a patient's diet has always been a critical part of primary care wellness visits, as well as in managing chronic medical problems like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. However, patient responses when asked to recall their diet is time-consuming, subjective, and can even be uncomfortable. This project aims to create a qualitative and objective tool for patients to report back their dietary habits. This project will 1) create a short dietary questionnaire for patients in Newtown Primary care and 2) assess for patient receptiveness to sharing dietary habits through said questionnaire.

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  Improving Polypharmacy and Medication Review in the Elderly

  Caleb P. Maness

  Short-term Project

  Polypharmacy in elderly patients increases risk of adverse drug events, which can cause health and functional impairment, necessitating considerate medication review. Many patients do not remember the names or doses of their medications when asked in the office. To successfully deprescribe and avoid adverse drug events, we need accurate medication information. By asking elderly patients to bring all of their medications to each visit, we can ensure the most accurate information possible.

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  Discussing Firearm Safety with New Parents: Utilizing major life events to positively impact a polarizing public health challenge

  Caitlin E. Marassi

  Short-term Project

  Childhood deaths from firearms have increased in recent years. Those living in more rural areas are more likely to own a firearm. Only 49% of Vermont households store a weapon locked and unloaded in their home, though that number is slightly higher for households with children (63%). This project discusses the issue of broaching the topic of firearm safety with parents of young children.

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  Managing Constipation: A Community-Level Intervention in Newtown, CT

  Weida Ma

  Short-term Project

  The prevalence of chronic constipation in adults is 10-15%. Constipation is associated with a lower quality of life and poorer psychological well-being. This goal of this project was to perform a community-level intervention by creating a pamphlet detailing first-line lifestyle modification and over-the-counter laxatives for the treatment of consitpation to be handed out at a primary care office in Newtown, CT.

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  Community Doula Resources in Vermont

  Grace Merritt

  Short-term Project

  Doulas are an important but underutilized resource in the perinatal period. This project explores the benefits of doula care and provides resources for patients and providers at the UVMMC Family Medicine - South Burlington clinic. The result of this project was to produce an Epic dot phrase that providers can use and share with patients. This project concludes by addressing limitations of doula care and provides suggestions for follow-up and future projects.

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  Healthcare Against Exploitation: Empowering Clinics to Identify and Support Human Trafficking Survivors

  Daniel Mitchell

  Short-term Project
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  Increasing Provider Awareness Around Siblings of Individuals With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (IDD)

  Louisa Moore

  Short-term Project

  Siblings of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are not often thought of as a group that needs support in the primary care setting. However, the literature on siblings demonstrates that they have a variety of needs, including support with future planning, caregiving, and their mental and physical health. This project aims to increase awareness of the unique experiences of siblings as well as suggest changes that can be implemented in primary care to provide better support.

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  Creating a community-centered zine to communicate options for alleviating bottom dysphoria in transgender patients

  Hunter Myers

  Short-term Project
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  Surgical and Non-surgical Gender Euphoria Options for Bottom Dysphoria

  Hunter Myers and Neeki Parsa

  Short-term Project
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  Interpreting Your Cholesterol Panel – A Patient-Centered Infographic

  Kadi Nguyen

  Short-term Project

  While lipid panels are a staple of lab work for patients receiving annual wellness exams, many patients struggle to interpret their results and understand how cholesterol levels play a major role in their health. This project will center upon the creation of an easily accessible, straightforward infographic/guide designed to educate patients on the purpose of a cholesterol panel, the meaning of the results they receive, and recommended lifestyle modifications to optimize lipid levels.

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  Aging and exercising gracefully

  Karena P. Nguyen

  Short-term Project

  Exercise and physical therapy are concerns among patients experiencing menopause and patients who near the age of menopause. Newtown Primary Care serves a population, whose census indicates an aging population. An interdisciplinary pamphlet on weight-bearing exercises and community resources for the peri- and postmenopausal population was developed with input from physical therapists and doctors.

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  Promoting fluoride varnish in non-fluoridated communities, Greenfield MA

  Leland Nguyen

  Short-term Project

  Community water fluoridation has been shown to save money, both for families and the health care system. Fluoride benefits children and adults throughout their lives; leading to fewer and less severe cavities, fewer fillings and extractions, less pain and suffering from tooth decay. This project looks into the public sentiment in Greenfield, MA surrounding fluoride and works to promote fluoride varnish treatment at doctors visits for children ages 6 months to 5 years of age. Also included is an information sheet with an oral health questionnaire that would help guide patients and physicians towards better oral health.

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  Assessing Adherence with Naloxone Prescription Guidelines for Chronic Pain Patients: Recommendations for Improvement

  Elizabeth O'Neill

  Short-term Project

  Although the Vermont statute governing prescription of opioids for chronic pain states that patients taking over 90 morphine milliequivalents daily or opioids with a benzodiazepine should receive a naloxone prescription, there is no mechanism within the Chronic Opioid Protocol report at Colchester Family Medicine to assess adherence to that policy. This project sought to determine if there is a gap between patients who should receive a prescription and patients who have a prescription to see if there is a need to alter the Chronic Opioid Protocol or provide greater monitoring to ensure patient safety while on opioids for chronic pain.

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  Pediatric Firearm Safety: Education for Caregivers

  Brittney Palermo

  Short-term Project
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  Creating a community-centered zine to communicate options for alleviating bottom dysphoria in transgender patients

  Neeki Parsa

  Short-term Project
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  Xylazine as an Emerging Risk in Vermont: Harm Reduction for Primary Care Providers and Patients

  David J. Patlak

  Short-term Project

  Xylazine, a sedative primarily used in large animals, has emerged as an increasingly prevalent adulterant in the illicit opioid supply in the state of Vermont. Xylazine use poses significant health risks to individuals who use illicit substances due to increased risk of overdose in conjunction with opioids and chronic injury, especially skin ulceration and necrosis. This project focused on increasing education and awareness around xylazine in opioid user populations and primary care providers who work with these patients. The project's outcomes and effectiveness will be evaluated through assessments and feedback from healthcare providers. By equipping healthcare professionals and patients with knowledge and resources, this intervention will contribute to reducing the adverse health outcomes associated with xylazine use, thereby improving patient care and public health in the state of Vermont.