Project Connect

Roxanne Rezaei, Summer 2017

I worked at two different sites for my Urban Health Project experience, Project Connect and Welcome House of Northern Kentucky.

Project Connect is a summer camp for children experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati. My tasks included preparing the classroom for the day’s activities, monitoring the children during recess and breakfast, and helping the teachers with the day’s lessons. When not in the classroom, we took the children to different field trips such as Kings Island, Cincinnati Zoo, P&G Science Fair, and more. For our health based focus, the other UHP intern and I held hygiene based sessions for the children. I had an amazing time with Project Connect, I mentored children, went on fun field trips, and help these children going through a hard time to remember what should be the most important thing to them — being a kid.

Welcome House of Northern Kentucky is a shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness. While I was at Welcome House, I created health sessions for children and women based on the health questions and concerns I heard from the families. I was able to take charge in creating different workshops and we’re able to work on my communication skills — specifically conveying medical formation to people with a non-medical background.

Looking back, I am glad I spent my last summer working with Urban Health Project. In addition to gaining experience creating health sessions and working with children, I was glad I was able to go back out into the community. When I started medical school, I knew I wanted to have a community focus. Unfortunately, there is not enough extra room in our curriculum to allow for heavy community outreach. I am humbled by the families who opened up to me about their experiences and will remember their struggles as a proceed in my professional career. Before the summer, I needed a reminder as to why I went into medicine, being a part of Urban Health Project has given me that important reminder.