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In This Issue:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and the Maurice J. Tobin School in Mission Hill have been working in close partnership for more than a decade, forging a unique relationship that has positively impacted both institutions by increasing overall parent, family, community, and hospital involvement in the students’ learning.
Most recently, this strong connection has provided an opportunity for the resident population at BWH to get involved through the “Resident Program at the Tobin School.” One component of the program enables residents to use elective, outpatient clinic time during their ambulatory or research blocks to voluntarily teach in a 5th grade classroom setting. Residents teach four to five sessions, covering topics that are determined through an initial meeting with the science teacher.
“This collaboration benefits the students as well as the residents,” said Amy Belyea, youth programs manager, BWH Office for Women, Family and Community Programs. “The students are exposed to various health careers; to doctors who are closest to their own age; and to expertise and information on health issues that they can share with their families and the community. On the other hand, the residents are given the chance to serve as role models for future health care professionals and to experience the social community contextual issues that influence health and access to care.”
Siobhan Connelly, science teacher for the first through fifth grades at the Tobin School, explained that the students are really impressed by the idea that a busy doctor is taking time out of his or her schedule to teach.
“It is also really beneficial for the kids, who are mostly from the surrounding neighborhoods, to feel a connection with the hospital as part of their community,” added Connelly.
Mark Pomerantz, MD, was the first BWH resident to volunteer for the program, teaching his initial class at the Tobin School on May 28. Pomerantz plans to focus on the heart, smoking, nutrition and exercise.
“For my first session, I brought in a model of the heart. The students were really great, asking lots of thoughtful questions and really wanting to learn,” said Pomerantz. “I am so thankful that the BWH Medical Internship and Residency Office offers this elective option. As so many of the kids have a direct connection with the hospital through family members, who are either employed by or patients at BWH, this really is a unique opportunity to touch base with the community. In addition, working with the students is lots of fun.”
“The kids were really interested in Dr. Pomerantz as a person as well as a doctor, asking him where he is from and how he got into medicine,” said Connelly. “They are definitely looking forward to his return visits. And who knows? Maybe some of them will be inspired through this program to become doctors themselves.”
For more information on the “Resident Program at the Tobin School”, contact Amy Belyea at 617-525-6725 or (abelyea@partners.org).