COVID-19 Updates

The Weill Cornell Community Clinic (WCCC) is a student-run free clinic aimed at addressing the healthcare challenges faced by uninsured New Yorkers by offering free, comprehensive, longitudinal primary care. We have grown incredibly since our inception 15 years ago and now run three full clinics (Medicine, Women’s Health, and Mental Health), with numerous physician volunteers over a wide variety of specialties. We have also expanded our interdisciplinary services to include pharmacy, social work, and nutrition.

Over 90% of each medical school class volunteers with us at some point over the course of their four years. Volunteering with us not only offers students a way to gain independence through clinical experiences, research opportunities, and leadership roles, but also enables them to care for patients who are traditionally underserved in our current healthcare system. Since our patients are uninsured adults in New York City who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty limit, we focus on long-term primary care to help them manage their chronic medical conditions. We have been humbled by the persistent generosity of the WCM and NYP communities in helping us provide our services to the NYC community.

Over the last year, we have taken steps to continue caring for our patients during this difficult and unprecedented time. We are painfully aware that recent epidemiological studies have shown that the demographics to which our patients belong have been adversely affected more frequently by COVID-19, both in sheer case number and fatality. To address these systemic challenges, we have adapted our in-person clinic model to a Zoom Telemedicine platform, mailed patients home blood-pressure monitors, remotely reimbursed patient medication purchases, and subsidized our patients to purchase healthy groceries. While we continue thinking of new ways to help our patients, we hope that these initiatives will prevent lapses in care, enable our patients to afford and therefore adhere to their medication regimens, and help them maintain a healthy diet by protecting their food security. While many challenges lie ahead, we are committed to our patients and our mission to provide the access to healthcare they deserve.

Junior Board Spotlight: Meridith Pollie

Position: Patient Services Coordinator

 

What does your position do?

As one of the Patient Services Coordinators, I schedule patients for their Medicine, Women’s Health, and Mental Health follow-up appointments at the Community Clinic. Additionally, when I am contacted by patients about their clinical care, I make sure that their concerns are relayed to appropriate clinic leadership.

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

Ever since I visited Weill Cornell for our incoming students’ revisit weekend last spring, I knew I wanted to get involved with the WCCC. The idea of a student-run clinic – where we as medical students really hold the reigns in terms of scheduling patients, learning about their medical conditions, and making a plan for how to address their issues – was, and still is, incredibly exciting to me. Every time I attend clinic, meet our patients, hear their stories, and work with other students and attending physicians to decide on a course of action to help them, I learn so much and am reminded of why I want to be a doctor.

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

Every time I call a patient, I get to know them a little bit over the phone. As we work together to find times that work for them to come into clinic, we often end up chatting about life, family, etc. I have 2 favorite parts of my job: the first is when I call patients and they recognize the clinic number and answer with, “Meridith!” The second is when patients express their gratitude to me over the phone or when I meet them at clinic. Our patients, who are without health insurance, are extraordinarily grateful for the work we put in to make our clinic run. When they express this, it feels good, and it is a great reminder of why we do what we do.

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

Scheduling calls is more than just a way to set up a doctor’s visit; these calls are the first opportunity we have to make sure the patient feels welcome at the WCCC. I want our patients to come to clinic knowing that there is someone there with whom they have already established a rapport over the phone, and who is paying close attention to ensure they get their care.

WCCC at the Living Healthy Expo

On Sunday, May 19^th the Weill Cornell Community Clinic was represented at the 3^rd Annual Living Healthy Expo at Temple Sholom in Brooklyn, NY. This health fair was dedicated to the health and wellness of one of our most vulnerable patient populations, seniors and their caregivers. Topics included nutritional, physical, and mental health, with a focus on avoiding social isolation by joining community groups as well as the importance of caregivers and their wellbeing.

Junior Board Spotlight: Gregory Han

Position: Access to Care Coordinator

 

What does your position do?

I work with patients to help them transition out of the clinic by helping them through the process of getting health insurance and finding new providers. I often cooperate with the clinic’s volunteer social workers, and my job would not be possible without the amazing work that they do!

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

I spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA in between undergrad and med school, and a significant part of my work focused on connecting homeless patients in ERs to primary care providers and other community supports. After a year working alongside nonprofits and hospitals alike, the WCCC was an obvious next step!

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

I am one of the board members with frequent patient contact, and I find that to be a great experience. With some patients, I provide technical assistance on how to find providers online. With others, I manage their medical records requests. Sometimes, I even make calls with translators. No two calls are the same!

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

Since my work involves the end of patients’ time with the WCCC, there are often some speed bumps that can get in the way. For example, one patient requested a records release form in their native language. Navigating this request introduced lag in getting the patient’s records delivered. Smoothing out the workflow is my goal!

 

 

Director Spotlight: Amanda Ceravolo

My name is Amanda Ceravolo and I am an MS3 here at Weill Cornell. I am originally from Syracuse, New York and went to school at Binghamton University where I studied Biochemistry and Neuroscience.

Position: Medicine Clinic Co-Director

What does your position do?

I, along with my Co-Director Brittany Abel are responsible for managing care of our 150+ patients at WCCC. We directly oversee weekly clinic operations, conduct weekly team sign outs and help coordinate and ensure appropriate follow up care for our patients. As directors, we work with many different groups including a wonderful group of first year general board members who each have an important role in making sure that the clinic is operational and a dedicated group of MS2 and MS3’s rotating with us for their primary care clerkship.

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

When I was a first year, I served as a Referrals Coordinator for the medicine clinic. I was drawn to the clinic’s mission of providing longitudinal high quality care to the underserved. I loved my time on the board as a first year and knew I wanted to have more responsibility in the clinic as a third year student.

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

I love interacting with patients and following their care. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you contributed to someone’s health and well-being. Additionally, I work with an excellent group of directors and general board members.

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

This year, I would love to continue to clinic’s mission of providing high quality longitudinal care by focusing on expanding our referrals network.

Diabetes Family Health Fair

Last Saturday, WCCC board members attended the Diabetes Family Health Fair in Flushing, NY. Our specific role was to disseminate nutritional information and recipes from our nutritionists that would benefit those with diabetes and pre-diabetes in addition to providing awareness about WCCC and its services.

Junior Board Spotlight: Evan Balmuth

I grew up in Massachusetts and studied biopsychology at Tufts University (Class of 2016); now I’m a first-year MD-PhD student in the Tri-Institutional Program. Since college I’ve been involved in neuropsychiatry research in MA and Germany, and also spent some time teaching English in France.

Position: Mental Health Resources Coordinator

 

What does your position do?

As Mental Health Resources Coordinator, I work with the Mental Health Clinic directors, patients, and attending physicians to help coordinate psychotherapy treatment options. I also coordinate the Clinic’s depression screening program, helping to track patients’ progress and collect data on our screening and referral processes. Lastly, I’m collaborating with other board members and service groups to help raise awareness about mental illness in diverse contexts and connect patients to appropriate treatment resources.

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

With some initial experience as a Junior Clinician, it quickly became clear that the WCCC provides incredible care to some of NYC’s most vulnerable people, while also providing a rich learning environment for students. Witnessing doctors and students devoting extra time to deliver the special care that disadvantaged patients needed, I was inspired to get involved in helping to develop the clinic as part of the Board in addition to gaining more experience as a Junior Clinician, with a particular interest in the quickly-evolving Mental Health Clinic. My favorite parts about being in the clinic are listening to our patients’ stories and getting involved in clinical applications of what we learn in the classroom.

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

My favorite parts about this position are getting to know our patients, learning about our mental healthcare system, and the opportunity to help work towards improving our screening and delivery of care.

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

Moving forward, I think the Clinic will greatly expand the reach of its care through close collaborations with other student-run service groups at Weill Cornell and additional hospitals/organizations in NYC.

 

New York Student Run Free Clinics Regional Conference 2019

Last Sunday, WCCC members attended the New York Student Run Free Clinics Regional Conference, where WCCC presented three posters and led two breakout sessions. The event was hosted by Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and aims to bring together student leadership of the student run free-clinics in the city, providing a forum to learn from experts in the field, communicate research findings, and discuss pertinent healthcare issues. Our members found the conference helpful in brainstorming ideas for improving the clinic and in fostering a shared sense of purpose among students of different medical schools.

Junior Board Spotlight: Amber Simmons

My name is Amber Simmons and I am an MS1 at Weill Cornell. I’m originally from Delaware and previously attended Hampton University where I studied physics.

Position: Patient Education and Community Outreach Coordinator

 

What does your position do?

My position is responsible for cultivating the relationship between the NYC community that we serve and the students and faculty involved in WCCC. I do this by locating and participating in community health fairs with other students that are connected to the clinic. During these fairs we seek to both educate the public about various health-related facts through fun demonstrations and learn about what they would like to see implemented at our clinic.

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

I always knew that I wanted to be involved with the clinic because it’s truly student-run and I thought it would be a great opportunity to develop stronger leadership skills and learn more about the NYC community outside of our school.

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

This position is great because I get to meet all kinds of talented motivational individuals that want nothing more than a helping hand from people who care.

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

I would like to move the clinic forward by determining more ways to elicit feedback from our patients about their health concerns, fears, stressors, and whatever else affects their physical, mental, or emotional health and make that an integral part of WCCC’s services.

 

 

Director Spotlight: Ilana Lavina

I’m Ilana Lavina, an MS4 here at Cornell who hails from Long Island, NY. I’m going into the field of Pediatrics.

Position: Medicine Clinic Co-Director

 

What does your position do?

Along with my Co-Director, Lisle Winston, I am responsible for managing longitudinal patient care for each of our 150+ patients. For example, it is our job to ensure that laboratory and imaging results are communicated, prescriptions are filled, and patients are satisfied with their care at the WCCC. We also oversee the dedicated MS1s on our general board whose positions are patient-facing, such as scheduling, referrals, patient education and pharmacy.

 

What motivated you to get involved with the clinic?

When I was an MS1, I was on the general board as a Patient Scheduling Coordinator for the medicine clinic. I was drawn to WCCC’s mission to provide high quality care to underserved members of our community, and I loved the opportunity to work with my classmates with similar interests.

 

What do you enjoy about your position?

I love responding to patient phone calls with positive news, meeting our patients in clinic, and watching our senior clinicians and junior clinicians grow as medical students by striving to provide the best care possible to our patients.

 

How would you like to move the clinic forward?

I would like to see our clinic expand its reach to the NYC community as the need for services like ours is so great by working with our Executive Director Team to brainstorm ways to increase capacity in a way that will preserve the quality of our care for each and every patient who comes through WCCC.