Celebrating Our 2024 Shapen Fellows
Each summer, Howard Brown Health welcomes a group of undergraduate students to our organization for The Gregory Shapen Public Health Fellowship. The Shapen Fellowship focuses on developing project management skills in the field of public health and community medicine. This summer, we were delighted to have six fellows join us, working with our Education, Advocacy, Diabetes Care, and Behavioral Health teams. Each student devised and developed their own project over the course of our ten week fellowship, working in partnership with a Howard Brown Health Mentor. We are proud to share summaries of their work with us this summer.
Ifeyinwa Allanah, she/her/hers (Education and Behavioral Health)
Research Proposal: Effects of Menstrual Cycles and Hormonal Contraceptives on the Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) of Cisgender Women (18-40 yr/o)
The menstrual cycle is an important aspect of reproductive health, influencing various physiological and psychological processes. Attention has increasingly turned towards understanding how these cycles, along with the use of hormonal contraceptives, impact the mental health quality of life (MHQoL) of individuals, particularly cisgender women aged 18-40. This observational study aims to explore the relationship between menstrual cycles, the use of different types of hormonal contraceptives, and MHQoL. By focusing on women who are either using combination hormonal contraceptives, progesterone-only contraceptives, or no hormonal contraceptives at all, this study seeks to uncover potential differences in the MHQoL across these groups, which could lead to more personalized and effective healthcare strategies for cis women experiencing menstrual-related mental health challenges.
Grace Courter, she/her/hers (Education)
Toolkit: Sapphics on Sex
Despite advances in LGBTQ+ health, significant gaps remain in research and services for sapphic individuals. This student-led project aims to create a comprehensive sapphic sexual health toolkit to address common misconceptions and provide accurate information about sexual health for sapphic people. The toolkit will empower individuals to make informed decisions and offer advocacy strategies for spreading awareness. Our goal is to reduce health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community, enhance sapphic sexual health knowledge, and promote inclusive sex education. We seek to ensure all sapphic individuals have access to accurate and comprehensive sexual health resources.
Sophia Hwang, she/her/hers (Diabetes Care)
NDPP Implementation Plan: Diabetes Prevention Program Implementation and Best Practices: Howard Brown Health
National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), which we hope to offer at Howard Brown. In addition to researching how to successfully implement the NDPP, I investigated stress as a risk factor for chronic disease among LGBTQ+ populations, as well as potential strategies to address patients’ social needs that may be barriers to participation. This process involved reviewing literature, consulting other NDPP providers, and surveying patients, which provided valuable insight on how to tailor the NDPP to the specific needs of Howard Brown’s patient population.
Pietro Juvara, he/him/his (Policy and Advocacy)
Legal Guide: The Legal History of 340B
As part of the Advocacy team at Howard Brown this summer, I developed a guide to the legal history of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. 340B requires drug manufacturers to sell their products at a discounted rate to organizations like Howard Brown, which then get reimbursed by private insurance companies at market price, creating “340B savings” to help provide accessible healthcare. Since 2020, manufacturers have been slowly dismantling 340B in major lawsuits. Through studying landmark cases, I developed a guide to the legal defense of 340B for any health center to use, with findings on its current legal vulnerabilities, and recommendations for health organizations to apply in their own advocacy work and protect their 340B savings.
Naima McRoberts, she/her (Education and Behavioral Health)
Research Paper: Integrating Behavioral Healthcare into Primary Care for LGBTQ+ Adolescents with Chronic Pain
This summer, I conducted an independent research project reviewing the literature on primary care behavioral health integration and LGBTQ+ adolescent chronic pain disparities to argue for the benefits of integrating behavioral health care into primary care. My mentor, Dr. Kelly Ducheny was a leader in establishing integrated care at Howard Brown, so I was grateful to have her as a resource as I worked on this project. I also spent time shadowing therapist Dondee Gujilde and got to see integrated care in action. With my project, I hope to highlight the intersections of health disparities in minority communities and the urgent need for holistic and accessible health care.
Ari Zweibaum, she/they (Education)
Gender Affirming Care Guide: Guide to Transition Options in the Midwestern United States
Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) people often seek ways to change their existence in society to feel more comfortable in their own skin through a process called transition. However, this process can be very abstract and confusing to TGD people who are early on in their journey. The Guide to Transition Options in the Midwestern United States seeks to help remove information barriers by making it easier for TGD people to visualize their transition and work towards a life they want to lead. It explains in detail what goes into various forms of social, medical, and legal transitions to create a more welcoming environment for TGD people.
To learn more about the vital work done by the Education Department at Howard Brown Health, please visit our Education webpage.