10/21/24 blog post
how Dayton Children’s newest fellowship program is pioneering health equity in our community
Dayton Children's is proud to support the education of future healthcare leaders dedicated to advancing health equity!
Meet Addie Seifried and Megan Nguyen, the inaugural Health Equity Fellows at Dayton Children’s! As part of the University of Dayton’s Health Equity Fellows (HEF) Program, these future physicians are taking bold steps to make healthcare more accessible for underserved communities.
Through the HEF Program, students like Addie and Megan engage in health equity work starting as early as their sophomore year. The program includes opportunities such as:
- service-learning
- mini-courses
- community engagement experiences and more!
For Addie, a pre-med major from Dayton, this opportunity presents an exciting challenge.
“The program is a great way to build new skills, connect with my community, and t demonstrate my commitment to making healthcare more accessible,” shares Addie.
Megan, also a pre-med major from Cleveland, values the program’s impact on the community:
“The program is a big commitment, but it’s so rewarding,” says Megan. “I’ve learned so much about the factors involved in caring for underserved communities and have grown alongside my cohort members!”
Want to learn more about how these fellows are making a difference? Read on to discover their initiatives and how these experiences are paths toward improving health equity.
connecting health equity and the community
At Dayton Children’s, equity is a core value that drives our mission. Our commitment to health equity ensures that every child has the opportunity to achieve their best health.
This essential work is led by our Center for Health Equity, and we’re proud to have our Health Equity Fellows actively contributing. The fellows participate in key initiatives, such as the Dayton Children’s food pantry and Kiser Elementary’s Taking F.L.I.G.H.T. summer program that focus on addressing social determinants of health to improve children’s well-being!
In addition to participating in community programs, the fellows attend department meetings, assist with community outreach events, and conduct literature reviews and research.
The work extends beyond the walls of Dayton Children’s. Addie, Megan, and their nine fellow cohort members hold full-time positions at other local sites like Homefull, Miami Valley Child Development Centers, and Daybreak during the summer. They transition to part-time roles during the academic year, collectively gaining nearly 300 hours of hands-on community experience. As pioneers of this program, the cohort is exploring and discovering impactful ways to contribute to the community where they live and grow.
“It's easy to forget just how much Dayton has shaped me, and continues to influence my path. Developing skills in community engagement and working with hospital administration has made me more confident as I prepare for medical school,” Addie shares.
Moses B. Mbeseha, Director of Health Equity Programs at the University of Dayton, praises the cohort’s dedication and adaptability:
“I am very pleased with how the first cohort has navigated the challenges of being the inaugural group in a program deeply focused on engagement," he says.
Beyond their community work, the fellows meet regularly to share insights and collaborate on projects, aiming to expand their impact as the program grows with new fellows.
To learn more about the Health Equity Fellows Program at the University of Dayton, click here.
