Students in the Community

For many students of West Philadelphia's East Parkside neighborhood, trying to find healthcare resources can be a daunting task. Despite living in a city with an abundance of hospitals and health clinics, difficulties ranging from employers who do not provide insurance to recent layoffs, language problems, and the inability to afford medications, make it nearly impossible for some residents of this diverse community to receive adequate healthcare.

For the past 10 years, Penn students from the Schools of Nursing, Medicine, Social Policy & Practice, and Dental Medicine, have offered solace and healthcare at United Community Clinics, housed in the basement of the First African Presbyterian Church.

The student-staffed health clinic is free, offering care to persons of all ages and ethnicities, conducting comprehensive physical exams, screening for diabetes, hypertension and tuberculosis, while also offering counsel on drugs, alcohol, sexually transmitted diseases, risk prevention, HIV testing, pregnancy, domestic violence, nutrition, and exercise. 

"Volunteering at UCC has challenged my nursing skills, broadened my mind, and stirred my desire for social justice," said nursing graduate Katelin Hoskins. "The experience has played a tremendous role in shaping how I perceive contemporary healthcare and has validated my belief that each of us can make an impact."