Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations

Happy Labor Day to everyone in the Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations Community. Whether you are going to school, pursuing policy changes, working in public health, research, clinical medicine, etc., you are working to make the world a better place, and nothing gets done without you!

Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations offices are closed in observance of this national holiday.

We hope you have a great day and celebrate safely.

Elizabeth, Manish, Lisa, and Jaclyn

It is so great to have students take advantage of the Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations professional development opportunities long into their education and professional careers. Kim Siwak has been an active community member for so long, she's like family to us. It's been wonderful to watch her progress in her education. Congratulations on a successful first year of med school, Kim!

“I am currently well into my first year of medical school at the University of Alberta, Canada. I graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada with a master’s in microbiology where I investigated the entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 with the goal of aiding future antiviral development in Dr. Colpitts lab. Outside of my interest in microbiology, I also have research interests in shared decision making, and have been involved with the Co-Production lab where I helped with research surrounding the use of decision aids. It has been very interesting to see where these two fields intersect, and as a result I am eager to enter the medical field where I hope to make evidence-based medicine more accessible. Outside of my research and academics, I have enjoyed organizing various conferences such as the Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Healthcare (CUCOH) or the Dandelion Project and participating in charity involvements such as the Vogue Charity Fashion Show at Queen’s University.

I have had the delight of being involved with the Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations Society for Medical Humanities for three years and counting now! This tight-knit community was and continues to be instrumental in supporting me through my academic pursuits. Their dedication to framing healthcare issues through a humanitarian lens is essential work, and I have enjoyed growing as a student under the expertise of the multidisciplinary professionals in their community of mentors and faculty. I will forever be grateful for the mentorship offered me through this community and the influence they have had on how I perceive and interact with the broader healthcare society.”

Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations mission is to help students grapple with questions of advocacy, explore empathy and the culture of biomedicine, and reflect on how humanistic approaches provide an orientation toward compassionate engagement and serve as a guard against cynicism and fatigue in the complex work of healthcare. These skills can be applied universally in all careers. Yumi Naruki is the perfect example of someone using concepts learned in DHF to her career outside of healthcare:

"For the last three years, I’ve been working at Connection Labs, a social enterprise that offers learning experiences to help individuals and teams strengthen their relationships in their personal and professional lives. Working for a startup has allowed me the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of business functions and grow professionally, which has been both fulfilling and a lot of fun. I get to contribute in a number of ways, including sales enablement, website design, client communications, social media management, and operations. Within my team and in our workshops, we emphasize connection and collaboration, openness, and belonging— important concepts to which Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations added depth and dimension when I participated as a student. I continue to be grateful for the rich multidisciplinary and intersectional experience the DHF team put together."

Gretchen Carpenter is a member of the Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations Society for Medical Humanities (DHF) and was selected for the Eichler Fellowship for Healthcare Leaders 2022-23. Since graduating from Dartmouth College, she has been busy but thoughtful in incorporating the skills she picked up from participating in DHF professional development opportunities into her continued education and work.

"I graduated from Dartmouth with my BA in June '23 where I studied biomedical engineering and global health. I returned to Hanover in the fall to finish my BE in biomedical engineering and a Master of Science also in biomedical engineering with a focus on medical physics. For my BE culminating project, I am working with a team of urologists, and in the lab, I do on radiation oncology and am working on a project that aims to help improve the accuracy of pre-clinical research. Upon completion of my master's thesis, I plan to attend Geisel Medical School. I continue to carry with me the principles and ideas discussed during our DHF meetings. For example, I became increasingly interested in how good health is often defined as the absence of abnormalities instead of the presence of well-being, a mindset I believe can accidentally perpetuate a culture of mistreatment. Engineering students are tasked with implementing innovation to provide the best possible solution to medical ailments; it can be easy to get bogged down in the numbers, calculations, and prototypes. My DHF lens has helped me consistently consider the broader picture of who the product we develop helps treat. I have also grown to see how radiology has the huge advantage of providing evidence-based decision-making in healthcare. Accurate diagnostic information helps doctors assist their patients and policymakers better understand the health landscape to allocate resources strategically.

Something about the summer makes people miss Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations. It must be the amazing bonds that are built during our summer programs! Kennedy E Jensen graduated from Dartmouth College in 2023, but before she did, she attended our first on-campus summer program. And she's been with us ever since, taking advantage of the mentorship and professional development opportunities that the DHF Society for Medical Humanities provides along the way.

Here is what she has to say, " I remain grateful every day for my experience with Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations. Bringing a holistic, humanity-centered perspective to the patient care I get to provide makes the long days sustainable. Outside of the hospital, my work and interests center around rural and remote health equity and surgical system capacity building. As I look ahead to my future, I am excited to bring those same attitudes of curiosity and compassion to larger, system-level questions around rural and remote health equity and surgical system capacity building. As I look ahead to my future, I am excited to bring those same attitudes of curiosity and compassion to larger, system-level questions."

Kennedy, we have enjoyed watching you step so confidently from undergraduate to medical school and into your career as a surgeon. We look forward to seeing you contribute to a more human-centered healthcare system. We are here for you whenever you want to think through those tough questions.

We here at Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations were excited to hear from Sara Fragione who has been participating in healthcare conversations with us for several years. Here is what she's been up to:

"I have recently started graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychological and Medical Anthropology at the University of California San Diego. My research interests pertain to the lived experience and meaning-making among individuals with chronic and terminal illnesses, and I am involved in the Center for Global Mental Health at UC San Diego. I also work as a teacher's assistant for undergraduate courses in the social sciences departments. My experience in Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations programs not only inspired me to pursue further education on health and illness it has also prepared me to think critically and holistically as I engage with topics in the field. The tools I acquired allowed me to develop a humanistic approach toward public health concerns and to feel more confident in sharing my ideas."

Learn more at https://dartgo.org/sandhu

We here at Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations have known Carlos for several years. He attended the virtual Foundations Academic Day in 2020, the Summer Short Course in 2022, and come to Hanover to attend the multi-disciplinary "in the Wake of the Plage: Eros and Mourning" conference in 2022. While applying to his MPH and medical schools he spoke with mentors here to think about how his experiences applied to his applications and how he wanted to apply his knowledge and skills to enhance his educational experience and his future career. Carlos has grown exponentially since first time we met him. He is a force of character, resilient, courageous, and compassionate. Keep your eyes on this one!

Learn more at https://dartgo.org/misdiagnosed

We are always excited to hear from folks who have participated in Dartmouth Healthcare programs. Recently, Cecelia Morin reached out to celebrate her graduation from Notre Dame Law School with her Juris Doctor on May 18, 2024. Way to go Cecelia!

This is it! The last Eric Eichler'57 Fellowship for Healthcare Leaders highlight of the year! It has been a pleasure working with and learning from this Eichler Fellow!

"My name is Emma Garland, and I am a member of the Dartmouth Class of 2024. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am a neuroscience major, but I have also taken coursework in a variety of subjects, including foreign languages (French and Spanish) and economics. I have a strong interest in both healthcare and social justice, which I hope to explore further through my participation in the fellowship program. I am excited to learn more about prominent issues in the field and attempts to address them, as well as about the different types of careers in the healthcare field seeking to create systemic change."

Happy ! We are proud to introduce our readers to this incredible and amazing 2023-24 Eichler Fellow, (drum roll.......)Rachel Zhang!

"My name is Rachel Zhang, and I am a ’24 from Little Rock, Arkansas. At Dartmouth, I am majoring in Sociology modified with Biology on the pre-med track and am on the swim team. Outside of Dartmouth, I love yoga, hiking, and baking. My goals are to attend medical school and be able to treat underserved populations. Volunteering in clinical setting has provided me with firsthand experience and insights into patients’ specific and unique healthcare needs, so I hope to emphasize human connection and patient advocacy in my practices. Growing up in the South and attending an institution in a more rural area, I’ve noticed different obstacles faced by disadvantaged group and hope to help play a role in a more efficient healthcare system."

For this , we is pleased to introduce you to another of this year's Eichler Fellowship fellows!

"Hi! My name is Carolyn, and I’m a '25 from Seattle studying Biology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS). I am passionate about Global Health and Public Health, working towards bridging healthcare disparities in marginalized populations and incorporating humanities in medicine. Through my previous involvement in Foundations Conversations over the past year, I have been truly struck by the differing ways in which we are able to approach healthcare.

Outside of classes, I also do ballet and enjoy trying new foods around Hanover. I look forward to continuing to learn about humanities within healthcare, as well as learning with and from my peers throughout this upcoming year!”

Student Employee Appreciation Week is this week, April 15 - 19, 2024: Join in recognizing the work and dedication of these two amazing Dartmouth student employees!

It's again! We are excited to introduce you to another fantastic, energetic, and wicked smart fellow in the 2023-24 cohort of the Eric Eichler '57 Fellowship for Healthcare Leaders, Drumroll please......Jenny Oh, Dartmouth Class of 2025. Take it away, Jenny!

"As an aspiring physician and researcher, I hope to conduct research on the community and population level to study and alleviate inequities and inequalities in the American healthcare system. Though I'm not sure exactly what discipline I want to pursue, I hope to be able to balance research and practice in a way that enhances both--I want to be involved in translational research that really has an effect on how we treat individuals.

As I've spent more time observing and working in the field, the issues that stand out to me are those of access and disparity within the system. Especially as primary care fields are experiencing shortages, I encountered many individuals frustrated with the quality of care they received and their experiences with healthcare as a whole. Especially with the health disparities brought to national attention during the pandemic--those of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and community--issues of access and inequality are central to the way I think about healthcare, and are areas I hope to address in my future.

I especially found that these were areas of work that were less often examined in clinical research. As an undergraduate student studying both the sciences and humanities, I hope to conduct research that reflects the humanism central to medicine, hopefully contributing to a more nuanced and holistic understanding of healthcare that will better define the kinds of conflicts that patients and caregivers encounter regularly in the field."

Jenny, we hope you achieve all of your goals and more and that this Fellowship provides you with the tools you need to to accomplish this and more throughout your career!

On this , we are pleased to introduce you to Daniel Kang, Dartmouth class of 2025. Daniel is a member of the 2023-24 cohort of The Eric Eichler '57 Fellowship for Healthcare Leaders at

My name is Daniel Kang, a member of the ‘25 class from Seoul, South Korea, and Irvine, California. I’m planning on majoring in biomedical engineering and anthropology, modified with global health. My interests lie in the “social context” of medicine. My interest sparked when I immigrated back to the States and noticed the distinct differences between the South Korean public healthcare structure and the privatized American healthcare system. This led to my research in probing the effect of patients’ backgrounds –– whether it be financial or educational –– on their level of understanding of the clinician’s diagnosis and treatment plan. I also grasped the more business, profit-driven side of healthcare as I interned at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as a Program Manager. I hope to continue to learn about the multilayered viewpoints of healthcare throughout the fellowship! In the future, I aspire to attend medical school and become a physician who pioneers health-access programs. Beyond excited to participate in the different programming and collaborate with other fellows this year!

Happy Thanksgiving Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations community!! We are thankful for all of YOU and the connections that have formed as we strive to better understand and be change-makers in the world of healthcare. Our office will be closed the rest of the week for the Holiday. We hope you find community and a sense of gratitude during this season!

Throughout the year, the Eichler Fellows learned to write poetry. For their capstone project, the fellows wrote a poem that encapsulated their fellowship experience, a moment that has special meaning, or a concept that was learned.

"Grandma of Mine" was written by Jessica Wang, Dartmouth Class of 2023, Economics major, and Eichler Fellow 2022-23.

Throughout the year, the Eichler Fellows learned to write poetry. For their capstone project, the fellows wrote a poem that encapsulated their fellowship experience, a moment that has special meaning, or a concept that was learned. "Tell Me" was written by Love Tsai, Dartmouth Class of 2023, and Eichler Fellows 22-23.

See more at dartgo.org/tsai

Congratulations to the designers of "Reflections" for launching a successful program! We wish Victoria much luck as she transitions into the next phase of her life post-Dartmouth! And we are looking forward to working with the new student leaders, Dawn and Marissa.

Dartmouth Generations is an umbrella service organization that seeks to connect Dartmouth College students with independent elders, dementia patients, and caregivers in the Upper Valley.
Visit
dartgo.org/dartmouth-generations
to learn more and get involved in Dartmouth Generations.

# writing

Eichler Fellow Kamren Khan was named Valedictorian for the Dartmouth Class of 2023. Congratulations, Kamren!

Read more at https://dartgo.org/khan

Throughout the year, the Eichler Fellows learned to write poetry. For their capstone project, the fellows wrote a poem that encapsulated their fellowship experience, a moment that has special meaning, or a concept that was learned.

Gretchen Carpenter, D'23, submitted a creative and meaningful poem. Go here to read the full-screen version:

dartgo.org/carpenter-poem

Happy ! Anna Luce attended the Dartmouth Health Care Foundations (DHCF) Summer Institute in 2020 and 2021 and was a 2021 Fellow in the Eric Eichler '57 Fellowship for Health Care Leaders. DHCF showed Anna how important it is to integrate the humanities and social sciences to enhance her training in healthcare.

"Since graduating from Dartmouth, I moved back to Seattle and have been working as a medical assistant in a fertility and reproductive health clinic. I am also earning my Master of Public Health at George Washington in their remote program right now. I will graduate in June, and in July, I will be attending medical school at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to deliver the compassionate and patient-centered care that the Eric Eichler '57 Fellowship for Health Care Leaders taught me to practice. Through my job, I've gotten the opportunity to learn alongside a variety of OB/GYN doctors, which has made me excited about a future career in women's health. The Dartmouth Healthcare Foundations program has been an integrative part of my interest in medicine and has given me a strong foundation to become a future leader in healthcare."