The Healing Clinic is actively engaged in research aimed at better understanding challenges faced by its patients and barriers to care in the community. IRB-approved and mentored studies investigate what other free clinics are doing to best serve their patients, barriers faced by Healing Clinic patients such as transportation, and future practices and services to implement at the clinic. GW students may also have the chance to present The Healing Clinic’s research at conferences for Student Run Free Clinics, creating opportunities to share our work with the medical community, and learn from others on practices to implement in our clinic. Funding and donations to the Healing Clinic can help support the IRB approval of additional impactful research studies, assist with resources needed to complete these studies, and expand the network with whom students can share the work and research being done at the Healing Clinic.
- Research Projects
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If you are a GW student in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences interested in starting a research project at the Healing Clinic, please click here to complete this project proposal form.
Ongoing Projects
Bridging Efficiency and Equity: Evidence-Based Quality Improvement and Evaluation in a Student-Run Free Clinic
This project takes an evidence-based approach to evaluating and improving clinic workflow, aiming to reallocate time toward more patient-centered care and meaningful educational experiences. Student-run free clinics face distinctive challenges including high patient volume, limited operational hours, and the naturally slower pace of a teaching environment. We also serve a large population of medically underserved residents, where significant portions of visits are dedicated to addressing critical social determinants of health. These factors further underscore the need for data-driven strategies to enhance both clinical operations and patient care.
Evaluating Specialty Care Referrals at a Student-Run Free Clinic to Identify Opportunities for Clinical Collaboration to Meet Patient Needs In-House
This project analyzes the specialty care referrals made by patient navigators to categorize the non-primary care needs of patients at our clinic. The findings are being utilized to help support the development and implementation of monthly specialty nights at Healing Clinic to meet patients' clinical needs in-house with collaboration from local providers and health professional students.
A Successful Intervention to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening at a Student-Run Free Clinic
This project at Bridge to Care introduced a standardized cervical cancer screening protocol - incorporating a new EMR template, patient and provider education, and a referral system to reduce care barriers - which led to a 5.8-fold increase in screening rates.
Medical Student Attitudes Toward Clinic
This project assesses medical students' attitudes at GW about the healing clinic through a survey. By understanding their sentiments and identifying areas where the clinics are performing well and where improvements are needed, we aim to enhance the educational and clinical experience for medical students.
Gender-Based Violence Screening
This project aims to validate common screening tools for gender-based violence in clinics and provide resources. The goal is to provide a screening tool to randomize patients at check-in, ensuring effective identification and support for those affected by gender-based violence.
Society For Student Run Free Clinic (SRFC) Preventative Services
This project focuses on creating a comprehensive database of all screening services offered at student-run free clinics across the United States. These screening services are aligned with the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. By compiling and analyzing this data, we aim to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of preventive healthcare services provided by student-run free clinics.
Dermatology Complaints
This project involves looking through GW Healing Clinic data to collect information on the most common dermatology complaints in this underserved population. By analyzing these complaints, we aim to better understand dermatological healthcare needs.
- Publications and Presentations
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GW Research Day
Huysman B, Taskier M, Aje K, Joshi P, Denny K, Popiel D, Alexander L. Bridge to Care: How a medical school can partner with a public health department. GW Research Day Annual Meeting. March 2016. Oral Presentation.
*Awarded Donald H. Glew Prize 2nd place given to best poster at Research Day by the Beaumont Research Society.
Practical Playbook
Huysman B, Taskier M, Aje K, Joshi P, Denny K, Popiel D, Alexander L. Bridge to Care: How a medical school can partner with a public health department. Practical Playbook National Meeting: Bringing Public Health and Primary Care Together, Annual Meeting. May 2016. Oral Presentation.
Huysman B, Taskier M, Aje K, Joshi P, Denny K, Popiel D, Alexander L. Medical Problems to Health Solutions: Partnership of a public health department and student-run free clinic. Practical Playbook
National Meeting: Bringing Public Health and Primary Care Together, Annual Meeting. May 2016. Poster Presentation.
Society for Student Run Free Clinics
Fuerst M, Buldo-Licciardi J, Villa C, Kirsten H, Popiel D. Creating a Multidisciplinary Referral Model for a Student Run Free Clinic. Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Conference 2018. Poster Presentation.
Buldo-Licciardi J*, Fuerst M*, Yang L, Smith S, Sternberg D, Popiel D. Meeting Patients Where They Are: Piloting a Student-Run Free Clinic to Provide STI Testing to the Sex Worker Populations of Washington, DC. Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Conference 2018. Oral Presentation. *authors contributed equally to this work.
Ravenborg N*, Huysman B*, Taskier M*, Popiel D. Developing a curriculum for fourth year medical students emphasizing social justice, cultural competency, cost consciousness and developing students into educators. Student Run Free Clinic. Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Conference 2018. Poster Presentation.
Waters A, Stricker K, Shetter E, Buldo-Licciardi J, Fuerst M, Lasswell T, Steinle J. The Role of Student Run Free Clinics in Advancing Community Engagement at Medical Schools. Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual Conference. January 2017. Panel Presentation.
Huysman B, Taskier M. Developing Community Health Providers for the Future: GW Healing Clinic Professional Development Series. Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual Conference. January 2016. Oral Presentation.
Huysman B, Taskier M, Aje K, Joshi P, Denny K, Popiel D, Alexander L. Bridge to Care: How a Medical School can Partner with a Health Department. Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual Conference. January 2016. Poster and Panel Presentation.
Taskier M, Huysman B, Linville L, Alexander L, Popiel, D. Developing Community Health Providers of the Future: GW Healing Clinic Professional Development Series. Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual conference. January 2016. Oral Presentation.
Huysman B, Taskier M. Starting a clinic. Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual Conference. January 2016. Oral Presentation.
Rodham Institute Summit
Buldo-Licciardi J*, Fuerst M*, Yang L, Smith S, Sternberg D, Popiel D. Meeting Patients Where They Are: Piloting a Student-Run Free Clinic to Provide STI Testing to the Sex Worker Populations of Washington, DC. Rodham Institute Summit 2017. Poster Presentation. *authors contributed equally equally to this work*