an exceptional education

TRUST program offers collaboration across disciplines

Many people are surprised to learn that the majority of health outcomes are not determined by genetics and medical care, but rather by social factors such as income, housing, education and race. Advancing better, forward-thinking outcomes in healthcare that address these social determinants — that’s what social work students in the College of Community and Public Affairs are doing as part of innovative opportunities at Binghamton, including The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST).

TRUST provides interprofessional education for students in CCPA, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Sixteen of the roughly 80 students participating in TRUST are Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) students.

TRUST Scholars provide direct patient care in free clinics, promote health literacy, and participate in community education and research, building and improving integrated healthcare for rural and underserved areas and a variety of marginalized populations.

“Our vision is that many of the students we train in TRUST will work in the very communities and on the social challenges we address in TRUST,” says Sarah Young, BSW program director and associate professor of social work. “TRUST

“Social work students are advancing real solutions to the most pressing issues in healthcare, working alongside experts in the field while they become the experts themselves, connecting, sharing knowledge and responding to what communities need now.”

— CCPA Dean Laura Bronstein

Donor investment increases access

improves interprofessional team-based healthcare where we spend time learning about other professions’ approaches to cases and teaching them about ways to address and alleviate the critical social factors impeding health. In addition, the service component contributes to bridging University to community, and theory to practice, making significant differences in people’s lives.”

The best thing about the program is working with people in other disciplines, including during case study activities, says Sarah Cerutti ’23, a BSW student who dreams of becoming a school social worker. “We all have very different ideas based on our disciplines,” she says. “It is a great experience to see how, when we come together, we can help the whole person. It is an amazing, eye-opening program.” — My-Ly Nguyen Sperry ’00,

MBA ’02

Binghamton Fund for Excellence supporters are among donors who enable CCPA and other Binghamton students to participate in TRUST, covering various educational costs so students can focus on learning and doing. “We typically have more interest than we have spots to accommodate,” says Sarah Young, BSW program director and associate professor.

Wilkilandjie Marseille, a social work student, left, and Emma Mesi, a nursing student, work together on a case study during The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST) Learning Retreat, Best Practices for Healthcare in Veteran Populations. The event was attended by students from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the College of Community and Public Affairs, and SUNY Upstate Medical University.