Community Voices

Community Health Mini-Grant Recipient–Community-Based Brain Health Workshop

The program consisted of 5 two-hour long workshops that focused on nutrition, exercise and stress management. These workshops helped empower participants to promote cognitive health for themselves, their families and their community through personal action and peer-to-peer education.

“The CCHP was fundamental in our ability to get the Brain Health Workshop Series off the ground, and we have loved working with them on this program,” shared facilitator Katie Webster. “Their support and encouragement brought our humble dream to a successful reality that is evolving into sustainable programs and ongoing collaboration with historically marginalized communities within Rochester.”

Teen Health & Success Partnership Scholar

Desire Mfaume first became interested in the health care field when he had malaria as a child in a Nyarugusu (Tanzania) refugee camp. “This was a traumatic time for me,” he shared. But it also inspired him. He says: “Seeing how people suffer from diseases, such as malaria, makes me want to make a change in the world and leave a legacy through healing people.”

“The Teen Health & Success Partnership program is the ‘place to be’ for those interested in a career in the health care field. It provides the opportunity to work closely with experts that people my age wouldn’t normally get.”

– Desire Mfaume

Congratulations to Katie Webster, NP, URMC Department of Neurology; Charles White, URMC community liaison; Christine Annis, URMC NeuroNEXT site coordinator; Phyllis Jackson, RN, director of the Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition; and Florence Clemmons, senior Community Engagement manager, and Camille Verbofsky, MPH, director of Community Health Programs, both at Foodlink.

Grateful Promote Health. Prevent Cancer. (PHPC) Participant:

“It’s important to learn new things as we get older and to do what’s in our power to take care of ourselves,” shared Cathy Markert, a recent participant in the PHPC program hosted at the Chili Community Center.

Cathy Markert CLINICAL CORNER:

Jill Chodak, MS, RD, CDN, was recognized by an appreciative patient as an ICARE star.

“I had my first appointment with Jill today to discuss my weight loss journey and she was beyond wonderful,” shared the patient. “Her approach is very thorough and personable, and I immediately felt like I was in great hands with her. I feel like she truly cares about helping her patients be successful.”

Jill Chodak, MS, RD, CDN