Department of Pediatrics - Pediatric Links with the Community

Child Advocacy Resident Education (CARE) Track

In 2000, the PLC Program and the Golisano Children's Hospital were awarded a grant from the national Dyson Foundation which allowed the program to expand resident education to include the Child Advocacy Resident Education (CARE) Track. The CARE Track has facilitated additional partnerships between second and third year residents and the community, developing critical skills for residents while also benefiting children in Rochester as each resident works on a two-year longitudinal project.

CARE Track Statistics

As of July 2011, 108 residents, fellows and medical students have trained in the CARE Track two-week community block.
To date, all (100%) CARE Track residents have presented their projects as poster or slide presentations in conjuction with the annual Anne E. Dyson Memorial Grand Rounds or other Grand Rounds. 48% of CARE Track residents have obtained Institutional Review Board investigator status to conduct research as part of their projects and 33% have presented their projects at peer-reviewed national meetings.
Project areas include: mental health, domestic violence, child abuse, homeless youth, substance abuse, school health, immigrant children, support for children with chronic health conditions, teen pregnancy, behavioral and developement concerns, legislative advocacy at the county level.
At any time, approximately 15 active projects focuses on vulnerable children being conducted through the program by residents, fellows, or practicing pediatricians

Former Resident and Fellow Projects

Elizabeth Cherella, M.D.
Dr. Cherella's project is focused around educating pediatricians about paliative care and how it can benefit their patients, and the community's chronically ill children and their families.
Goeffrey Collins, M.D.
Dr. Collins has established the Cyclopedia Rochester program which in cooperation with the Boys & Girls club aims to empower, educate and enhance fitness of city youth through a mentored bicycling exploration experience.

This project is funded by a grant from the CPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.
Elizabeth Diekroger, M.D. and Rebecca Pratt, M.D.
Drs. Diekroger and Pratt's Making Music, Making Minds project is focused on improving the basic literacy skills of early elementary children in the Rochester area through the use of music assisted learning. They hope to help these children stay on track in their education and gain the life skills necessary to function successfully as adults.

This project is funded by a grant from theCPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.
Ann Huber, M.D., M.P.H., Manisha Relan, M.D., and Hilary Southerland, M.D.:
Drs. Huber, Relin and Southerland are focusing on educating provideres in primary care clinics to encourage use of evidence-based contraception in patients, thereby decreasing teen pregnancy rates in Rochester.

This project was funded by a grant from the CPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.
Abigail Kroening, M.D.
Dr. Kroening has developed a community health presence at Family Court and its associated Children's Center to provide on-site assistance and support for families in need of medical and public services. Watch a video clip of Dr. Kroening describing her CAREing in Court project.

This project is funded by a grant from the CPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.
Jeanne Anthon, D.O., Bryan Child, M.D. and Erica Wexler, M.D.
Drs. Anthon, Child and Wexler developed smARTS (Student Mentoring Through the Arts), which is a weekly after-school program where students at the School Without Walls in Rochester learn and participate in art-based activities with current UR undergraduates and medical students as coordinators/mentors.
Lynette Froula, M.D.
Dr. Froula created Health Power, a high school health course and community project aimed at educating high school students about major adolescent health issues in their community. With the curriculum supplemented by health care professionals addressing issues from a public health perspective, students gain a sense of empowerment, leadership, problem-solving skills and confidences in the personal potential for success.

This project is funded by a grant from the CPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.
Cammie Hilliard, M.D.
Dr. Hilliard established KISS with a goal to reduce teenage pregnancy rates through peer mediated education and empowering girls to be confident (secure in themselves), Independent (make their own decisions), Strong (not allow themselves to be coerced) and Sexy (comfortable in their own skin). The idea is to allow positive self expression through fashion and to educate/empower through teaching/outreach sessions.
Robert Nutt, M.D.
Dr. Nutt's project is focused on assessing whether follow-up of newborns with "failed" hearing screens meets nattional guidelines and establishing a support network for families of a newly diagnosed deaf child to help them make informed decisions about their child's future.
Kathleen Wania, M.D.
Dr. Wania's project it titled Happier Meals: Connecting Famiies Through Cooking. The goal is to educate children and families about healthy food choices and strengthen family relationships through preparing and sharing meals together.

This project is funded by a grant from the CPAC Small Grants Program sponsored by the PLC Program and Dr. Michael and Mrs. Angela Pichichero.