Two organizations from USF Health were recognized as Local Champions & Heroes at the University Area Community Civic Association’s 20th Annual Awards Ceremony on Oct. 13.

Representatives from the USF Health student-run BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic and the USF Health Service Corps received UACCA Community Appreciation Awards.

L to R: Karen Alonso, BRIDGE Co-Director; Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp; Elizabeth Morgan, BRIDGE Physical Therapy Co-Director; Vanessa Bonet, BRIDGE Social Work Administrator; and Melanie Elliott, BRIDGE Co-Director

A national prototype, the BRIDGE Clinic brings free primary care and social services to uninsured people living in the University Community Area adjacent to the USF Tampa campus. Founded by USF medical students in 2007, the clinic brings together USF students from medicine, physical therapy and social work to provide supervised care to underserved patients.

Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp with Ellen Kent, MPH, AHEC faculty coordinator for USF Health Service Corps (holding plaque), and Cynthia Selleck, DSN, ARNP, AHEC program director (back right).

Sponsored by the USF Area Health Education Center, the Health Service Corps provides student volunteers opportunities to gain valuable interdisciplinary training while serving communities in need. USF Health students routinely provide health screenings and education to residents of the University Area Community. The Corps was recognized for its successful “Tools for Schools” donation program, an annual drive that collects new school supplies and distributes them to families at the University Area Back to School Health Fair, where children receive free immunizations and physicals.

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