Community Partner:
Joining Forces for Children is a local organization that aims to impact the children of Cincinnati through ensuring that they are “healthy, resilient, and thrive in nurturing families, neighborhoods, and communities.” Their mission is as follows: “Through its diverse and inclusive network of committed partners, Joining Forces for Children prevents and reduces the impact of childhood adversity by promoting resilient families and equitable communities.” The foundational belief of this organization is that minimizing adverse childhood experiences will result in the improved health and well-being of children, which will in turn set them up for success in their lives. The work of the organization revolves around educating those in the community on the impact of adverse childhood experiences and advocating for policy change to facilitate the safety and well-being of children.
About Matthew
I am originally from Dearborn, Michigan: needless to say, it was a controversial decision to move to our state’s biggest rival. Thankfully, I stayed away from THE big bad college in Columbus and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I was a biochemistry major and part-time boxer in undergrad before ultimately ending up in what my wife and I now call home, Cincinnati.
I eagerly chose this elective to learn how to use my position as a physician to listen, research, and speak up for the needs of underprivileged and marginalized populations. Physicians have a role that ranges from interpersonal communicator to national advocator, and understanding how I can meld that role to my own community are lessons I can carry forward for the rest of my career.
I chose St. Joseph’s House as a community partner as a result of my passion for providing equitable care for people with disabilities. Too often I have seen patients with disabilities labeled as “difficult”, “complex”, or “time-intensive” and continually passed off from provider to provider. By experientially learning more about the unique challenges this patient population faces, I can be better equipped to care for them as future Family Medicine Physician.