This summer, to continue my work and in health economics research exploring the impacts of untraditional systems of care, I am working with the Department of Population Health at the University of Virginia for my Leadership in Action project. Recently, the Department of Population Health developed a mobile health unit initiative to expand care to historically medically underserved communities of Charlottesville, Virginia.

My research last summer exploring school-based health centers and mobile clinics associated with schools provided me perspective on the care that these untraditional systems of healthcare provide, but through my work with policy, Medicare and Medicaid, and data, I received a broader look on the operations of these clinics. My work with the mobile unit at UVA Health has allowed me to see the herculean human effort that goes into developing, opening, and operating a mobile health unit.

From IT, to facilities, to nursing, to marketing, what feels like every department at UVA Health has touched this initiative. Through my work this summer, I will develop a ‘playbook’ on the opening and operating of the mobile unit, and help soft launch the mobile unit to various communities across Charlottesville, Virginia. From historically black neighborhoods to neighborhoods with a high concentration of refugees, the mobile unit aims to expand care to individuals that have a hard time accessing care due to transportation challenges.